New chapters in life can begin at any age, and each one deserves to be celebrated.
As the region commemorates Pride Month, Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS) is uplifting those who have paved the way for a new generation. The LGBTQ+ Elder Initiative, a new pilot program at JFCS, ensures that as seniors enter a new phase of life, they are not left behind.
“All elders need our focus, but LGBTQ+ elders have a particularly difficult place. That is why the elder initiative was created,” said JFCS therapist Michael Byrne, MSS, LCSW. “Some folks in this community were initially alienated from their birth families when they came out. They had to create their own chosen families. Now, as they age, they are witnessing the gradual loss of that chosen family, and they are left feeling increasingly isolated and alone.”
Supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Bernard and Etta Weinberg Family Fund, the initiative received a $112,000 grant this year to provide both clinical services and care management. With individual and group therapy, offering skill-building tools, such as stress tolerance, mindfulness, and art therapy, the initiative surrounds seniors with a supportive community to live out their lives with dignity and pride.
“By participating in these programs, I have discovered that I can be proud of my thoughts, feelings and my true identity,” shared one JFCS client, who wished to remain anonymous. “I am grateful that I no longer have to be silent and hide my true self. I always feel that my voice is heard.”
At JFCS, support also extends beyond therapy. Clients are connected with care managers who help them navigate housing, financial needs, healthcare and other essential services. The organization also offers other services to support the entire LGBTQ+ community, such as Dear Ally, an anonymous online question and answer forum for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
“We are honored to support this essential pilot program, which brings focus to members of our community who for too long have been overlooked,” said Liz Shaid, Weinberg Committee Chair. “The Bernard and Etta Weinberg Family Fund distributes grants following the terms of Etta Weinberg’s trust to the areas she cared most about during her lifetime, including geriatric counseling and care management. We believe that this program embodies the intent of this fund and will help a generation of Jewish people, who are being seen for the first time.”
The funds provided by the Weinberg grant have already had an impact, allowing JFCS to expand their reach and support more LGBTQ+ older adults.
“Thanks to the Weinberg Fund, we’ve increased our number of support groups, psychoeducational programs and inclusive offerings. We’ve also deepened our work in senior housing — something we weren’t previously positioned to do,” shared Courtney Owen, LCSW and JFCS’ chief program officer.
Not only does JFCS offer a welcoming and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community, but the organization also serves families and individuals across all generations and cultures, helping them achieve stability, independence, and community. To support this work, the Jewish Federation provided over $1.3 million to JFCS in Fiscal Year 2025 through the Jewish Community Fund — the organization’s main source of unrestricted dollars that go towards the greatest need — and the Weinberg Fund.
According to Byrne, engagement from the Jewish community, through both financial support and meaningful partnerships, means everything.
“These are folks who lived through the AIDS crisis, through the Stonewall era, through times when being a member of the LGBTQ+ community could cost you everything,” he shared. “With antisemitism and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric on the rise, they are watching their rights being questioned again. It can be frightening and triggering.”
But, despite the challenges, many are rediscovering pride during this new chapter — pride in their identity, in their age and in the resilience they’ve cultivated over a lifetime.
“Life is just beginning and it’s never too late to change,” continued Byrne. “If your life isn’t where you want it to be, or if you’re afraid of getting older, don’t be. This phase of your life can be the most incredible yet. And we’re here to help you make it so.”
***
The Jewish Federation is a proud funder of organizations, programs, and initiatives that support the LGBTQ+ community and honor the diversity within our community. To help support this mission, click here.
To learn more about JFCS’s LGBTQ+ Elder Initiative, click here or call 866.JFCS.NOW (866.532.7669).
