Pool Up a Seat Poolside

Pool Up a Seat Poolside

Kevin Giser | Chief Development Officer, Jewish Long Beach

Memorial Day had finally arrived, and the past ten months of repeating, “yes, we are going to finish in time for Summer,” had come true. As I stood on the Hillinger Family Pool Deck looking into the Mary Alpert Pool, I heard the noise we had all been craving; laughter! The sound of joy from families, friends, and dedicated swimmers have returned poolside on the Weinberg Jewish Long Beach campus. The scene—alive with connection—captures the rauch, spirit, of community built through your Alpert JCC membership.

When you joined, you said yes—to community, to Jewish life, to belonging regardless of how you pray. Our membership is the key to fitness classes, adult socials, art workshops, pickleball games, holiday celebrations, opportunities to give back, and more. It’s a daily reminder that our Jewish community is here, thriving, and growing in partnership with our greater Long Beach neighbors.

Sustaining that — from the swim lanes to holiday celebrations—requires more than attendance. That’s where Jewish Long Beach’s Annual Campaign plays its vital role. Your tax-deductible donations have a wide impact on the programs you have come to enjoy, fueling the people and passions of our mission-driven work. Beyond our own campus, your gift supports community programming, security trainings & assessments, and Jewish advocacy with more than a dozen local Jewish organizations.

The blend of membership and giving comes to life with our Alpert JCC's Early Childhood Education Center. Your membership dues and years of dedicated donations have created magic in our safe and curiosity-incubating classrooms! The joyful start to our children’s Jewish journey is complete with art, gardening, Jewish traditions, Shabbat songs, and PJ Library books.

That kind of impact happens because each of you are a part of something larger. Local youth hone their skills and find encouragement through the JCC Maccabi Games®. Young adults join a Young Professionals Shabbat dinner and rediscover community. Retirees find friendship and meaning in senior programs that feed the mind, body, and soul. Grandparents read to little ones at a PJ Library event and remind us: our legacy is as meaningful as our future. When you support the Annual Campaign and become a member, those stories multiply.

To our members & donors, your participation—whether in swim, fitness & wellness, ECE & Camp Komaroff, Jewish holiday celebrations, educational series, or the arts—is the heartbeat of our center, ensuring it’s a vibrant hub of Jewish connection. Thank you for choosing to be counted today during a remarkable time for the world’s Jewish communities. Thank you for choosing to give us a meaningful gift and thank you for helping us build a better world for our kids, our grandkids—and everyone who follows.

To those who have yet to become members or donors, your voice matters. Let me invite you: come for a swim or a class; stay for the community. Then, when you’re inspired by what we do together, consider making a gift to Jewish Long Beach’s Annual Campaign. Your membership makes us a community, your donation makes us a force—for kindness, culture, justice, and Jewish continuity.

Our deepest appreciation.

A heartfelt thank you to all the Alpert JCC members who maintained their membership through the renovation. You are the minyan makers and the reason our mission-driven work moves forward!