Young Men & Womens Hebrew Assn & Irene Kaufmann Centers

NURTURING PEOPLE, CONNECTING COMMUNITY, EACH DAY, THROUGH EVERY AGE, INSPIRED BY JEWISH VALUES.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICESTHE JCC TRADITIONALLY SERVES UPWARDS OF 3,000 CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN SPORTS, AQUATICS, DANCE, PERFORMING ARTS, AND FITNESS -- PROMOTING CREATIVE, ACTIVE AND ENGAGED LEARNING IN A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. JCC'S EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (ECDC) OFTEN SERVE AS THE ENTRY POINT FOR FAMILIES TO THE JCC AND IS OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE LIFETIME CONTINUUM. ACROSS BOTH OF OUR LOCATIONS IN SQUIRREL HILL AND SOUTH HILLS, MORE THAN 200 CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED, MAKING US ONE OF THE LARGEST EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. INSPIRED BY THE REGGIO EMELIA APPROACH, THE JCC'S ECDC PROVIDES AN ENRICHING AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS OLD. ECDC INCORPORATES GROSS MOTOR DEVELOPMENT, MUSIC, ART, MATH, SCIENCE, READING, AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES INTO EACH DAY AS WE PREPARE CHILDREN FOR THE ACADEMIC AND LIFE CHALLENGES AHEAD. OUR PROGRAM FOLLOWS GUIDELINES DEVELOPED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (NAEYC) AND THE PENNSYLVANIA KEYSTONE STARS INITIATIVE. THE JCC HAS OPERATED AT APPROXIMATELY 2/3 OF LICENSED CAPACITY DURING THE PANDEMIC AND HOPES TO RESTORE ENROLLMENT CLOSER TO PRE-COVID LEVELS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AS THE INDUSTRY-WIDE STAFFING CRISIS IS ADDRESSED AT BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.FROM PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, THE JCC PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUTH. OUR CLUBHOUSE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVES MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 6TH GRADE, MOST OF WHOM COME FROM EITHER SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES OR TWO WORKING PARENT HOUSEHOLDS WHO DEPEND ON THIS "WRAP-AROUND" SERVICE. THE ENRICHMENT-ORIENTED PROGRAM COMBINES FREE PLAY, ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES, SELF-DIRECTED SPECIALTIES AND HOMEWORK TIME. FULL-DAY PROGRAMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE DURING SCHOOL BREAKS AND ARE STAFFED AT THE LAST MINUTE TO COVER SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS AND SNOW DAYS. THE JCC ALSO CONTINUES TO OFFER FULL DAY SUPPORT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE EVENT THAT AREA SCHOOLS ARE FORCED TO OFFER REMOTE INSTRUCTION ONLY. THE JCC SERVES MORE THAN 400 CHILDREN AND STAFF WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THROUGHOUT ITS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ECDC, CLUBHOUSE, AND DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS. ADDITIONALLY, THE JCC'S GESHER YOUNG ADULT CENTER SERVES 13 ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES EACH WEEKDAY AFTER SCHOOL AND IS THE ONLY MODEL OF ITS KIND IN THE PITTSBURGH METROPOLITAN AREA.BEYOND SOCIAL/RECREATIONAL, ATHLETIC AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS FOR TEENAGERS, WE TAKE TREMENDOUS PRIDE IN A LONG-OVERLOOKED AREA OF TEEN SERVICES - EMPLOYMENT. WHILE WE ARE WELL KNOWN AS A PRIMARY PROVIDER OF EARLY CHILDHOOD, AFTER-SCHOOL, AND CAMPING PROGRAMS FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN, WE OFTEN PROVIDE FORMER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH THEIR FIRST EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY BASED ON THESE EXPERIENCES. IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE JCC PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO MORE THAN 200 TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS, WHO ARE EMPLOYED AT JCC CAMPS AND CLUBHOUSE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM AS COUNSELORS, STAFF, SPECIALISTS AND SPORTS COACHES, MAKING THE JCC ONE OF THE LARGER TEEN EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA.

CONTEXT OF AGENCY: WHO AND WE AND WHO WE SERVETRUE TO OUR 1895 ORIGIN AS A SETTLEMENT HOUSE, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH (JCC) IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A THRIVING AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES AND MEANS. OUR MAIN BRANCH HAS BEEN LOCATED IN THE CORE URBAN PITTSBURGH NEIGHBORHOOD OF SQUIRREL HILL FOR 65 YEARS, UNIQUELY POSITIONED AND COMMITTED TO SERVING THE DISADVANTAGED AT THE LOCUS OF PITTSBURGH'S MORE AFFLUENT AND LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS. FOR 129 YEARS, THE JCC HAS PROMOTED THE BEST IN FAITH-BASED AND CIVIC VALUES; PROVIDED HIGH-QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICE, EARLY CHILDHOOD AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, YOUTH SERVICE, HEALTH/WELLNESS AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS; AND NURTURED A COMMUNITY-ORIENTED APPROACH TO THESE OBJECTIVES. AS WE CONTINUE TO EMERGE FROM THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MORE THAN 30,000 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS ARE TOUCHED BY THE JCC'S PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OR THROUGH OUR PARTNERS. OUR FACILITIES HOST ACTIVITIES AN AVERAGE OF 115 HOURS EACH WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR.ROOTED IN JEWISH VALUES, THE JCC PRIDES ITSELF IN OUR LONG HISTORY OF QUALITY SERVICE DELIVERY AND HAS EXPANDED PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST IN THE REDUCTION OF POVERTY. THIS INCLUDES REGIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS TO REDUCE NURSING HOME ADMISSIONS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS OF OLDER ADULTS LIVING IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN A MORE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE MANNER. WE ARE PROUDLY NON-JUDGMENTAL IN WHOM WE SERVE NOR HOW WE SERVE THEM AND WE TURN A "BLIND EYE" TO NEED, PROVIDING OVER $2.8 MILLION IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET. THE AVERAGE FAMILY RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT AT THE JCC EARNS ROUGHLY 60% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY. THIS IS NOT UNEXPECTED GIVEN THAT 2022 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5-YEAR DATA SHOWS 13.8% OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN OUR CORE SERVICE AREA LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE, NEARLY 1.3 TIMES THE RATE FOR THE ENTIRE PITTSBURGH, PA METRO AREA AND MORE THAN 10% HIGHER THAN THE RATE FOR ALL OF PENNSYLVANIA. AS A CORE VALUE, THE JCC SEES THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US AS CITIZENS, NOT CLIENTS. WE PLAY A HIGHLY VALUED CIVIC ROLE IN MAKING PITTSBURGH A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, AS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE JCC'S CENTER FOR LOVING KINDNESS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. IN THAT WORK, WE PARTNER WITH DOZENS OF FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY-ORIENTED ORGANIZATIONS ON AN ONGOING BASIS SUCH AS CANDIDATE FORUMS, SELF-HELP GROUPS, BLOOD AND FOOD DRIVES, COMMUNITY POLICING, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, AND LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPINGJCC DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SELF-ESTEEM, ENCOURAGE GROUP SKILLS AND TEAMWORK, FOSTER TRUST AND BUILD JEWISH IDENTITY. THIS FISCAL YEAR, MORE THAN 1,520 CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WERE ENGAGED IN JCC DAY AND RESIDENT CAMPS. THE CAMP EXPERIENCE IS ALSO HIGHLY DEVELOPMENTAL AND ENCOMPASSES LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION IN AN INFORMAL AND ENJOYABLE ATMOSPHERE. THESE LIFE SKILLS TAKE ON NEW MEANING AS MANY FORMER CAMPERS BECOME PART OF OUR STAFF-IN-TRAINING (SIT), JUNIOR COUNSELOR, SENIOR COUNSELOR, AND UNIT HEAD PROGRAMS. CAMP AT THE JCC BEGINS AT AGE 2 (AGE 7 FOR OVERNIGHT CAMP) AND CONTINUES THROUGH AGE 16 WITH THE STAFF-IN-TRAINING PROGRAM. WHILE INDIVIDUAL SPECIALTIES ARE OFFERED, THE OPERATING PHILOSOPHY OF JCC CAMPING IS COMMUNAL AND GROUP ORIENTED. OUR OPERATING PHILOSOPHY IS INCREASINGLY CHALLENGED BY A SPECIALTY-ORIENTED SOCIETY AND A COMPETITIVE SPECIALTY CAMP ENVIRONMENT. THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF EACH PROGRAM ARE: 1) JAMES & RACHEL (J&R) LEVINSON DAY CAMP HAS GROWN FROM 125 CAMPERS IN 1970 TO APPROXIMATELY 350 CHILDREN PER WEEKLY SESSION TODAY. J&R PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN INTERACTING WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF A 100-ACRE WOODED SETTING IN MONROEVILLE. 2) EARLY CHILDHOOD CAMPS AT BOTH JCC BRANCHES CATER TO 2 TO 5-YEAR-OLDS. 3) PERFORMING ARTS CAMPS FOR OLDER CHILDREN CULMINATES IN A MUSICAL THEATER PRODUCTION. 4) SOUTH HILLS DAY CAMP PROVIDES A GENERALIST CAMP EXPERIENCE FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN WITH INCREASED ACCESS TO SPECIALTY AREAS FOR OLDER CHILDREN. 5) EMMA KAUFMANN CAMP (EKC) OUTSIDE OF MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, NOW IN ITS 116TH YEAR, OFFERS TWO- THREE- AND FOUR-WEEK OVERNIGHT CAMP SESSIONS AS WELL AS ONE-WEEK FIRST EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO BE AWAY FROM HOME IN A PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT. INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES ARE AN INTEGRAL ELEMENT OF OUR DAY AND RESIDENT CAMPING PROGRAMS, WITH NEW PROGRAM ELEMENTS ADDED ANNUALLY. OUR CURRENT FOCUS IS EXPANDING OFFERINGS TO THE INCREASING NEURODIVERSE POPULATION, INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO AGE OUT OF OUR CAMPING PROGRAMS.

FITNESS AND WELLNESSTHE JCC'S HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS ARE A CORE SERVICE OFFERING AND CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST HEAVILY UTILIZED SERVICE AND THE LARGEST ENTRY POINT FOR THE JCC'S ADULT POPULATION. ACTIVITIES SUCH AS AQUATICS, BASKETBALL, ZUMBA, GROUP EXERCISE, YOGA, AND PERSONAL TRAINING, BEGIN WITH CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS SIX MONTHS TO OLDER ADULTS IN THEIR 90'S IN BOTH SQUIRREL HILL AND SOUTH HILLS. JCC PROGRAMS AND EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING ADAPTIVE MOTION TRAINERS, MAKE FITNESS INCREASINGLY ACCESSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF OUR PHYSICAL SPACE IN OUR YEAR-ROUND FACILITIES IS DEDICATED TOWARD THIS PURPOSE, WHICH SERVES MORE THAN 10,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY OVER 90 HOURS EACH WEEK. NEW HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS SUCH AS ACTIVE RECOVERY, HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING AND FUNCTIONAL FITNESS WORKOUTS HAVE ENGAGED A WIDER AND MORE DIVERSE POPULATION. THE JCC CONTINUES TO OFFER A SUITE OF SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS DESIGNED TO KEEP SENIORS ACTIVE, HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HOMEMEDS MEDICATION ASSURANCE PROGRAM, SENIOR ACTIVE PERSONAL TRAINING SESSIONS, WALK WITH EASE, AGING MASTERY PROGRAM, ARTHRITIS AQUATICS, TAI CHI AND PARKINSON WELLNESS RECOVERY. THE JCC ALSO OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE FITNESS PROGRAMMING FOR OLDER ADULTS, INCLUDING SILVERSNEAKERS, SILVER&FIT, RENEW ACTIVE AND FITON HEALTH, AND A VARIETY OF WELLNESS PROGRAMS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR OLDER ADULTS AND TAUGHT BY CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS. IN TOTAL EACH WEEK, THE JCC PROVIDES NEARLY 40 REGULARLY SCHEDULED HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLASSES THAT SERVE OVER 1,300 INDIVIDUALS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS YEAR WE ALSO PILOTED A FORMAL SENIOR CENTER ENVIRONMENT IN OUR SOUTH HILLS BRANCH, BEATING OUR PROJECTED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS BY MORE THAN FOUR TIMES. AS A RESULT OF THIS INCREASED ATTENTION TO ADDRESSING UNMET NEED WITHIN OUR SUBURBAN OLDER ADULT POPULATION, THIS YEAR, ACROSS BOTH OF OUR LOCATIONS, MORE THAN 10,000 SENIORS AND FAMILY CARE GIVERS ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF AGEWELL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, SUCH AS VACCINATION CLINICS, DAILY HOT MEALS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, CAREGIVER SUPPORT, MEDICAL SCREENINGS AND OUR VERY OWN VIRTUAL SENIOR ACADEMY.