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Holocaust Survivor Luncheon attendees from 2025
Gulf Coast JFCS is honored to host its annual Holocaust Survivor Day Celebrations, bringing together survivors and their families to strengthen connections across generations.
Taking place over two days, the first celebration will be held in Pinellas County on June 2 at Temple B’nai Israel in Clearwater. The second will be in Sarasota on June 4 at The Ora. These gatherings provide Holocaust survivors and their guests with a meaningful space for connection, reflection and joy, honoring both the individual journeys of survivors and the vibrant communities they continue to shape.
“Holocaust Survivor Day is a day of light,” Marina Reed, Holocaust Survivor Program Director at Gulf Coast JFCS says. “We carry many solemn days in our calendar, days of remembrance and reflection. But this day is different. This is a day of life, of connection and of joy. We come together not only to remember what we lost, but to celebrate those who are still with us – the survivors whose strength, courage and spirit continue to shape our community. On this day we sit together, we listen, we share and we honor not just survival, but living. Despite everything they endured, they built families, communities and futures. Holocaust survivor day reminds us that even after the darkest times, light is possible. That resilience can become joy. That being together – across generations – is itself a victory. Today, we celebrate that light.”
Support for the Holocaust Survivor Program remains vital. As the cost of essential needs such as medical care and in-home support continues to rise, many survivors face growing financial challenges. Community generosity plays a critical role in ensuring survivors can live with dignity, comfort and the care they deserve.
According to the Claims Conference, there are 196,600 Holocaust Survivors alive today with the median age being 87.
To learn more about the Holocaust Survivor Program at Gulf Coast JFCS as a survivor in need of support or as a supporter, visit Jewish Family Services – Gulf Coast JFCS, or to donate, visit gulfcoastjfcs.org/ donations. About Gulf Coast JFCS: Protecting the vulnerable, strengthening families and empowering individuals throughout the state of Florida since 1974, Gulf Coast JFCS helps the most vulnerable people throughout our community, from babies to seniors, to find safety, comfort, and a path toward a fulfilling life. To help as many people as compassionately and comprehensively as possible through complex life challenges, Gulf Coast JFCS programs span a broad human service spectrum, reaching more than 30,000 people annually throughout Tampa Bay and beyond. Our programs include career development, behavioral health services, family support and more.
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