The Jewish Fertility Foundation, a non-profit organization geared toward providing financial assistance and personalized programming to Jewish individuals and couples pursuing parenthood, officially began servicing across Greater Houston on July 6, officials confirmed.
Founder and CEO Elana Frank announced the opening of JFF-Houston in a Aug. 4 news release. This expansion marks the foundation’s 11th community nationwide and its first venture into Houston, which is home to approximately 60,000 Jewish residents, according to the release.
About the organization
Officials told Community Impact that JFF’s mission is rooted in helping community residents navigate their fertility journey by providing a range of in-person and virtual services.
For qualifying residents across all of its 11 branches, the organization provides grants up to $10,000 for IUI and IVF treatments, officials said. Eligibility requirements for these grants stipulate that at least one intended parent must be Jewish and the individual or couple must be planning to raise their child with the Jewish faith.
Outside of financial assistance, JFF also offers emotional support services ranging from free, therapist-facilitated support groups hosted in confidential spaces to its Fertility Buddies Program.
The buddy program is designed for individuals seeking relationship-based support while experiencing infertility or are in the process of building a family. Clients who sign up are matched one-on-one with a trained volunteer who experienced their own fertility journey, offering a more personal approach to counseling services, according to its website.
Officials added that JFF provides educational resources as well, such as its Fertility 101 webinar; professional training for doctors, clinics and clergy; and its Legacy of Love Program designed for grandparents looking to support a loved one in their path to parenthood.
Stay tuned
The newly opened branch is scheduled to host a celebratory kickoff event Sept. 1 at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston. The festivities will feature remarks from Frank, as well as JFF-Houston Committee Chairs Martha Barvin and Dr. Lorrianne Morrow, according to event details.
The kickoff will begin at 7 p.m. and interested attendees may RSVP their attendance in advance online.
While JFF-Houston does not have a physical office address, all of its events are hosted in-person and virtually at various locations, officials clarified. Clients can find further information on the foundation’s upcoming events across the city at JFF-Houston’s official website.
