Wells Fargo Presents Jewish Family Service With $150,000

(JFS) is pleased to announce that Wells Fargo Foundation is helping JFS meet the growing demand for social services. At the March grand opening celebration for the new JFS in West Hollywood, JFS was presented with a leadership gift of $150,000 from the Wells Fargo Foundation to support basic food, shelter and counseling services.

As the need for help in the community becomes larger, deeper, and more complex, donations from corporate donors such as Wells Fargo have become even more essential as government and foundation funding become more scarce. 

“Wells Fargo is committed to stepping up to meet the ever-growing needs of the community,” said Bryan Moeller, director of Small Business Banking for Wells Fargo in Greater Los Angeles and board member of Jewish Family Service. “As other sources of donations to charitable organizations decline, we want to inspire other business leaders throughout California to enrich their communities and provide resources to local social service organizations.” 

“Jewish Family Service is thankful to have the long-term support and commitment of a true corporate pillar,” said Paul S. Castro, CEO of JFS. “As corporate headquarters left Los Angeles over the past two decades, JFS and other agencies have fewer resources to support community needs.”

“As our clients struggle to cope with the effects of the economic downturn, the generosity and financial support of Wells Fargo will ensure that JFS will be able to continue to help the people who need it most,” said David O. Levine, JFS President.

Wells Fargo’s contribution will help JFS SOVA, which received 117,000 visits from families and individuals of all ages in 2010, respond to escalating need. 2010's client visit figures are more than twice as much as the client visit figures from 2007. JFS {SOVA sites are now comprehensive service centers where people receive not only groceries, but may also access a full range of social services to help them regain self-sufficiency. In addition, Wells Fargo's generosity will support JFS' Shelter Services to aid victims of intimate partner violence, their children, and homeless families as well as counseling and other services to help address the growing need in the community.