Guests at the inaugural Founders Luncheon toured the JVS office in Downtown San Francisco, connected over a catered lunch, and engaged in a thoughtful panel discussion with JVS leadership.

On February 19, 2026, JVS welcomed longtime supporters at our San Francisco office for the inaugural Founders Luncheon, a special gathering recognizing those who have supported JVS for more than a decade and held numerous board and committee positions with the organization. Among the guests were individuals who first supported the organization when JVS opened its doors in 1973. Their generosity over many years has helped JVS expand pathways to opportunity for tens of thousands of jobseekers across California.

The event celebrated the generosity and commitment of supporters who have helped sustain JVS through social, political, and economic change. It also created space for meaningful converstion between these dedicated supporters and JVS leaders guiding the organization’s mission into the future.

From left: JVS alum and Board Member Yasmeen Gonzales and event chair and former Board Member Lynn Bunim present during the lunch; JVS Alum Dave Kremer shares his career story with attendees; and longtime supporter Melvin Wasserman reacts to a question during Bunim’s presentation.

Following the lunch and alumni presentations, attendees heard from current and former JVS leadership in a panel discussion moderated by Lynn Bunim. Topics included the effects of AI on California workers, the importance of public policy support for workforce development, and advancing JVS’s core Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedakah (charitable giving).

Guests heard from a panel featuring JVS Chief Program Officer Kelcie Wong, former JVS CEO Abby Snay, and JVS CEO Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, moderated by Lynn Bunim, followed by a Q&A with attendees.

We are deeply grateful to the supporters who joined us for this special gathering and whose longstanding commitment continues to make JVS’s work possible. Those interested in attending similar events like the Founders Luncheon can contact Sarah Gordon, Director of Individual Giving and Special Events, at sgordon@jvs.org.

The next opportunity to gather as a JVS community will be Envision: Meeting the Moment, our annual gala celebrating supporters, alumni, and staff, on April 30, 2026 in San Francisco. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased using the button below.