It Begins With The Children:
JCC and Federation Capital and Endowment Campaign

A special meeting of the JCC Board of Trustees was held July 28 to review plans for the JCC/Columbus Jewish Federation (CJF) $5 million Capital and Endowment Campaign. Sharing information about the effort were Marsha Hurwitz, President and CEO of CJF, and Jackie Jacobs, Executive Director of the Columbus Jewish Foundation.

Two special gifts to initiate the campaign were announced: A $575,000 appropriation from the State of Ohio's Capital Budget, which was secured by Joyce Garver Keller, Executive Director of Ohio Jewish Communities, Sen. David Goodman, and Rep. Jim McGregor, as well as a $500,000 lead gift from the Columbus Jewish Foundation to fund the endowment component of this effort.

The planning of the early phase of this campaign is led by a special steering committee that consists of: co-chairs Bruce Soll and Steve Tuckerman, Columbus Jewish Federation president; and committee members, Jeff Meyer, JCC Board President; Lee Abraham, Jennifer Cammeyer, Denise Glimcher, and Lisa Newmark JCC Board members; Steve Schottenstein, past CJF Chair; Jeff Coopersmith, current CJF Campaign Chair; Mike Canter, past JCC Board President, Carol Folkerth JCC Executive Director, Marsha Hurwitz and Jackie Jacobs.

"We are delighted to be working together with the Columbus Jewish Federation on this historic initiative and campaign effort," said Jeff Meyer, JCC Board President. "We also greatly appreciate the support of the Columbus Jewish Foundation."

Early Childhood experience has a profound effect on the Jewish life of the family. This campaign is part of the Columbus Jewish Federation's strategic plan to Grow Jewish Columbus, an ongoing effort to create a more vibrant and welcoming community. This effort focuses on developing "Best in Class" JCC Early Childhood Services in the Northeast, Northwest, and on our College Avenue campus. The leadership of the JCC recognizes the tremendous growth in the Jewish community of Northeast Columbus. This segment of our community is vibrant, involved, and in need of programming and services which are located in their geographic area.

We never see a 2-year-old, we see a family. Early Childhood Education offers many valuable ways to connect with children and families to affect the community at large. This becomes clear when you view the program not simply as a daycare or preschool for children, but as an experience for the whole family. Early Childhood programs have an amazing opportunity to influence the current and future strength of the Jewish Community. In order to ensure that this happens, our Early Childhood programs must be models of excellence.

Funds raised from the campaign will provide the following:

Northeast (JCC New Albany Preschool)

• Facility will provide for increased classroom space, a kitchen, a gymnasium, and a multi-purpose area.
  
• Addition of an infant and toddler program, and youth after-school and summer program.
  
• Provide family and adult programming related to Jewish holidays.
  
• Offer a variety of fitness classes, adult and youth sports leagues and wellness programs for the Northeast community.
  
• Create social and Jewish cultural middle school and teen programming that will continue to bring youth into community activities after bar/bat mitzvah.
  
• Collaborate with other agencies to develop adult cultural, educational and social programs.
  Northwest (JCC North Preschool)
  
• A permanent facility that will provide for increased classroom space, an outdoor playground, a kitchen, a library and a multi-purpose area.
  
• Increase offerings for children, family and adult cultural, educational and social programs.
  
• Serve as central, community gathering site for Northwest residents.
  College Avenue (JCC Preschool)
  
• An indoor playground that will allow for developmentally indoor play, exercise and fun during inclement weather.
  
• A welcome/family space to increase the family feel of the JCC. This space will include a coffee bar to encourage parents and grandparents to make connections with others and participate in additional JCC programming.
  Best in Class Endowment/Program Fund (To Benefit all three Preschools)
  
• Develop effective recruitment and retention strategies to attract the highest caliber of teachers with Education and Early Childhood Education degrees.
  
• Offer staff ongoing professional training and development opportunities.
  
• Host an annual ECE Summit/Seminar on Best Practices featuring leading educators and scholars in North America to disseminate information and training on innovative and cutting edge trends.
  
• Establish a permanent partnership with The Ohio State University Laboratory School, the leading institution in the region, to participate and monitor ECE research, employ educators, and serve as an on site training program for future teachers.
  

The campaign is entitled It Begins with the Children. Look for more exciting details in the future.

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