JFCS extends a hearty Mazel Tov to Rhona Cohen, the 2024 recipient of the Volunteer Lay Leadership Award from the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA)! Each year, this award is presented to a single volunteer in North America who exemplifies initiative, resourcefulness, trust, and credibility; manages and champions effective change; and influences others to build consensus. The entire South Jersey Jewish community benefits from Rhona’s years of dedication and leadership.
Years ago, Cherry Hill resident Rhona Cohen’s accountant suggested that she and her husband, Sandy, expand their charitable giving and pointed them towards JFCS. That first donation brought Rhona into the JFCS “fold,” and once she began to learn about the agency’s life-sustaining mission, there was no turning back. Throughout her fifteen years of meaningful service, Rhona has sat on nearly every JFCS committee, including Board Governance, Counseling, Disability Services, Finance, Relationships & Development, and the Stepping Out annual fundraiser. She joined the Board of Directors in 2010, serving as Vice President from 2012 through 2016.
Enjoying the quiet satisfaction that comes from volunteer service, Rhona prefers to work behind-the-scenes, and has subsequently served as a Board member at large. She also heads the JFCS Advisory Council, comprised of 20 business and community leaders, ensuring that they are well-informed, connected, and engaged. As a member of the JFCS Funds Development Committee, Rhona has helped raise more than $10 million, positioning the agency to expand its capacity, advance its mission, and extend its reach. For Rhona, JFCS represents a bridge – enriching the lives of clients and supporters alike as a profoundly positive community force.
Thanks to her professional background in speech pathology and traumatic brain injury care, Rhona has a unique ability to meet people where they are, listen attentively, and communicate with care. Whether she is raising critical funds, nurturing new talent, or forging key relationships, Rhona brings exceptional warmth and wisdom to every interaction. “It has been such a privilege getting to know Rhona and working alongside her,” said JFCS Executive Director Raechel Hammer. “She is a tireless and compassionate leader who has helped to transform countless lives. Her enduring impact and vision have set our agency on course for an even brighter future ahead!”
