On August 24th, Ms. H. of Staten Island began her new position as a Telehealth Nurse with the Cleveland Clinic, one of the nation’s most respected institutions in health care. Her achievement marks the 965th successful job placement secured by the Parnossah Employment Services Program since its founding more than a decade ago, bringing the program just 35 placements away from the remarkable milestone of 1,000 job placements—and underscoring its enduring commitment to helping New Yorkers achieve economic opportunity and career success.

Ms. H.’s journey with the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI) began well before her recent accomplishment. During the 2024–2025 program year, she received a scholarship from the Parnossah Employment Services Program to attend the School of Nursing at Pace University in Lower Manhattan. The scholarship helped make professional nursing education more accessible, equipping her with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a rewarding career in health care. As she advanced through her studies and prepared to enter the workforce, Ms. H. worked closely with JCCGCI’s Workforce Development Program, whose team provided personalized career counseling and employment support. Parnossah and Workforce Development Program staff collaborated to ensure that she received coordinated assistance throughout her educational and professional journey, helping translate her academic achievements into meaningful career opportunities.

Jeffrey Prince, MBA, Director of the Parnossah Employment Services Program and the Workforce Development Program, reflected on the significance of her success.

“The Parnossah Employment Services Program is about meeting each jobseeker where they are with the support they truly need. No two paths look the same,” said Mr. Prince. “Ms. H. demonstrated extraordinary resolve and determination throughout her time with Parnossah. It is especially gratifying to see her advance her career at the Cleveland Clinic, and we are proud to have played a part in her success.”

As Parnossah approaches its 1,000th job placement, Ms. H.’s success exemplifies the program’s longstanding mission: empowering individuals to achieve economic independence through professional training, individualized guidance, and meaningful employment opportunities.

The Parnossah Employment Services Program was established in April 2014 with funding from UJA-Federation of New York and is now funded by New York State’s Empire State Development. The program helps New Yorkers secure meaningful, sustainable employment in a culturally sensitive and respectful environment. Today, Parnossah serves jobseekers at multiple sites across New York City.

Over the past decade, the program has expanded its services to include one-on-one career counseling, résumé preparation, interview coaching, and direct engagement with employers to identify and develop employment opportunities. Scholarships provide an additional pathway to career advancement by helping participants access specialized training, acquire marketable credentials, and strengthen their competitiveness in today’s evolving job market. These scholarships have supported participants pursuing careers in health care, accounting, information technology, early childhood education, and the skilled trades.

Rabbi Moshe Wiener, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI), emphasized that the program’s achievements extend far beyond the impressive number of placements.

“Behind every one of these placements is an individual whose career prospects have been transformed and a family whose economic well-being has been strengthened. That is what inspires us to expand our reach and impact year after year,” said Rabbi Wiener. “Reaching 965 placements reflects the dedication of our staff, the generosity of our funders, and the determination of the jobseekers who place their trust in us. We look forward to celebrating our 1,000th placement and to the many more that will follow.”

Ms. H.’s journey, from a scholarship recipient in a Lower Manhattan classroom to a nurse at one of the country’s leading health care institutions, embodies what the Parnossah Employment Services Program was created to make possible. Her success demonstrates how access to education, combined with personalized career guidance and dedicated employment support, can transform aspirations into professional achievement. As the program moves closer to its 1,000th placement, JCCGCI remains committed to helping jobseekers overcome barriers to employment, achieve lasting economic stability, and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

👉 For more information about the Parnossah Employment Services Program, contact Jeffrey Prince at j.prince@jccgci.org or 718-449-5000 ext. 2246, or visit https://www.jccgci.org/programs/career-services/parnossah-employment-services/