As part of Jewish Family Services’ 120th anniversary celebration, the agency is highlighting families that have had tremendous impact on its ongoing success.
The Krigel family will be honored at the upcoming Jewish Family Services (JFS) celebration event on Thursday, Aug. 24, which has been moved to the Overland Park Marriott Hotel to accommodate a larger crowd. Sponsorships and individual tickets are available; those interested should please contact Debbie Bass, JFS Chief Development Officer, at .
For Lara Krigel Pabst, JFS’ current board president (2021-2023), her longstanding involvement with JFS is no trivial matter — but it did start with trivia.
It wasn’t as if Pabst didn’t already have deep roots in JFS when she moved back to Kansas City in 2004. Her grandmother Peggy Krigel (1991-1993), aunt Erlene Krigel (2005-2007) and cousin Sevi Krigel (1979-1981) were all past presidents of the JFS board.
Pabst’s involvement, however, did not start at such a lofty level. At an event in 2004, she decided to get involved in JFS.
“Nine years later,” she said, “Sandi Fried asked me to be on a committee to help plan the very first trivia event. I said yes, and I helped plan that first trivia with Erin Berger and Noah Slabotsky, and it was a lot of fun. After that event, I was asked to be on the board, and I have been involved with JFS ever since.”
As Pabst’s familiarity with JFS has deepened, so has her belief that the organization’s chief mission is helping people improve their lives, particularly in times of crisis for individuals or families.
“I believe that JFS helps them put the pieces together,” she said. “If there are barriers, we help remove those barriers.”
