Building our second century together

By David K. Koch, JCBA CEO

To paraphrase an ancient Chinese proverb, “The best time to plant a tree was (100) years ago. The second best time is now”. Our 2014 Annual Campaign celebrated the Jewish tree planted by our forefathers 100 years ago, which continues to bear fruit and lend shade. But Akron and the world around us have changed.

It is time to plant a new tree near the old one and invest in our second century. We must plant seeds of inclusion, outreach, collaboration, life-long learning, engagement, volunteer opportunities and generosity.

The Jewish Community Board of Akron’s (JCBA) 2015 Annual Campaign will kick off in October with a community goal to raise $1.3 million.  Your gift to the Annual Campaign has a direct impact on Jewish programs at the Shaw JCC, The Lippman School and Jewish Family Service.

If you have children and grandchildren in the Early Childhood Education program at the Shaw JCC, you directly benefit from the Annual Campaign program allocation to the Ethical Start, Peer K. Explorer and Discover CATCH programs.

If you have children and grandchildren in The Lippman School, you directly benefit from the Annual Campaign program allocation to Jewish Studies.

If you have used counseling or care management at Jewish Family Service, know someone who has or think that JFS provides an important safety net for our community, you directly benefit from the Annual Campaign program allocation.

Bottom line: Over one half million dollars is allocated each year from the Annual Campaign to subsidize the cost of Jewish programming at the Shaw JCC, The Lippman School and at Jewish Family Service. Program fees, tuition, and dues simply do not cover the costs associated with providing the program services our community has come to expect throughout its first 100 years.

Your gift to the 2015 Annual Campaign, as in past Campaigns, impacts the continued success of each of the Campaign beneficiaries – the Shaw JCC, The Lippman School and at Jewish Family Service. 

I want to thank everyone – past and present - who helped to plant and grow our first tree. Now is the time to plant the next tree and together everyone, regardless of age or affiliation, is invited to invest in the Akron Jewish community’s second century and have a financial stake in the second century.

 

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