JFSLA Appoints Tami Kagan-Abrams as Chair of Board of Directors
At its Board Installation ceremony on Sunday, July 14th, Jewish Family Service LA appointed Tami Kagan-Abrams as Board Chair for the 2024-2026 term. With over a decade of service as a JFSLA Board member, Tami has held pivotal roles, including Chair of the Public Policy and Programs Committee, and has contributed to several other program committees as well.
Tami’s journey with JFSLA began as a donor and has since evolved into a profound commitment to furthering JFSLA’s mission. In 2007, Tami donated to JFSLA after hearing a plea on the radio for food and hunger resources in Los Angeles. The very next day, the JFSLA Resource Development Director reached out to learn more about this first-time donor, who had made one of the organization’s first online contributions (if not the first!). This meeting also inspired Tami to join JFSLA’s Young Leaders, a group of community-minded individuals between the ages of 21-40 who are committed to furthering JFSLA’s mission through volunteerism, philanthropy efforts, social events, and more.
Tami’s first experience as a Young Leader was touring JFSLA’s SOVA Community Food and Resource Program pantry in the Valley. She was deeply moved when she saw the non-perishable food items, including stacks of baby formula, distributed to individuals experiencing food insecurity. As a mother herself, she was deeply saddened by the idea of babies and mothers experiencing hunger.
“Now, any hunger is terrible, but the thought of hungry babies is uniquely horrific, and tears pricked my eyes,” Tami recalled. “But instead, I stopped the tears and scolded myself: ‘You are not the hungry one. You don’t get to cry over the baby formula. You get to do the work.’ And that was the day I knew JFSLA was how I would practice Tikkun Olam.”
Tami later assumed the role of Young Leaders Chair, which soon led to an invitation to join the JFSLA Board of Directors. Over the years, Tami has witnessed the agency navigate challenging times and feels particularly privileged to have observed Nina Tassler and Randy Magnin, former JFSLA Board Chairs, steer the agency during the worst years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Over its 170-year history, JFSLA has successfully adapted to many changes, some of tremendous magnitude,” said Tami. “As Board Chair, I hope to continue the incredible work of the leaders before me to help strengthen the agency and prepare for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, both in the next two years and the next 170.”
In her career, Tami has served as the Director of Program Management for Disney’s ABC Television Group. Tami also participated in the Voluntears Program, bringing her team to volunteer at JFSLA’s SOVA pantries and mentoring Army veterans through Disney’s partnership with American Corporate Partners. Prior to Disney, Tami worked in program management at Yahoo entertainment properties. She served on the board of directors of the Yahoo Employee Foundation, an employee funded and led organization, and successfully championed three separate grants for JFS Hope’s domestic violence services. Tami received a master’s degree in Communication Management from the Annenberg School at USC and a bachelor’s degree in Communication from UCLA. She lives in LA with her husband and daughter.
