Anita Friedman is the executive director of Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin & Sonoma Counties in California, one of the largest family service institutions in America. JFCS operates more than 40 educational and social service programs, among them assisted living for seniors, adoption, refugee resettlement, assistance to the disabled, services for victims of abuse, counseling, and mental health and education services for children and youth. Each year, JFCS serves more than 100,000 individuals. JFCS, founded in 1850, is also the oldest charitable organization west of the Mississippi River.