Selfhelp Community Services, Inc.

06/07/2026

A letter from Ilse’s family caused tension with her guardian during the Holocaust, leading to changes in her treatment. Despite visits from social workers, she was unable to share her true experience.

🎬 Watch Ilse’s full story: https://youtu.be/J_CwAopQkac

06/06/2026

Ilse reflects on the challenges of sharing her story as a Holocaust survivor, fearing rejection and misunderstanding, even from those closest to her.

🎬 Watch Ilse’s full story: https://youtu.be/J_CwAopQkac

06/05/2026

Ilse was one of 10,000 children rescued through the Kindertransport. Though she found safety in Britain, the journey came with sacrifices and the loss of connection to her family.

🎬 Watch Ilse’s full story: https://youtu.be/J_CwAopQkac

06/04/2026

During the Holocaust, Ilse lived with a childless couple who took her in for social credit. Over time, she was treated more like a servant than a daughter, a painful experience that shaped her resilience.

🎬 Watch Ilse’s full story: https://youtu.be/J_CwAopQkac

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Today, Selfhelp and UJA-Federation of New York came together for a special Coffee House event in honor of Holocaust Survivor Day. We were joined by NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin, Council Member Virginia Maloney, the CEO of UJA, Eric Goldstein, and the CEO of Selfhelp, Stuart Kaplan, who shared meaningful remarks. Everyone gathered together for the connection, music, dancing, and heartfelt conversations this afternoon.

Selfhelp and UJA were honored to receive a proclamation from the New York City Council, presented by Speaker Menin, on behalf of our commitment to serving Holocaust survivors with care and dignity. Councilmember Maloney provided special certificates for survivors at the Coffee House on behalf of Holocaust Survivor Day. We are appreciative of so many supporters of Selfhelp's services for survivors - from UJA, Claims Conference (Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany), the NYC Council and NYC Department for the Aging, and Foundations, including Seed the Dream Foundation, which was a sponsor of our 2026 Holocaust Survivor Day events.

📸 Photo credit: NYC Council

06/04/2026

Holocaust Survivor Day is a day to celebrate the bravery, sacrifices, and lives of survivors. Together, we will celebrate those who survived.

Learn about our Holocaust Education: https://selfhelp.net/holocausteducation/

06/03/2026

Ilse was born just outside of Vienna in 1928. Her life changed forever after the Anschluss, when she and other Jewish students were expelled from school, losing friends and rights one by one.

🎬 Watch Ilse’s full story: https://youtu.be/J_CwAopQkac

06/02/2026

90 years of history, 90 years of thinking big. 💙 Hear from some of our amazing team and special guests saying about Selfhelp's 90th anniversary. From supporting Holocaust survivors to holding events for older adults, our mission is driven by compassion.

Here’s to 90 more! 🥂

You can join and support the next chapter of our work here: selfhelp.net/ways-to-give/

06/01/2026

Selfhelp’s 90th Anniversary Gala last Wednesday brought together 500 supporters at Pier Sixty to celebrate an incredible milestone! 🎉 Together, we raised over $1.6M to support 25,000 older adults, including 5,000 Holocaust survivors, aging with dignity and independence.

Hosted by Richard Kind, the evening honored two remarkable leaders:

🏆 Jeff Schoenfeld, recipient of the Fran Eizenstat Legacy Award
🏆 U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng, honored with the Visionary Leadership Award

The night was filled with powerful moments, including a tribute to the late Victor Wyler and a special 90th anniversary video that brought Selfhelp’s legacy to life.

A highlight of the evening: Jeff Schoenfeld’s inspiring $100,000 challenge gift to further support Holocaust survivors—an opportunity to deepen our impact together.

💙 Thank you to our Gala Co-Chairs, Committee, and every supporter and volunteer who made this milestone celebration a success. Your generosity ensures that thousands of older New Yorkers continue to live with dignity and independence.

Here’s to 90 years! 🥂 You can watch our complete Gala videos on our YouTube. 🎥 https://loom.ly/eGKHimw