Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Kryshka.
Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Parkland with my parents and younger brother and stayed in Florida for college and graduate school. I studied philosophy and literature at UCF and became very involved in activism, particularly women’s rights, and co-founded a chapter of a national group that I ran for 4 years along with several other remarkable women. This inspired me to pursue a career in the nonprofit world, and I later studied nonprofit management at FAU.
What makes life meaningful for me is constantly learning, whether through reading or podcasts or by connecting with others, and using whatever talents I have to try and improve the lives of others and the community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have been fortunate in so many ways, but no one’s life is without challenges. Figuring out who you are and being honest with yourself is hard, and I think most of the difficulties I’ve experience came from me making personal choices that weren’t right for me. I think what matters is learning from your mistakes and accepting that a lot of things are beyond our control.
From 2014 to 2023, I worked for the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches, and was CEO for the last 6 of those years. For a variety of reasons, the Board ultimately decided that they wanted JWF to become part of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach which effectively meant that I was out of a job, and the two years that followed that were the most difficult professional years I had. I also went through my second divorce in 2022, which only made the circumstances harder. I’m lucky that I have such a supportive network of friends and family, and that I met the love of my life, Jonathan, in 2023. I don’t know how I would have managed everything without his love and encouragement.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I joined Alzheimer’s Community Care as the Director of Philanthropy in February of this year, which is a departure from working almost exclusively for Jewish organizations my entire career. ACC is a tremendously impactful organization that provides critical support services to families caring for a loved one with dementia, and I am proud to be a part of such important work.
I work mostly with individuals and corporations that want to help family caregivers and support community wide dementia education and training. I think I’m known for my creative approaches, calculated risk taking, and excellent fundraising events. Building and maintaining relationships is everything in philanthropy, and I never take for granted the generosity of donors who trust that we use their gifts in the most effective way possible.
What makes you happy?
Lots of things make me happy! Spending time with my family and close friends is always at the top of the list, and as I mentioned earlier, learning is extremely important to me. I love spending time in art museums and bookstores, traveling throughout Florida to the many interesting and beautiful places here in our state, and I love anything horror related!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alzcare.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alzheimerscommcare/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlzheimersCommunityCare
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alzheimerscommunitycare
