One of San Diego’s oldest social service organizations on Sunday dedicated a state-of-the-art campus in Kearny Mesa following completion of a four-year, $11 million project.
Jewish Family Service of San Diego‘s new campus consolidates the 97-year-old organization’s employees, programs, and services in two adjacent buildings on Balboa Avenue.
“The renovated campus is a reflection of our principles of being client-centered, promoting collaboration, and improving our ability to deliver life-changing services,” said CEO Michael Hopkins.
Jewish Family Service provides services ranging from meals and transportation, to counseling and job coaching, to helping military and refugees throughout San Diego County and the Coachella Valley. Services are provided to needy individuals and families of all religions.
The campus was dedicated in the Jewish tradition when Rabbi Yael Ridberg of Congregation Dor Hadash placed a mezuzah, a document with verses from the book of Deuteronomy, in a decorative case beside one of the buildings’ doors.
Philanthropist Irwin Jacobs, the founder of Qualcomm, and his wife Joan led the fundraising effort, and the campus is named in their honor.
“For a very long time we have admired the work that goes on here,” said Joan Jacobs at the ceremony.
The organization also chose the occasion to introduce a new tagline — “Moving Forward Together” — to describe the work that it does in San Diego.
