For some families, involvement with JFS Dallas starts with a single volunteer shift. For the Blum family, it became something much more, a shared family experience rooted in community service from one generation to the next,l’dor v’dor.

“My family first got involved when my mom began working at Levine Academy through JFS,” Zoe Blum explains. “Then my dad joined the [JFS Dallas Foundation] board. [My twin sister] Mia, and I got involved through volunteering at the Food Pantry and helping with the Passover boxes.”

What began as occasional volunteer hours quickly became something deeper.

“I started out small, volunteering every so often,” she says. “But now I’m involved every month through the Student Impact Board. It only takes a little to start making a difference in the community.”

For Zoe, the Student Impact Board has been a highlight of her high school experience.

“It’s just so fun. I love our monthly meetings and all the events and bonding. I can’t thank Michelle Cannon [Director of Community Engagement] enough for starting this because it has given me so many incredible opportunities.”

Zoe also completed a 180-hour summer internship through JFS, where she worked with the Dallas Jewish Historical Society (DJHS), an experience she describes as unforgettable.

“I met the current president of the Student Impact Board, Ainsley Montgomery, and together we created archives for an actress named Ada Lynn,” Zoe shares. “I fell in love with the program and even returned the next summer to help write a graveyard tour. I would not have found this amazing organization without JFS, and for that I am forever grateful. It truly was one of the best summers of my life.”

As Zoe prepares for college, her connection to JFS isn’t ending. “I am truly grateful for what JFS brings to the community and so excited to see what the future holds, even from college!”