Bringing financial support and emotional and educational resources to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Jewish Fertility Foundation (JFF), a non-profit providing financial assistance, emotional support, and educational programming to individuals on a family-building journey celebrated the expansion of their services to include those without a diagnosis of medical infertility. This expansion opened the door for many in the LGBTQIA+ community to access JFF’s financial support and was celebrated with a launch event at New Riff Distilling, in Newport, KY.
Guests enjoyed a game of trivia and learned from community leaders and experts. Elliot Draznin, leader of elech: Cincinnati’s Queer Jew-ish Community, introduced the evening by speaking about community, resilience, and hope during uncertain times for those in the intersection of the Jewish & LGBTQIA+ community. Rachel Loftspring, Partner at The Family Law and Fertility Law Group, whose decades-long legal focus has been on meeting the needs of families, talked about the legal issues relating to assisted reproductive technology and legally securing one’s family. Dr. Emily Hurley, Assistant Professor – Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at UC Health Center for Reproductive Health, spoke about various reproductive technologies and the process of choosing a doctor. Lis Regula, Advocacy Associate at Men Having Babies, spoke about the legislative landscape, as well as how employers can support those on a family-building journey, and how employees can advocate for themselves and others.
The highlight of the evening was when a Jewish Fertility Foundation® Fertility Buddy Veteran and queer single parent spoke about her own experience having a child and finding community. Her speech was beautiful and moving, and brought hope to many in attendance.
“Not only did Pathways to Parenthood provide a tangible community connection point, it also provided our intersection with an opportunity for much needed joy during a difficult time.” -Elliot Draznin, leader of elech.
To date, JFF has made a huge impact on Jewish communities across all of their locations and will continue to boast impressive statistics. Elana Frank, CEO and Founder of JFF says, “What we have been able to accomplish since I started JFF is beyond anything I could have imagined. Across the country, we are delivering the necessary resources that Jewish families and beyond need to be fruitful and multiply.”
JFF would like to thank the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati for generously paving the way to expand community support, and celebrate this milestone. Additionally, JFF thanks the following partners and
supporters: Adath Israel Congregation, Beth Israel Congregation, Cafe Alma, elech: Cincinnati’s Queer Jew-ish Community, Jewish Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, Mayerson JCC of Cincinnati, Northern Hills Synagogue, Rockdale Temple, Rockwern Academy, Temple Sholom, The Family Law & Fertility Law Group, Transform, UC Health, and Wise Temple.
About Jewish Fertility Foundation
Elana Frank, CEO and Founder of The Jewish Fertility Foundation created the non-profit organization in 2015 after experiencing her own infertility journey. She came to the realization that cost, education, and access to infertility treatments were tremendous stumbling blocks for this “unspoken” issue in the Jewish community. JFF provides financial assistance, educational awareness, and emotional support
to those struggling to build their families in the communities we serve.
