Jewish Community Center Of Middlesex County
Building a Better Community Today‌ For a Stronger Community Tomorrow
MESSAGES
Dear Friends and Community Center members, We are writing to you today as members and friends who care about our Jewish Community Center as much as you do! We see you and your family using the aquatics, physical education, sports and health and wellness programs, involved in the many arts and cultural programs and we see you socialize with others while your children attend our Best in Class JCC Bright Beginnings Preschool, JCC Blue Dolphins Swim Team and aquatics programs. And it makes us feel so proud that we can provide all of these opportunities for you and for the entire community. We are excited to announce an expansion project that will make all of our collective experiences more fun, more safe and more inclusive, as we increase the footprint of our building. It is vital for the community, the members of the JCC, our guests and participants, that the JCC is able to provide more expansive and multipurpose space. ● We will offer expanded and enhanced programs and services, for our young families and children, to educate, enrich, stimulate and to assist in healthy and nurturing growth and development. ● This expansion project will create new classroom spaces and additional Early Childhood Learning and Enrichment space which will enable us to expand our STEM and other enrichment programs and greatly alleviate our waiting lists for admission. ● We will introduce new, state-of-the-art health, aquatics and physical education programs and enhanced facilities. ● The new Gymnasium will be state-of-the-art and include sound and acoustical modifications which will enable the gym to have a multi-use capability. The new gym will also have its own storage area to maximize utility and ease of function. ● Installation of State-of-the-Art multi-media/sound system with upgraded acoustics, for enhancement and expansion of various programs throughout the new facility. ● Additional parking along side of building adjacent to new Gymnasium area will increase the number of parking spots. ● Many other enhancements to the JCC facility. We look forward to having you join us in our efforts as we grow together to “Build a Better Community Today…For a Stronger Community Tomorrow”.
Barbara Spack and Howard Zuckerman
I have been involved with the JCC for over 30 years. First, as a young parent, then as Board Member, Executive Board Member, Board President, Executive Director and now, I am privileged to serve as the JCC Chief Executive Officer. The JCC has been my passion and center of our community for as long as I have been involved. Through the JCC, I made lifelong friends who continue to work passionately with me as Board volunteers or as professional staff. We have overcome various obstacles during the years to achieve the success we continue to enjoy today. Our program offerings are constantly expanding; our membership continues to increase and reflects the wonderful diversity of our great community.
We offer a series of signature programs at the JCC that continue to remain near and dear to me, both personally and professionally--Our highly acclaimed early childhood education at our Bright Beginnings Preschool and enrichment program and youth programs. Both my children, now successful adults, started their educational and recreational training at the JCC: Mommy and me programs, Pre-School, Day Camp, swim lessons, sports leagues, and special events. These programs helped them develop long term friendships in our community, as well as a very solid foundation in acquiring life-long learning skills from age 2 ½ and forward. Each September I am proud to greet parents and children who fill our building with their smiling, bright and eager faces as they come to class and meet the teachers. I cannot say enough good things about the warmth, love, nurturing ability, as well as the educational and social goals each teacher prepares for class. By the time children depart for Kindergarten, they are well prepared with key skills that will carry them through their entire education. Graduation Day is just magical! Our youth programs focus on various sports skills, creative skills and team building, as well as nurturing each child’s potential. Our Blue Dolphin Swim Team has been league champion for many, many years. It is my hope through construction of the Marion and Norman Tanzman Lifelong Enrichment Center we can achieve multiple goals…A major benefit and impact upon our families will be the ability to expand our highly acclaimed Bright Beginnings Preschool and services to youth. It will enhance our facility, as well as provide more services and programs to our wonderful, diverse community. It will allow us to continue to enrich and grow our JCC through cultural exchanges, knowledge, understanding, interactions and experiences we share together in our building as we are able to provide more programming across all age groups. All of us are made richer by these interactions. I continue to be very proud of our JCC and of where I see our future, both as a community center and as the center of all of our lives. It is the true center of our community and you are a vital part of it. I hope you will share my vision, take advantage of all we have to offer, and venture with us into our bright future! Dorothy M. Rubinstein, Chief Executive Officer
“Building a Better Community Today…For a Stronger Community Tomorrow”. What does that mean? Better for Whom? Stronger for Whom? If someone would have told me 20 years ago that in 2017 the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County would be the center of our community, that thousands of people of good will, of all ages, faiths and backgrounds, would walk through our doors, participate in our programs, take our trips, hear our speakers and our music, train, exercise, swim, get healthy and share a meal and a laugh in our facility, I would have been skeptical. IF someone would have told me 20 years ago that in 2017 the JCC would be embarking on the most significant expansion of its facility and programs in its history, I simply would have dismissed them. WOW, would I have been wrong on all accounts! As the JCC nears our 34th anniversary, this initiative, “Building a Better Community Today…For a Stronger Community Tomorrow”, represents a transformative moment in time. With this project, the JCC will expand our facility to create
I am so excited about the expansion of the JCC and what it will mean to the future of our wonderful Bright Beginnings Preschool. We have no room currently to expand the Preschool, and regularly have a large waiting list of students who wish to participate. More classrooms and storage and teacher prep space are needed to continue to run an effective preschool. There will be more rooms to accommodate the large number of families interested in our school. Preschool registration has regularly been closed out by the end of June for the school year beginning in September. The JCC is a place where families come together to form one large family with our members and staff. It is an important aspect to our community. The JCC has become a very diverse place where all families are welcomed and appreciated for their support. Our ability and opportunity to continue to positively impact the children and families within our community will be enhanced with the expansion of the JCC and our Preschool. Joan Green Director of Bright Beginnings Preschool at the JCC Since beginning work at the JCC in 2015, I have sought to help make our JCC of Middlesex County a great example of what sociologists refer to as the “third place” in your life. After your home (your “first place”) and your office (your “second place”), the “third place” is the space where people in the community gather outside of home and work. Ideally that space is safe, casual, comfortable and fun! So, can the JCC make its space more safe, casual, comfortable and fun? The answer is a resounding “YES!” The JCC is excited to about our plans for expansion! As the needs of our community change, the “J” continues to fulfill our mission to promote the intellectual, spiritual and physical well-being of individuals and families in the Jewish and general community of Middlesex County. This expansion will help us continue to provide cutting-edge programming for our community in an updated, state of the art facility. The centerpiece of our expansion is a new Lifelong Enrichment Center to be built on the ground floor adjacent to our beautiful lobby. The goals of this expansion are to enable the JCC to provide and expand programs and services for adults of all ages, need and interests, and to reduce physical barriers for the adults in our community who may have trouble walking long distances or being on the 2nd floor of the JCC. By placing the new Lifelong Enrichment Center on the 1st floor near the JCC’s entrance, the JCC will be better able to serve active adults who attend our music programs, lectures, films, lunches and holiday celebrations. The new facilities will provide state of the art designated space for expanded arts, cultural and health & wellness programs for our growing adult population, a multimedia and sound system, a new Gymnasium and a new full service kitchen. Our ability to serve the community and our adult population will be enhanced immeasurably.
“Stay and Play” is our new philosophy. Come for a lecture or exercise in the morning, meet a friend for lunch, and then come to a music program in the afternoon. Play Canasta and Bridge. Play Mah Jongg and Pickleball. Come for a current events discussion and stay for coffee and a refreshing swim. This is your community center! Make it the “third place” you can spend your whole day! As your Program Manager, I have never been more excited about the JCC’s future – and we want your participation in that future. Shalom, Lincoln Richman, MSW Program Manager
ROOM! We need more ROOM! Where can we host this? Where can we store that? There is never enough room. My JCC serves so many populations, and those populations all want the gym. Preschoolers, basketball players, seniors, teens, community organizations, renters. To me, the expansion means a little more room to satisfy those needs. Right now, in order to accommodate a large senior event, the preschoolers have to sacrifice their gym time. To host a Jewish cultural event or evening lecture. The basketball, paddleball, pickleball & badminton players all miss a day of play. An expansion to our building means serving more JCC & community members at once. It puts different populations in the building at the same time-populations that should know and see one another, populations that could work together. An expansion means dedicated space for meetings, events, social gatherings & storage. It was such a dream that I couldn’t clearly fathom its reality. NOW, I can see the dream becoming reality. I can imagine NOT closing the gym and NOT jockeying sports for time and NOT listening to complaints from members. Is this even possible? Yes it is! An expansion also provides a new level of safety for our older adults. Without a dedicated space, they use whatever rooms are available. These rooms change, equipment is moved & tables are set up wherever they fit. Often times, they are upstairs and their only means of emergency egress is down the lobby staircase. Our adults go with the flow, but they deserve a facility of their own, on the GROUND LEVEL.. I hear "expansion," I think "headache." But you know how we always feel better when the headache is over? I can’t wait for this transformation of our JCC, and I can’t wait to see all of you here!
Laurie Post Director of Operations & Health/Wellness
TESTIMONIALS
My daughter Sydney attended the Bright Beginnings Preschool at the JCC. She was afraid to be away from me, but the staff was so nurturing and sensitive to her needs. I always left there feeling secure that she was well taken care of. Mindy S. As a working mother who drops her child to the Bright Beginnings Preschool every morning, only to dash off to work, I express my deepest gratitude for the impeccable organization made to receive students and care for them. I truly believe that this can only materialize with a formidable management headed by such commendable people. I appreciate the continued work, support and teaching of the Bright Beginnings Preschool staff in providing finer education for my child and our future generations. Ruchi M.
We joined the JCC for the swim team. Our daughter not only learned to swim competitively, she gained great amounts of confidence that she was lacking before. Debbie P. My two girls have been swimming on the JCC swim team since they were five, and are now in high school. They've made wonderful friends through this team, and still have lots of fun competitively racing at every swim meet. The coaching staff is always very welcoming and supportive towards us.
Andrea Y. The JCC swim team has been a part of our family for more than 14 years. Every October at tryouts is like coming home. The JCC and the swim team have helped our daughters become the fierce competitors they are while learning to work as a team to accomplish one ultimate goal. The JCC has kept our girls swimming together for over 15 yrs. That's something that you can't put a price tag on. Thank you coach Laurie! The JCC in Edison has given our daughters the opportunity to compete on a team that started them off as the youngest children on the team and has groomed them into the team leaders as the oldest swimmers on the team. Thank you coaches for always believing in our girls. The Blue Dolphin swim team at the JCC has done more for our family than just teach competitive swimming. It has taught us different cultures and traditions we would have never been exposed to. Thank you JCC! Kathy & John P.
The plan and strategy to provide enhanced facilities, programs, services, and experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds seeking education, nurturing, health & wellness, enrichment and friendship. 34 YEARS OF TIKKUN OLAM - GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY
We are so fortunate and thankful to the Marion and Norman Tanzman Charitable Foundation, which has pledged the sum of $500,000.00 toward this project. The Trustees of the Foundation, Jeffries Shein, Roy Tanzman, Esq., and Barbara Sousa, believe in and support the efforts and commitment of the JCC to provide for our growing, vibrant and vital community.
JCC Plan – Building a Better Community Today…For a Stronger Community Tomorrow . Who do we serve? Who will be better served by this initiative? How will our impact grow with our facility? What does the future hold for the JCC? It is a future filled with excitement, enrichment, expansion and community. In the next year we look to the expansion of our facilities, programs and services through the creation of a comprehensive Lifelong Enrichment Center and Expanded Bright Beginnings Preschool and Early Childhood Learning Wing to provide: Early Childhood Education & Enrichment A wide array of educational, nurturing and enrichment opportunities, including our Best In Class Bright Beginnings Preschool, our acclaimed after school Enrichment programs, including Fun ‘N’ Munch, STEM Enrichment, No-Bake Cooking & Arts, American Red Cross Swim Lessons and other Enrichments provide a warm and stimulating atmosphere in a safe, child-centered environment where students learn by doing. Hands-on experiences, socialization and play are highly valued as learning media. Building a strong identity in the child is emphasized, through teaching and celebrating life as well as holidays and cultures. Enrichment classes encourage brain building experiences, helping to develop the child with new life skills to assist in their growth.
Aquatics The highly lauded JCC Aquatics Department offers the highest quality aquatics and swim program in the area, providing children and others to become comfortable and confident in the water, opportunities to become elite athletes and to develop skills and confidence, in a healthy and warm environment. JCC swimmers learn that they have the power to accomplish their goals, and develop discipline and dedication, while promoting good health through regular exercise. Aquatics opportunities abound for all ages, levels and interests, from infants to older adults. The offerings includes American Red Cross swim classes, the JCC Blue Dolphins Swim Team, Stroke & Turn Clinic, water aerobics, private swim lessons for all levels, lifeguard training and open swim time.
Health, Wellness & Physical Education The JCC is ready to help you and your family become healthier and happier than ever! From fitness programs to youth & adult sports programs, we are here to provide you with all the tools necessary to see results and reach your goals. JCC fitness programs are designed to help meet the individual needs of our members. If you want to be healthier, feel better, meet new people, spend quality time with your family or connect with your community, our facility offers a friendly, professional and supportive environment. Whether you are a new exerciser or a seasoned athlete, our staff will design a health and wellness plan tailored to meet your needs. Our community embraces good health and wellness. The JCC promotes wellness in many ways to suit your preferences and lifestyle: A state of the art fitness center, with separate centers for weights, cardio training, youth and teen exercise and exercise class facilities on the main floor and gym, and the JCC private Wellness Studio, located on the second floor of the JCC building.
Do it on your own, or work with one of our professional, experienced Personal Trainers to set and help you achieve your individual goals. Our exclusive Wellness Studio is private space-just you and your trainer. Youth & Adult Sports The JCC Youth Basketball league and clinic program provides opportunities to learn the fundamentals of Basketball, including shooting, dribbling and passing, while developing skills in teamwork, confidence, discipline, all while promoting exercise, wellness and self confidence. Our Kidsafe Youth Self Defense Karate & Safety Awareness program offers martial arts training for all levels from basic to intermediate and higher levels of experience. The program enhances self-esteem, self-discipline & safety awareness. Self-discipline and defense, rather than aggressiveness are emphasized throughout the courses. Additional focus on stranger safety, fire safety, home safety and the dangers of bullying and peer pressure issues are an important aspect of the programs. Additional programs and opportunities are offered for youth, families and adults, including Badminton, Adult Basketball, Pickleball, Paddleball, as well as After School sports and athletic classes, Summer Sports Camps and Open Gym time.
Our members regularly express the importance of the JCC and these programs in their daily lives, often
Marion & Norman Tanzman Lifelong Enrichment Center & Bright Beginnings Preschool at the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County Project Project Objective: Our community of all ages and backgrounds making use of the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County (JCC) is expanding, not only in the number of participants, but in their interest and enthusiasm for intellectual, social, physical and cultural activity and stimulation. More and more people are coming to the JCC, not simply for the programs, trips and activities, but because it has become the center of their lives outside of their homes. They are welcome with open arms and open minds, and the JCC has become a hub of action. It is vital for the community, the members of the JCC and our guests and participants, that the JCC is able to provide more expansive and multipurpose space with the ability to offer the necessary, expanded and enhanced programs and services to people of all ages, including importantly our young families and children, to educate, enrich, stimulate and to assist in healthy and nurturing growth and development. This expansion project creates new and additional Early Childhood Learning and Enrichment space, new, state-of-the-art health and physical education space and facilities, and transitions unused and inefficiently used space into New Preschool classrooms and staff offices, as well as enhancing our ability to provide and expand our programs and services.
Primary rationale for project and for timing of expansion: Safety & Security: • Relocation of Senior and other Adult programs from 2nd floor facilities to new space on the main floor, to enable expansion of space in and for the Preschool Wing. • Enhance security, safety and accessibility, and enable 1 st Responders to reach and assist participants more quickly, safely and efficiently. Expansion: • Allows JCC to expand its present facility, programs and services to better meet the needs of our growing population of all ages, backgrounds and interests. • Provide classroom space that is State of the Art, functional and Welcoming. Create New and Additional Preschool, Early Childhood Education Facilities and expand Enrichment, Aquatics, Health and Physical Education Programs and Services: • Create new and open up and transition existing space on 2 nd floor, for new Classrooms and renovated facilities. • Respond to long waits lists for admission to Best In Class JCC Bright Beginnings Preschool. • Provide expanded and enhanced Enrichment programs, Aquatics, Physical Education, Sports and Wellness programs and services for Youth and Families.
Donor Recognition Opportunities BRIGHT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL — EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING AQUATICS & PHYSICAL EDUCATION: The following physical spaces and items of the Bright Beginnings Preschool Wing and of the Marion & Norman Tanzman Aquatics Wing of the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County shall be available for endowment at the corresponding, tentative gift levels: BRIGHT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL WING — SECOND FLOOR:
Bright Beginnings Preschool Wing — $75,000.00 New Classrooms (2) - $20,000.00 for each New Classroom Classrooms (4) — $15,000.00 for each Classroom Bright Beginnings Preschool Director’s Office — $15,000.00 Teacher Preparatory Library Room -- $15,000.00 3 new staff offices - $10,000.00 each New Classroom Furnishings-$7,500.00 for each New Classroom or $10,000.00 for both Equipment Management Facility (2) (A & B) — $5,000.00 each or $7,500.00 for both Mezzuzot on door to new classrooms and new staff offices (6) - $500.00 each MARION & NORMAN TANZMAN AQUATICS WING — FIRST FLOOR: Men’s & Women’s Locker Rooms — $35,000.00 each or $50,000.00 for both Aquatics Director’s Office—$10,000.00 Sauna — $10,000.00 Steam Room — $10,000.00 PROGRAMMATIC ENDOWMENTS: The following programs within the Bright Beginnings Preschool and the Marion & Norman Tanzman Aquatics Center at the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County shall be available for endowment at the corresponding, tentative gift levels: Bright Beginnings Preschool Sponsorship — $100,000.00 JCC Blue Dolphins Swim Team Program-$10,000.00 for 1 year or $75,000.00 for perpetual endowment
STEM Enrichment —$3,600.00 for 1 year or $25,000.00 for perpetual endowment
American Red Cross Swim Lessons—$3,600.00 for 1 year or $25,000.00 for perpetual endowment Youth Basketball League & Clinics--$3,600.00 for 1 year or $25,000.00 for perpetual endowment
Fun ‘N’ Munch Enrichment —$2,500.00 for 1 year or $20,000.00 for perpetual endowment No-Bake Cooking & Arts Enrichment —$2,500.00 for 1 year or $20,000.00 for perpetual endowment Water Babies Classes — $2,500.00 for 1 year or $20,000.00 for perpetual endowment Music Appreciation — $1,800.00 for 1 year or $18,000.00 for perpetual endowment KidSafe Youth Self Defense Karate & Safety Awareness —$1,500.00 for 1 year or $15,000.00 for perpetual endowment
JCC of Middlesex County Mission Statement The Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County is a nonprofit social service agency that exists for the purpose of “Tikkun Olam” – “Repair of the World” -- dedicated to encouraging/promoting harmony, mutual respect and understanding throughout the community by providing programs, services & facilities to all regardless of religion, race, national origin, gender, age, disability, gender identity or marital status. Everyone is Welcome at the JCC. The JCC provides a central place for the greater Jewish Community for social, recreational, educational & enrichment activities, where people of all backgrounds and religions are welcome. The JCC is guided by Jewish values and is committed to fostering appreciation and understanding of our heritage & identity.
For more information, to answer your questions, or to inquire about donor opportunities, please contact Adam Glinn, Director of Development, 732.593.5965, aglinn@jccmc.org, or Paula Rann, Director of Fundraising and Member Services, 732.593.5962, prann@jccmc.org.
Barbara Spack, Campaign Co-Chairperson Howard Zuckerman, Campaign Co-Chairperson Adam R. Glinn, Director of Development Paula Rann, Director of Fundraising & Member Services Robert Fleischer, Campaign Treasurer Dorothy M. Rubinstein, Chief Executive Officer
Barbara Muhlgeier, President Bob Lipschutz, Executive Vice-President Sanford Braverman, Vice-President, Physical Plant Robert Fleischer, Vice-President, Finance Elissa Glinn, Vice-President, Jewish Outreach & Programming Caryn Nacht, Vice-President, Human Resources Eric Nacht, Vice-President, JCC-YMCA Collaboration Mark Rann, Vice-President, Health & Wellness Barbara Spack, Vice-President, Fundraising Karen Zuckerman, Vice-President, Membership/Community Relations Robin Horwitz, Recording Secretary Alan Horwitz, Executive Board At Large Howard Zuckerman, Executive Board At Large
JCC Professional Staff Dorothy Rubinstein Laurie Post Angel Borges, Jr. Janice Clark Esther Fendrick Adam Glinn Joan Green Sue Horwitz Diane Mael Paula Rann
Chief Executive Officer Director of Operations, Health & Wellness Director of Accounting & Financial Services Director of Aquatics Director of Jewish Outreach & Programming Director of Development Director of Bright Beginnings Preschool Director of Senior Adult Services Director of Adult Services Director of Fundraising & Member Services
Salim Ahmed John P. Barry Abby Eisner-Baumgarten Melissa Larsen-Gazeko Dukie Mangoska Michelle Post Thelma Purdy Lincoln Richman
Maintenance Manager Supervisor of Pool Operations Program Coordinator of Live Well @ The JCC Manager of Member Services Coordinator of Program Services Manager of Preschool & Camp Billing Assistant to the Director of Senior Adult Services Program Manager
Nona Bernaba Abe Narvaez Sophia Peterson
In-House Chef Maintenance Associate Maintenance Associate
Alesha Baksh Liza Bali-Gottdank Joseph Ciampi Nando Cirelli Judy Moskowitz Steven Perez Rosalia Vinci
Front Desk Associate Front Desk Associate Front Desk Associate Front Desk Associate Front Desk Associate Front Desk Associate Front Desk Associate
Building a Better Community Today… For a Stronger Community Tomorrow
Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County 1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison, New Jersey 08820 732.494.3232 www.jccmc.org