A New Name, Mission and Strategic Plan Announced at Annual Meeting
CINCINNATI, OH — Jewish Home of Cincinnati announced a new chapter in its history with the unveiling of its new name — Foundation for Cincinnati Jewish Seniors (FCJS) — alongside a refreshed mission and strategic plan at its annual meeting, held at Rockdale Temple on September 16, 2025 before more than 70 attendees.
Board Chair Alan Eichner opened the meeting by welcoming guests and invited Rabbi Yosef Alt of Golf Manor Synagogue, a grant recipient of the Foundation, to offer an invocation.
The program highlighted the organization’s evolution from an operator of a senior facility to a philanthropic foundation. Eichner expressed appreciation for the Board, Executive Director, and for the team that manages the organization’s daily operations. “To the entire SBS team,” he said, “your work may not be in the spotlight, but it allows us to serve our community with confidence and stability.”
Executive Director Nina Perlove shared highlights of the Foundation’s impact over the past five years. “From 2020 to 2025, we gave 60 grants to 29 organizations — representing a diverse cross-section of our community,” she said. “These are the organizations doing the work every day to improve the quality of life of seniors.” Between 2020 and 2024, FCJS tripled its grant awards while maintaining long-term fiscal responsibility to preserve its endowment. “Behind every dollar are people — seniors and caregivers whose lives are being improved,” Perlove added. According to reports from grantees, more than 19,000 seniors have been positively impacted through Foundation-supported programs in areas including health and wellness, social connection, and Jewish enrichment.
Board member Beth Guttman then shared FCJS’s updated mission statement: To improve the quality of life for Greater Cincinnati Jewish seniors by investing in impactful services and programs. Guttman explained that the updated mission emphasizes care, connection, and measurable outcomes over innovation for its own sake. “Our end goal is to positively impact the quality of life for Jewish seniors, and innovation is just one of many tools that can be used to achieve that goal. This document serves as our promise, our covenant, to the community. It is not just words on paper — it is our commitment to action.”
The Grant Review Committee, represented by Tovah Kirschner and Jan Frankel, announced the recipient of the 2024 Wilbur M. Cohen Family Annual Grant for Senior Health and Wellness: Golf Manor Synagogue, for its “An Ounce of Prevention: Women’s Wellness” program.
In addition, two new community members — Rachel Hodesh and Larry Neuman — were elected to the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Board member Dr. Abbie Youkilis presented the 2025 Foundation for Cincinnati Jewish Seniors Leadership Award to Dr. Scott A. Kotzin for his “compassionate care and unwavering dedication to the residents at Cedar Village.” Youkilis noted, “Whether offering a comforting word, taking extra time with a worried family, or simply listening with an open heart, Dr. Kotzin has improved the quality of life for the residents at Cedar Village and in his private practice in the community. Dr. Kotzin exemplifies the values our organization holds dear — dignity, connection, and the belief that every senior deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued.”
Perlove reflected on the organization’s name change through a Jewish lens. “Our transition to a new name and the launch of a new strategic plan intentionally included an analysis of what has come before and what we hope to be,” she said. “This is more than an organizational best practice — it is a Jewish value. Kabbalah teaches that ‘The end is wedged in the beginning; the beginning is wedged in the end.’ We do not worship finality or stagnation — instead we are nourished by renewal, continuity, and growth. Together, may we go from strength to strength.”
