Harry and Gail Himmelstein recently made a gift of $100,000 to Jewish Family Services (JFS) in honor of its 120th anniversary to support the organization’s older adult services.
In making their contribution, the Himmelsteins called attention to JFS’s ongoing efforts to support older adults and their desire to live independently. The gift also established the Harry and Gail Himmelstein Older Adults Endowment Fund, housed at the Jewish Community Foundation.
In announcing the $100,000 gift, Harry Himmelstein shared his motivation for directing it to support JFS’s older adult programs.
“I've always had an interest and fondness for older people,” he said. “I was on the Village Shalom board for about 25 years, and before that, my father used to always take me to visit his mother. I think the organization checks all the boxes and fills in all the gaps that are needed in our community.”
Himmelstein said he felt the time was right to make the gift.
"It was time to do something that we knew would boost JFS up and put it toward an area we feel strongly about,” he said. “We are happy to be able to do this.”
On behalf of the JFS board of directors, Board Member Jenny Isenberg thanked the Himmelsteins for their gift during a private reception in their honor.
“To see the example Gail and Harry have set will impact so many in a positive way for many years to come,” Isenberg said.
The Himmelsteins have been long-time donors to JFS. Harry Himmelstein gave credit to his son Paul, a former JFS board member, for educating him about all the work the organization does to help people in the community.
Paul Himmelstein was on-hand for the event along with his wife, Susan Himmelstein, and their three daughters.
“My parents showed me how to live and how to give back,” Paul Himmelstein said. “Susan and I try to have the values my parents instilled in me, live those values, and model them for our children.”
JFS serves approximately 850 older adults annually through three coordinated services designed to support them living independently in their own home and community. Seventy-four of these adults are Holocaust survivors. Through JFS’s Jet Express volunteer driver program, over 9,000 rides were given to more than 300 older adults in 2022. The Help@Home program, which provides a community handyman to do basic home maintenance and safety modifications, provides over 1,000 services to around 200 households each year. JFS’s care management program assisted over 500 individuals with various needs. Almost 90% of JFS Older Adult Services are funded through philanthropic support, like the Himmelsteins’ gift.
The Himmelsteins’ granddaughters shared their thoughts about their grandparents’ generosity.
“It’s really inspiring to see what my grandparents are doing,” Emily Himmelstein said. “It makes me want to be able to do the same thing when I grow older.”
“It makes me very proud,” Abigail Himmelstein said. “It is always great to see my grandparents honored and recognized.”
Those interested in giving opportunities for JFS can contact JFS Chief Development Officer Debbie Bass, MPA, CFRE, at or call (913) 327-8299. Donations may also be made at jfskc.org/ways-to-give/.