JCHB Message to the Community 2011

2011 Report to the Community

E D I T H AND CAR L MAR KS

jewish community house
of bensonhurst

Dear friends
We are proud to share with you this first Report to the Community from the Marks Jewish Community House.

The Marks JCH is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year. Throughout its rich history, the Marks JCH has impacted
thousands of lives, and to this day, the “J” means so much to so many. We are grounding our members and clients with
a sense of tradition and place, a set of programs that educate and inspire and a series of services that lift people up out
of poverty and empower them. The Marks JCH meets the needs of the whole family, and it is our ultimate goal to help
everyone we serve become self-sufficient and achieve his or her American dream.

Every day 1,200 people walk through our doors. This report contains many other notable statistics that demonstrate
the impact of our work. Behind each number is a story of personal impact, a life that has been transformed, an
individual who has been inspired. Each day we are faced with difficult decisions trying to meet increased demands
with limited resources for employment services, youth scholarships and providing a safety net for isolated older adult
members of our community.

Among the highlights of the pAst yeAr Are:
Empowering the unemployed through job training and placement
· The American Dream Center, supported by the Robin Hood Foundation, placed 245 adults with multiple impediments into jobs.
· Connect to Care, supported by UJA-Federation of New York, worked with 225 people whose dreams were shattered by the
economic crisis, offering career transition services, financial counseling, legal services and support.
Another exciting and enriching summer for youth and teens
· Our day camp served more than 500 campers, teaching them sports, swimming and Jewish culture as well as taking them on
trips and overnights. Nearly half of our camp families received financial assistance.
· B’yachad offered more than 100 teens a life-changing overnight camping experience focused on building the Jewish identity of
the
Russian-speaking community.
Providing a warm community for older adults
· The Bensonhurst Senior Center at the Marks JCH, supported by the New York City Department for the Aged, served 33,000 hot
kosher lunches to seniors in our area.
· Our Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, supported by UJA-Federation of New York and the Skirball
Foundation, provides support to more than 700 homebound, isolated older adults, many of whom are Holocaust survivors,
enabling them to remain in their homes and live their lives in dignity.

The Marks JCH addresses the most urgent needs of a largely immigrant population, enabling them to have a
better future. We are empowering families to combat their challenges and we equip them with the tools to become
self-sufficient. We now face an increased demand for our services that outpaces our current capacity. We remain
committed to our mission. We are grateful to our board members, supporters, staff and volunteers for their hard work,
dedication and energy which enable us to continue to thrive in these challenging times. Together we make an impact.

We welcome you to join us in making a difference in our community. Your advocacy, involvement and financial support
strengthen our organization. We simply cannot do what we do without you.

Alex Budnitsky Carol s. goldstein Jonathan e. gold
CEO/Executive Director President Chairman of the Board

The Marks JCH opens its doors
to people of all ages and stages
in life, meeting the needs of the
whole family.

Touching the lives of more than 20,000 the diversity of all we serve. The Marks JCH
people each year, the Marks JCH creates is one of the largest providers of critical
and sustains a caring community. From services in south Brooklyn.
the early morning hours through the late
evening, our building is abuzz with the What is a day in the life of the Marks JCH?
voices of our members having fun, getting Preschoolers learning the alphabet. Teens
help, learning, growing and giving back experiencing life lessons on the basketball
to the place that means so much to so court. Immigrants being trained for new
many. The Marks JCH’s impact extends job skills, practicing English or studying to
well beyond our building. Our high-impact become American citizens. Social workers
programs draw people from more than helping people access counseling, childcare
30 ZIP codes throughout New York City. or food assistance. Older adults finding
Our “360°” holistic service model uniquely companionship and relieving isolation in a
positions the Marks JCH to assess and book club or yoga class, or receiving visits
address the needs of the whole family. in their homes from volunteers. Families
Members of our experienced staff speak celebrating holidays together at the J or
more than a dozen different languages, making plans to celebrate Shabbat together
enabling us to serve our members and in one another’s homes.
clients in their native languages and respect

Marina, 33 years old - “My parents brought me to the Marks JCH or The “J” as they called
it, with a slight Yiddish emphasis that none of us spoke, but all of us remembered. They
took English classes there late at night and wanted me to be “taken care of” while they
were learning. It was there, in an old building with a kaleidoscope of people, rooms,
programs and languages that my Jewish journey began in 1992. Twenty years later, I
brought my daughter to pre-school at the “J ”… This place has raised me and I wanted
my daughter to take her first steps at the “J” as well.”

Our Proven Record of Success

New York City Department of Youth and Community
Development Audit 2010
“The Marks JCH runs one of the best Family Literacy programs… ever… Everything,
from documentation, assessment, lesson planning, and code compliance is excellent.
The staff are committed to their work and open to suggestions and new ideas.
The participants’ interest in the program is evident in the excellent attendance and
retention.”

Robin Hood Foundation Evaluation 2010
“The Marks JCH placed…in the upper quartile of all the job training and placement
groups Robin Hood supports… The Marks team is polished and professional and
understands data and analysis. We share an interest in working with a poor, barriered
population and respect Marks’ other support and advocacy services as well.”

BUILDING BLOCKS OF SUCCESS

Children and Youth:
a place to grow, place to learn…
eArly Childhood Center – greAt After sChool –
Beginnings to lifelong leArning essentiAl enriChment thAt grows
At the Marks JCH’s Farber-Bruch Early with your Child
Childhood Center, activities are integrated Under the guidance of trained staff, children
into a daily program that focuses on social at the Marks JCH’s Robbins-Corenman
skills, cognitive skills and physical and After School Center build their academic
emotional well-being. The curriculum is skills as they learn and play together in a
infused with Jewish values and is adapted vibrant, well-rounded environment. This
to meet the needs of each child, including year 190 students received homework
children with disabilities. Enrollment in help and participated in recreational play,
our Jewish preschool, Universal pre- 75 kids learned in our tutoring programs,
kindergarten program and Mommy and more than 100 children took dance and
Me classes has doubled in the last two private music instruction and 120 students
years, which speaks to the quality of our enrolled in the swim academy. Marks JCH
programs. 51 chilren established a strong After School celebrated the successes of
learning foundation at the Marks JCH’s its many students, including more than 50
Farber-Bruch Early Childhood Center children with special needs.
this year.

186 TEENS LEARNED LIFE LESSONS ON THE BASKETBALL AND
vOLLEyBALL COURTS OF CAMMARATA yOUTH SpORTS CENTER

MORE THAN 400 CHILDREN LEARN AND GROW AT THE MARKS
JCH’S ROBBINS-CORENMAN AFTER SCHOOL CENTER

Yelena is 42 years old and is in the fight of her life,
battling terminal cancer. Her husband left her recently and
as a result of the divorce, Yelena lost access to health
insurance. Every dollar was needed to pay for treatments
and hospital bills. That meant her daughter Sasha could
not go to camp. There was not a spare dollar in the family
mArks JCh CAmp progrAms – fun, budget.
friends, new experienCes
For more than 80 years, we’ve provided a Sasha is in 3rd grade and was a camper in the Marks JCH
safe, affordable summer camp program. camp the previous summer. Given how unpredictable the
The Marks JCH camp is a community of
children, teenagers and adults that fosters family situation was, it was only in June that the family
positive relationships, encourages healthy applied for a scholarship to send Sasha back to camp, after
risk-taking and promotes acceptance. we’d already distributed all of our scholarship funds. The
Camp is both a gateway to Jewish life for Marks JCH staff came up with a creative approach to help
campers and their families and a destination
for Jewish experiential learning. Providing
the family: to advocate with Sasha’s father’s union to cover
scholarships for youth at risk, single parent part of the camp tuition, to simultaneously raise funds from
families and families fighting poverty is our camp alumni and donors to cover the remaning balance
key to helping parents to go out and seek and to create a camp account to enable Sasha to attend
employment to enable their families to
camp in future years.
become self sufficient. In 2010, we reached
our largest enrollment, registering campers
from more than 30 ZIP codes in New York. Here is what Yelena said after the camp season: “I feel
truly blessed for having the Marks JCH in the community. It
teens At the J
has been a haven to my daughter with the summer camp
The Marks JCH has a decades-long
tradition as a center of teen life in the program and its generosity to me, when I felt despair and
neighborhood. Counting more than 300 hopelessness with my illness. My daughter comes home
members, the Zehut Teen Center offers a shining from the Marks JCH with wonderful stories and
variety of programs serving at-risk Jewish songs she learns at camp. Thank you so much. It makes
youth. The Summer Youth Employment
Program assisted hundreds of local teens
me feel very happy to know that my daughter has another
to find summer jobs and internships. family at the Marks JCH.”
The Butler Center for Educational
Advancement, supported by the J.E.
& Z.B. Buttler Foundation, helps them
achieve their academic potential through
college preparation and other educational
assistance. The Cammarata Youth Sports
Center offers neighborhood teens a way to
stay healthy and build positive friendships
in a fun, competitive, and nurturing
environment.

544 CAMpERS AND 80 COUNSELORS MADE LASTING
MEMORIES AT MARKS JCH CAMpS

ONE-STOp DESTINATION
FOR BROOKLyN FAMILIES

125 yOUNG FAMILIES pRACTICED JEWISH vALUES THROUGH OUR FAMILy pROGRAMS

heAlth And wellness Jewish life And leArning
The Marks JCH helps community members At the Marks JCH, there are ongoing
of all ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels opportunities for families and children to
to stay active and to adopt healthy lifestyles discover the culture and traditions of our
and habits. Team sports, fitness classes, rich Jewish heritage. The Marks JCH’s
nutrition classes, a swim academy and a festival celebrations – for Chanukah, Purim
full-service gym are available to members and Passover – bring together hundreds
and non-members. Health and wellness are of people, young and old, to dance, sing,
integrated into programs for children, teens learn and strengthen the ties that bind them
and seniors, promoting healthy habits that together. This year’s Chanukah and Purim
will last a lifetime. festivals drew more than 500 attendees
each.
expression And trAdition: CulturAl
Arts progrAms Through the generosity of the Genesis
A lively and diverse Performing Arts Series Philanthropy Group, coupled with the
welcomes musicians, dancers, actors and Grinspoon Foundation and support from
singers of the highest caliber who enhance UJA-Federation of New York, this year
the cultural vibrancy of the community while the Marks JCH launched the PJ Library,
celebrating Jewish, American, Russian and immediately selling out of our first 500
other global arts traditions. subscriptions. PJ, short for pajamas, is a
national book program implemented on

MORE THAN 2,000 pEOpLE ATTENDED 21 CULTURAL ARTS pERFORMANCES LAST yEAR

the local level, mailing high quality Jewish
children’s books and music to families
each month and presenting book-themed
programming in the community.

foCus on young fAmilies – Building
A future together
The Marks JCH’s experiential learning
programs provide informal Jewish
education for a community that otherwise
would have no Jewish content. Through our
Chavurah Family program we are building
a community for the increasing number
of families with young children in the
neighborhood. In our Tot Tussovka program
we are also reaching the underserved
Brownstone Brooklyn Jewish community
with new exciting content for young
families. MORE THAN 2,200 pEOpLE ARE LIvING HEALTHIER LIvES
THROUGH THEIR ENROLLMENT IN THE MARKS JCH’S
HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER

AT A MARCH 2011 MARKS JCH JOB FAIR, MORE THAN 750 JOB SEEKERS
LINED Up AROUND THE BLOCK.

pURSUING THE AMERICAN DREAM…

The Road to Economic
Self-Sufficiency
leArning english is the first program, empowering its participants. This
milestone in your new life … year, the Marks JCH offered services under
Since the 1980s, the Marks JCH has the auspices of ADC and numerous other
played a key role in resettling more than New York City and New York State-funded
50,000 immigrants from the former Soviet programs.
Union in southwest Brooklyn in addition
to serving immigrants from more than innovAtive ApproAChes to émigré
40 other countries. The Marks JCH’s job empowerment
training, health services, English classes Marks JCH creates opportunities for Baby
and other educational, cultural and social Boomers to build a secure and successful
service programs are a vital lifeline for these future. Our Career and Business Transition
immigrants, many of whom fled persecution Center (CBTC) is a comprehensive program
in their countries of origin. that focuses on planning the economic future
of every program participant and helps to
employment serviCes make this future a reality. Our Bensonhurst
Many of the immigrants who are part of the Business Club brings together more than
Marks JCH’s community are chronically 200 local entrepreneurs and employers for
unemployed or underemployed. While many networking and mentoring. Our partners
are talented and eager to succeed, they face include Brooklyn Chambers of Commerce,
social, educational and vocational barriers FEGS, Hebrew Free Loan Society,
to economic self-sufficiency. The American Metropolitan Jewish Coordinating Council
Dream Center (ADC), funded in part by the on Jewish Poverty and the New York Legal
Robin Hood Foundation, is the Marks JCH’s Assistance Group.
most comprehensive employment service

THE AMERICAN DREAM CENTER pLACED 245 ADULTS INTO JOBS.
400 IMMIGRANTS LEARNED ENGLISH THROUGH CLASSES AT THE MARKS JCH,
and 214 pARTICIpATED IN THE J’s STEpS TO CITIZENSHIp pROGRAM

HELpING SENIORS THRIvE

THE MARKS JCH’S BENSONHURST SENIOR CENTER pROvIDED MORE THAN
200 EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL pROGRAMS EACH MONTH.

helping seniors thrive intergenerational programming, provide
The local area served by the Marks JCH friendly visits, and deliver food and holiday
is home to more than 40,000 elderly packages. Those who can travel to our
residents, many of whom live below the center say the Yiddish Conversation Club
poverty line. The Bensonhurst Senior Center is one of their favorite experiences. It brings
provides a comprehensive approach to English and Russian speaking seniors
offering supportive services for our older together to share family stories, speak their
adults, including hot meals, recreational “mother tongue” and build bridges across
programs, cultural celebrations and case cultures. Thanks to a New York Times
assistance so older adults can remain vital Neediest Cases article about the Yiddish
members of our community. Club, a generous donor enabled the group
to continue meeting.
work with holoCAust survivors
And world wAr ii veterAns the dediCAtion of 88 serviCe
Holocaust Survivors and World War II volunteers mAke our senior
Veterans’ Clubs are among 16 volunteer-led progrAms viBrAnt And engAging
initiatives in the Marks JCH senior center. The Neighborhood Naturally Occurring
These programs ensure a life of dignity Retirement Community (NNORC) provides
for frail and vulnerable survivors, most of personalized case management and health
whom lived through the war, then Stalin, care services, in our office and at clients’
then immigration and are now fighting homes. Social workers and registered
social isolation. Our staff and volunteers nurses help seniors to age in their own
provide home visits to homebound homes. Minor home repairs and community
seniors who essentially are cut off from advocacy round out this holistic approach,
the outside world. Our teenagers, through which also features social and educational
activities.

THE MARKS JCH GOOD NEIGHBORS NNORC pROGRAM SERvED
800 SENIORS WITH SOCIAL SERvICES AND WELLNESS ACTIvITIES.

Larisssa and Victor Shchetinina survived the poverty and hard labor of the Hitler and
Stalin eras in Ukraine, only to be faced with emerging, rampant anti-Semitism and
major economic challenges as the end of the 20th century approached. When they
arrived in the United States in 2002, at the ages of 64 and 65, they settled in a one-
bedroom apartment in Bensonhurst with their son. Speaking no English, and with no
money and few possessions (when they emigrated, they had to sign away their rights
to their pensions from their lifelong careers in the former Soviet Union), they turned to
the Marks JCH for help. The Marks JCH helped them obtain the Supplemental Security
Income and Food Stamps that have become their lifeline. Through our ESL classes, they
were able to learn English, take the citizenship exam and became American citizens,
all with the help of charitable funds that have been set aside for Holocaust survivors.
The Marks JCH also has helped them obtain urgently needed medical care for serious
illnesses that both of them have fought. While their challenges – medical and financial –
unfortunately continue, Larisa and Victor know they can always rely on the J.

THANKING OUR SUppORTERS

The Marks JCH is grateful to its many the J in supporting the work we do and
supporters for enabling us to meet the reach out to older alumni to reconnect.
needs of whole families. We appreciate On April 18th, 2010, we launched the
the foundations, funders, individual first annual “18 on the 18th Community
donors, board members, volunteers, Challenge Campaign” which focused
staff and members who support our on engaging recent alumni of the
work. Marks JCH through social media and
to participate in the decision-making
In recent years, our local community process about where their contributions
has begun to give back to the J in should go. Many young JCH alumni
many ways. Neighborhood business who benefitted from our programs
leaders who got their start through when they were immigrants just a few
our Bensonhurst Business Club offer years ago – young professionals who
pro bono services; a young adult who are now in a position to give back –
learned to play basketball as a new donated their vacation time to help
émigré teen at the J joined our Board staff a camp trip and contributed their
of Directors; a local café owner offers money to make sure that children in our
free Thanksgiving meals to needy community who needed a scholarship
Holocaust survivors as a way of saying to attend summer camp 2011 or the
thanks for the help he received in JCC Maccabi Games 2011 received
launching his business through our one. Their contributions totaled more
microfinance program. It is our goal to than $18,000, collected in just two
continue to engage recent alumni of months.

marks JCh Board of * David P. Berkowitz marks JCh executive team
directors Katherine Boas
David Dubrow Alex Budnitsky, MA, MSW
Carol S. Goldstein Gerald P. Farber Executive Director/CEO
President Eli S. Feldman
Felix Filler Melanie Levav, MA, LMSW
* Cary J. Davis * Cheryl Fishbein Assistant Executive Director,
Honorary Chairman of the Mel Goldfeder Financial Resource Development
Board Anton Gorshkov
Dayle J. Henshel Gelena Blishteyn, MSW
* Jonathan E. Gold Ben Krull Director of Program Services
Chairman of the Board Glenn Markman and Operations
Irene Molod
Rachel Epstein * Leon Pollack Vladimir Vishnevskiy
1st Vice President * Philip Schatten Director of Immigrant Services
Allan L. Shaw
David Klafter Faye Levine, LMSW
2nd Vice President Honorary Board Director of Social Services
Members
David E. Rubinsky Violetta Shmulenzon, MSW
3rd Vice President Andrew Boas Director of Camping and
Stanley Goldberg Leadership Development
Yale Fergang Arthur Press
Treasurer Dr. Benjamin Sherman David Smith
Director of Finance
Alvin Kuneffsky
Secretary Inna Kuznetsova
Director of Administration

* Past Presidents

MARKS JCH FINANCIALS

UJA-Federation of New York is our
largest single funder, providing both Funding Sources
core operating support and numerous
program grants. Nearly one third of our
budget comes from New York State,
fee for service
federal and local government sources, government
$2,076,480
31%
grants
sponsoring programs in all areas of 32%
$2,207,877
service. We also are supported by
foundations such as the Robin Hood uJA federation
27%
Foundation, the Skirball Foundation and private
foundations
$1,849,704
the Harold Grinspoon Foundation as well 5%
$340,000
as numerous individual donors. Contributions
5%
other $354,119
0.2%
In the 2010-2011 fiscal year, several $11,857
government-funded programs were
cut significantly, including the mid-year
elimination of our prized family literacy
program. Despite significant cuts in Revenue
government funding, we were able to Administration
13%
achieve a balanced operating budget, $933,707
primarily as a result of streamlining our program services
48%
operations, securing new grants and $3,265,635
with generous support from funders.
The current economic environment
challenges our ability to provide key
services, causing wait lists for many of social services
our programs. 12% immigrant services
$822,783 27%
$1,824,497

In the 2011-2012 fiscal year, we expect
to continue to operate in extremely
difficult economic conditions resulting
from the State and City of New York’s
drastic budget shortfalls and cuts back
Expenses
on grants and contracts that provide
vital services. We are working diligently
program Administration
to secure new funds from all available services 16%
44% $1,119,701
sources in order to meet the continuing $2,994,173
and urgent needs of the community.
immigrant
Full financial information is available by services
26%
request to the Marks JCH and at social
services
$1,779,094
http://www.charitiesnys.com/ 16%
$995,304

Immigrant Services
(Job Placement, Vocational Training, ESOL, Citizenship, Case Management)

Social Services
(Senior Services, NNORC, Senior Housing, Bensonhurst Senior Center, Multi -Service Center)

Program Services
(Children & Family, Youth, Camp, Sports & Fitness, Cultural Arts, Leadership Development,
Educational and Recreational Services, Jewish Life and Learning)

360° AppROACH TO SERvICES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILy

marks JCh programs and services

Farber-Bruch Early Childhood Center Computer Center
Mommy & Me Classes Connect to Care
Summer Day Camps Single Stop Center
Robbins-Corenman Afterschool Center Health Insurance Counseling
Out of School Time (OST) Nutrition Outreach Educational Program
Swim Academy & Swim Team Citizenship Preparation & Civics Education
Sunday Academy Classes for Children Voter Registration Outreach
Special Needs Programs Domestic Violence Prevention Program
School of Music and Dance Healthy Families Program
Children’s Fitness Center Family Literacy Program
Tot Tussovka Family Program in Park Slope Health and Wellness Center
Chavurah Jewish Family Education Bensonhurst Business Club
Zehut Teen Center Goldberg Senior Center
Cammarata Youth Sports Center Russian-language Older Adult Clubs
B’yachad Teen Overnight Camp Bensonhurst Senior Center
Annual Brooklyn Mitzvah Day Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community
“We are Family Teen Leadership Institute: Supportive Community Program
Brooklyn(USA)-Ashdod (Israel)-Dnepropetrovsk(Ukraine)” Subotnick House and Senior Center
JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest Psychological Support for Seniors
Summer Youth Employment Program Silver Sneakers Senior Fitness
Butler Center for Educational Advancement
Dor Hadash Leadership Development
Alumni Association: Young Adult Chapter
Job Placement Services
Vocational and Educational Training
English for Speakers of Other Languages

144 TEENS AND yOUNG ADULTS pARTICIpATED
IN 5TH ANNUAL BROOKLyN MITZvAH DAy

Design by Ilya V. Gleikh

...help us write the next
chapter together...
To make a contribution or volunteer, or to support the “J” in any way,
please call our development office at 1.718.331.6800, ext. 117

www.jchb.org

7802 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11214 Tel.718.331.6800

JCHB Message to the Community 2011

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