FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Katherine Moore
(323) 761-8888 x8904

JVS ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF BOARD
Arkady Milgram to Join Board of Non-Profit

With the nation's unemployment rate at almost six percent, more and more people are struggling to find work in an economy where the lack of available jobs is the worst in almost 20 years. In Los Angeles alone, more than 300,000 people are out of work. To address the evolving needs of this growing population, JVS has added a diverse group of people to its board of directors, including Arkady Milgram, a former client of JVS who now works as a financial planner.

Founded in 1931, JVS, a non-profit, non-sectarian organization, offers a wide range of vocational and human resource services to individuals and businesses throughout Los Angeles. In the last year alone, the number of people turning to JVS for help jumped almost 50%, further affirming that everyone from middle managers to blue-collar workers has been affected by the economic downturn. In addition, JVS offers mentoring and career programs for women, welfare recipients, students, refugees and immigrants. JVS' Certified Nurse Assistant program trains people for careers in the nursing industry, and includes on-the-job training, a guaranteed salary and ESL classes. Annually, JVS serves more than 13,000 people in greater Los Angeles.

A graduate of Moscow University with a degree in Biochemistry, Milgram immigrated to the United States in 1988 as a political refugee. He turned to JVS for help and within a month, he had landed his first job. Currently Assistant Managing Director of the Mony Group in Los Angeles, Milgram has worked with such companies as Metlife and American Express in the fields of financial planning, sales and training. He has also used his personal experiences to raise funds for the Federations' Exodus program to aid Russian resettlement in Israel.

"When I arrived in the United States as a political refugee, I had to rebuild my life completely," says Milgram. "Having my JVS caseworker as an advocate made a huge difference during the incredibly difficult period of acculturation. Once I had some stability and could begin to build my own career and future, I wanted to become active in the community to give something back. I look forward to working with the board to help other people, particularly immigrants and refugees."

A resident of Studio City, Milgram joins a prestigious group of business and community leaders supporting JVS including Richard Foos, Founder of Rhino Records; Alan Berlin of the Jules Berlin Agency; and James Maslon, former vice-president of Rykoff Sexton.

On May 14th, JVS will present the 6th Annual Strictly Business Luncheon, focusing on the agency's direct services to local businesses. Arden Realty Chairman and CEO Richard S. Ziman and his wife Daphna, a leading child advocate, will be the featured speakers, and Wells Fargo will be honored as Corporate Citizen of the Year.

For more information about JVS or the Strictly Business Luncheon, visit www.jvsla.org.
# # #