Live, Laugh, Give Comedy Night Raises $200,000 for Jewish Family Services

Charlotte Jewish News August 2022

By Julie Loftis, JFS Marketing Specialist

On June 12, more than 300 guests “laughed and gave” at Jewish Family Services’ (JFS) Live, Laugh, Give comedy night fundraising event. Kevin Levine and Louis Sinkoe were honored for their many contributions to JFS, the Jewish community, and the greater Charlotte community. The headliner, Elon Gold, did not disappoint with his one-liners and jokes. Howard Olshansky publicly launched the establishment of a Senior Housing Tzedakah Fund to aid seniors struggling to secure affordable housing. According to Howard Olshansky, executive director for JFS, “We are so moved that once again our community opened its hearts, and the event raised $200,000 to help JFS secure the necessary staffing to meet the growing mental health needs of our community and ensure our community’s seniors have the means to live independently in safe and stable housing.”

For the second year, Andrea Cronson and Adina Loewensteiner co-chaired the event with a record number of sponsors, spearheaded by our Entertainment Underwriters, Eric and Lori Sklut and Howard and Julie Levine, and our Headliner Sponsors, Celeste Johnson, Gene and Vickie Johnson, The Alvin E. Levine Family, and Gary and Jodi Michel. A sponsor reception before the main event, underwritten by Generations at Shalom Park, included a meet and greet with Elon Gold and hors d’oeuvres. The main event was followed by a dessert reception.

Next month JFS kicks off its annual Family to Family Campaign, accounting for almost 20% of the total annual budget. Partnering with our community, JFS has been pivotal in responding to the evolving needs of our community. Mental health and crisis assistance needs continue to rise:

- One in six children suffer from mental health issues.

- Almost 10% of children nine and ten years of age in the U.S. have thought about suicide.

- One in five families in the

U.S. experience domestic violence.

- Only 1% of rentals in Charlotte cost under $1,000. Applications for Section 8 housing are closed with more than 6,000 on the waitlist, leaving seniors living on fixed incomes with little or no resources for safe and stable housing.

JFS provides more than 4,000 touches to our community every year. “Many people think of our work as only the food pantry or providing mental health services or supporting seniors. They don’t realize the full extent of the needs that we’re meeting for all ages, including caregiver education and support, Holocaust survivor services, emergency financial assistance, parenting support, and domestic violence services,” said Olshansky.

The money raised from Live, Laugh, Give and the Family to Family Campaign, along with tributes and generous donations throughout the year, helps ensure JFS continues to provide the support our community has come to depend on. Live, Laugh, Give exceeded expectations, a success not possible without the support of our community. The philanthropic support to JFS’ fundraising activities truly represents the community’s commitment to ensure JFS is able to engage, connect, and heal those struggling in our community. For more information on donating funds, contributing to the food pantry, or volunteering your time, please visit our website at JFSCharlotte. org or call (704) 364-6594.