Carl E. Josehart, CEO, Joan and Stanford Alexander Jewish Family Service

110th Annual Meeting Remarks

In every generation leaders step up and become synonymous with creating a caring community. For many decades, Nathan J. Klein was such a person, and his name is spread throughout our agency, in our program services lobby, on many of our endowment funds, and on our original building built at the corner of Linkwood and Stella Link.

In the past two decades, Joan and Stanford Alexander have been champions of creating a caring community. They articulated a vision of the future and led the way - and did so in a style that both welcomed and challenged others to join with them so that JFS would not only survive but grow and thrive.

Tonight, it is my distinct pleasure to start our meeting with some very special news.  In honor of their longtime support, thought leadership and partnership and the absolutely transformational role they have had on our work, we proudly add their name to ours and rename our agency the Joan and Stanford Alexander Jewish Family Service.

It is fitting that we announce our new name at Beth Israel, the Alexander’s congregation, because Joan and Stanford have always been guided by their Jewish values.  In Exodus 20:24 we hear G-d say, “in every place where I cause My name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.”  Our agency is a place where sacred work is done every day. We are honored to add a name to ours that has been associated in our community with being a source of blessing – not only for JFS – but also for other important work as well.

The solid foundation created by Joan and Stanford’s leadership allows JFS to maintain the vital services our community has come to rely on as well as the ability to seek new partners to meet the ever growing and evolving needs of the communities that we serve. With our new name, which will also sometime be referred to as Alexander JFS, we are proud to be starting a new partnership with Houston Hillel to bring counseling to undergraduate and graduate students, to be entering a new partnership with Noah’s House that will allow us to add a residential option for individuals with disabilities and we are absolutely thrilled to announce the expansion of Celebration Company with a second location on the west side of Houston. We have so many exciting plans for the future, and we welcome you to join us for the journey.