MJCC Donor Newsletter May 2013

Exclusive updates for our donors and supporters from your MJCC Volume 5.0 - April - May 2013

Dear friends,

Your support is making a positive impact on a daily basis at the MJCC. We want to share with you two powerful examples of programs that often take place quietly, away from the spotlight of our more visible programs, but have a profound impact on some of our most vulnerable community members.

INPOWER

Inpower is an exercise program designed specifically for cancer patients. Created by Laura Rosencrantz, this program is housed in the MJCC and utilizes our excellent fitness facilities to provide individualized training for cancer patients.

Despite advanced medical treatments, cancer therapies can cause debilitating side effects: depression, paralyzing fatigue and loss of muscle mass, all of which diminishes one’s quality of life. By maintaining or increasing physical fitness through a customized cancer exercise program, patients can actually reduce the number and intensity of side effects, improve quality of life, and help in overall recovery and quality of life.

One Inpower participant describes the program’s positive impact this way: All the doctors, chemo, radiation, pills and treatment in the world could not have made as much of a difference as the Inpower class did. My oncologist is thrilled with the progress and results. This much I know for sure: I may not beat this cancer, but I can honestly say that, because of the Inpower program, I did not let this cancer beat me. Thank you for caring about people with cancer!

The Inpower program is a uniquely powerful cancer program in Portland and we are extremely proud of the work that Laura is doing at the MJCC. Please visit the website link below to watch a wonderful story about Inpower that was recently highlighted on KATU news. www.oregonjcc.org/inpower Continued on page 2

THERAPY POOL

The Warm Water Therapy Pool has been a cornerstone of the MJCC since its earliest days as a community center. It provides a safe setting where seniors, overweight individuals and those recovering from surgery and/or suffering from a number of physical ailments can experience freedom and mobility pain-free.

The feedback we receive from our pool users is testament to the remarkable healing powers of the warm-water aquatic environment. We hear regularly from folks who have experienced the tremendous effects of warmwater exercise. These personal accounts speak volumes and underscore the critical community need that is being met by our Therapy Pool.

One such story comes from an MJCC member, Anton B., who has a debilitating physical disease and is confined to a wheelchair on his back. He requires the assistance of a service dog as well as a human caregiver. Below is an excerpt from a letter Anton’s caregiver sent the MJCC shortly after starting Aquatic Therapy: Anton came for his first swim therapy today, and it was a wonderful success! Afterwards he told me all about his experience. He said he couldn’t believe how amazing it felt to be weightless, able to float and move freely in the water, and even “stand” (float) upright.

He is absolutely loving aquatherapy and is already feeling the health benefits in body and mind. You have made a big difference in his life, thanks to the generosity and wonderful facilities of the MJCC… The Therapy Pool serves hundreds of individuals, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, economic circumstance, physical or mental ability. The therapy pool users constitute a true community of people who extend caring support and often even physical help to one another. Beyond exercise for their bodies alone, this provides many with a singular social outlet, feeding the human need for contact and interaction, vital aspects of mental and emotional health.

With only a handful of other heated pool facilities in the city of Portland still operating, the MJCC’s Warm Water Therapy Pool is a vital asset in our community. It is also one of the most expensive programs to run.

Without the support of donors like you, our Therapy Pool patrons would have much more limited access to this life-changing facility.

Thank you for your continued support of the MJCC.

Lisa Horowitz Executive Director

Jordana Levenick Operations Manager

ROOTS & RAFTERS Planting the Seeds for a Sustainable Future Roots & Rafters Projects Enhance the MJCC Experience Roots & Rafters is a focused effort to raise funds needed for overdue repairs, upgrades and enhancements for the Schnitzer Family Campus, encompassing both PJA and MJCC. Planned repairs will increase fiscal sustainability, create a “greener” and more secure campus, with upgraded amenities for persons with disabilities who use the Therapy Pool. As a whole, the planned improvements will make campus experiences more meaningful and inviting for more individuals and families.

While we are still in the process of raising the final $500,000 to complete the project’s budget of $3.5 million, we are pleased to announce that plans for the first of the slated projects are underway. Perhaps most noticeable to all of our guests will be repairs to the parking lot. Soon pot holes and uneven asphalt will be a thing of the past for the MJCC! In order to reduce the impact to our patrons, we are planning on making the repairs in the fall when the campus is closed for the high holidays.

A much less visible but top priority project involves the safety and security of our campus. While we do not want to share details for security reasons, please be assured that the improvements will enhance the already strong safety and security measure that we have in place.

Finally, MJCC members who love our very popular cycling program will be thrilled to learn that four new cycle bikes arrived at our facility last week and are already being put to good use in our cycle classes. These popular Freemotion S.116 Series bikes were paid for by some of the funds raised to date in the Roots & Rafters campaign. Thank you!

For more information about Roots & Rafters, please visit our website at www.rootsandrafters.org or contact Jennifer Baldwin, Director of Development, at 503.535.3594 or jbaldwin@oregonjcc.org.

Roots & Rafters Donor Corrections

We inadvertently omitted two donors to our Roots & Rafters honor roll in our last donor newsletters. We apologize for the oversight and are happy to thank them publicly here for their support.

• David and Ronnie Malka - $1,080 • Tom and Julie Diamond - $540

May is Jewish Arts Month

The MJCC is thrilled to once again host Jewish Arts Month. Every Sunday in May a new art show will launch in the MJCC lobby.

Members of ORA Northwest Jewish Artists will be on hand throughout the week to answer questions, accept commissions, and sell their art. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the MJCC! For more information about individual artists, please visit www.northwestjewishartists.org

MJCC Board of Directors Jordan D. Schnitzer - Chairman Edith Dorsen - Board President Jerry Sadis - Executive Vice President Stacy Barna Barry Benson Brian Carleton Jonathan Glass Eric Kodesch Shirlee Lenske Ellen Lippman Mark S. Meyer Bob Philip Gayle Schnitzer Romain Steve Rosenberg Alison Rosenfeld Jay Zidell

MJCC Day Camp Makes Lasting Connections and Memories for Campers

MJCC Day Camp, one of the oldest Day Camp traditions in Portland, continues to provide fun programs for all ages including archery, swimming, soccer, arts, movie making and more. Serving children from ages 3 to 13 and designed with the needs of parents and the desires of their children in mind, the MJCC Day Camp keeps campers coming back for more fun year after year. Dedicated Day Camp staff members provide the endless fun and familiarity that campers (and their parents) cherish.

The MJCC provides financial assistance to many families who wish to attend our camp. Sponsors and donors like you are critical to the success of this program. Your support provides tuition assistance to families who may otherwise struggle to secure safe and enriching summer care options for their children. We believe that any child who wants a fun summer camp experience should be able to participate in our programs. Only with your support, can we achieve this goal.

Please consider supporting our camp scholarship program with a donation today. For more information, please contact Jennifer Baldwin, Director of Development, at 503.535.3594 or jbaldwin@oregonjcc.org.

We are grateful to the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and our community for their support of the MJCC.

Supported by

www.jewishportland.org

MJCC • 6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219 • 503.244.0111 • www.oregonjcc.org