Submitted by the Mayerson JCC
More than 150 people gathered on Thursday, September 26 to celebrate the Mayerson JCC at their annual meeting. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, bringing together community members, program participants, staff and local leaders to celebrate a year of growth and impact on the Jewish community.
The theme of the meeting: Responsibility and Resilience.
The meeting kicked off with a warm welcome from JCC President Jen Stein, who spoke to the resilience of the Jewish community. “After October 7, during some of the darkest days we’ve known in recent history, the JCC was a haven – a place to grieve, a place to unite in the face of unspeakable violence, a place to feel safe and understood, or, simply, a place to maintain the ‘normalcy’ of a workout or class, when, in fact, things were anything but normal. With no end to this war in sight, and amidst so much uncertainty, I know one thing for sure: the JCC will continue to show up and do what it does best – engage, support, and connect our community.”
As the evening continued, Mayerson JCC CEO Marc Fisher discussed how the J has shown great responsibility and resilience in recent years. “We were here through the pandemic, and we were there during the last year when our people, our family, needed us most. We are here every day to support our community and our people. In the fall of 2023, we determined that we needed to put on hold thoughts of an Amberley Green expansion. While we were disappointed, our resolve was we needed a new plan that accommodated more young families in our Early Childhood School. The short story is we knew that converting our first-floor program hallway to our ECS infant facility was the best option, but it would displace several programs that used those rooms. The great news is this challenge pushed us to get creative. The result is we are in the midst of finishing our first facility renovation to our J since we opened in 2008.
The Early Childhood School renovation will enable the ECS to expand from 125 children in 2022 to 180 by January 2025. In addition to the new ECS wing, the renovation includes after school program rooms, an additional board room, an updated programming room for art classes and senior programs, a family nursing room, new group exercise and Pilates studios, as well as new and expanded drop-in childcare.
Interspersed throughout the evening were video interviews with staff members, illustrating how the Mayerson JCC fulfills its mission of connecting people so that they live happier and fuller lives, creating a more vibrant Jewish community. Membership is back to pre-pandemic numbers, the 60 & Better Center is preparing for its first overnight road trip in Indiana, and Meals on Wheels has increased its delivered meals from approximately 60,000 in 2019 to a projected 200,000 in 2024. The J Baby program has seen 26 new babies join our community. J Prime, a new initiative for those 45 and beyond, held an incredibly successful kickoff event, and the J continues to partner with Friday Night Shabbat, hosting family shabbat gatherings at the J and throughout the community. Theatre at the J showcased kids’ vibrant talent, presenting successful productions that drew large crowds and fostered community. Additionally, Blue Jays baseball and basketball teams continue to be popular and enhance community connection.
The J also recognized staff and volunteer leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the organization, including Barb Collins, night supervisor for the Building Services team, for serving the JCC for 36 years at three different locations.
Sandy Stern was honored as the 2024 Outstanding Volunteer. Sandy has been an active member and volunteer at the JCC for most of her life, starting as a lifeguard when the JCC was on Summit Road. Currently, Sandy is a dedicated volunteer for the 60 & Better Center, teaches computer classes, leads field trips, and even gives Mahj lessons.
Richard Behrman was given this year’s Kovod Award for his selfless dedication as an extraordinary volunteer at the JCC and other local organizations. Richard is passionate about delivering Meals on Wheels and has even recruited several other volunteers to help deliver meals. As the Chair of the J Classic Men’s Tennis Tournament since 2021, he has boosted participation and elevated the level of competition and spirit while keeping it fun for all.
The Sigmund M. Cohen Memorial Award, which recognizes someone who has rendered distinguished service to the J in a selfless and quiet manner over the course of their lifetime, was awarded to Nancy and David Wolf. Their extraordinary service across the community is unmatched. They established the Wolf Center for Arts & Ideas at the JCC and made an immediate impact on the cultural arts scene in our community. They are both active and philanthropic in many Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, including the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
With a clear vision for the future, the Mayerson JCC is poised to continue its impactful work in the community, looking ahead to another year of growth, responsibility, creativity, and connection.
Mayerson JCC discusses responsibility and resilience at annual meeting
