Impact Newsletter - Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center

Jewish Peoplehood in Action
Fall 2013 • 5774
In this issue:
•
Donor Spotlight
George Felkdenkreis
Alan & Diane
Lieberman
"Tzedakah and acts of kindness are the
equivalent of all the mitzvot of the Torah"
Jerusalem Talmud, Pe'ah 1:1
The official philanthropy
newsletter of the MAR-JCC
$7.6 Million Dollars in Lead and Major Gifts
Extraordinary Start for $12 Million Campaign
•
Capital Campaign
Update
Pleasures of a New
Parking Lot
Defining
Construction
Document Phase
•
Capital Campaign
Fundraising
Our Delightful
Donors
New Rooms and
Their Names
•
Planned Giving
Building Today and
Securing Tomorrow
with CJL
Building Today
Building Community TOGETHER!
The generosity of our members is
unbelieveable and their dedication
to the growth of the MAR-JCC is truly
unmatched! Just 18 months after
launching the Lead and then Major
Gift Phases of our Capital
Campaign, the MAR-JCC has
five-year commitments, from
over 150 donors, equaling close
to $8 Million dollars.
Securing Tomorrow
That means we are almost two
thirds of the way to reaching
our $12 Million dollar goal, and
we are just getting started
with the Community Phase of
our campaign!
What is the Community
Phase? It is the portion of the
campaign during which every
member of the MAR-JCC is
given the opportunity to
participate in a way that is s
ignificant to them.
Whether donating a mezuzah, putting
a family name on a paver, putting a
message on a commemorative wall, or
simply donating $100, the Community
Phase of the campaign welcomes
everyone. Not only is every gift
important, no matter the amount, but
every single person who wants to
participate and feel part of the growth
of their “J” is able to because we are
all building this community together!
The MAR-JCC currently serves close to
8,000 individual members and if
everyone gets involved, we will not
only meet our $12 Million dollar goal,
but even surpass it!
The success of this Campaign will result
in the completion of the George
Feldenkreis Cultural Arts and Education
Center, featuring the Alan and Diane
Lieberman Theater, a 200-seat
black-box theater with retractable
Continues inside
From the president & CEO
Dear Friends, Members and Donors,
Welcome to the first issue of JCC IMPACT, the official
Philanthropy Newsletter of the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish
Community Center. We chose the name JCC IMPACT
because we wanted a name that would represent not only
the IMPACT the MAR-JCC has on the community, but the
extraordinary IMPACT our members, donors, and volunteers
have on the “J”.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ariel Bentata
Chairman
•
Jeffrey Scheck
This publication is designed to keep you up to date on all of
the exciting fundraising initiatives going on at the Center,
throughout the year, and about the incredible generosity and
support we receive from our constituents on a daily basis.
Immediate Past Chair
Chair, Advisory Board
Treasurer
Budget Committee
•
Fanny Hanono
Immediate Past Chair,
Advisory Board
Co-Chair Capital Campaign
•
Paul Kruss
Vice-Chair Board of Directors
Incoming Chair
Co-Chair, Strategic
Planning Committee
Chair, Development
Committee
•
Mike Segal
Secretary
•
Norman Leopold
Assistant Secretary
•
Board Members
Helen Beda
Gabriela Berenstein
Amy Chafetz
Eli Gelman
Danny Halberstein
Derek Hodes
Michael Klinger
Steven Kravitz
Stuart Liberman
Jeffrey Levinson
Dr. Rick Mars
Rochelle Parrino
Eva Rub
Marty Scheck
Sami Shiro
Robert Singer
Phil Solomon
Yael Sultan
Denise Tamir
David Waxman
Josh Weingard
FINANCIAL RESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
(305)932-4200
Development Director
Elizabeth Mitrani, ext. 114
Development Assistant
Shanna Bronstein, ext. 196
JCC IMPACT will include articles about the three primary Development Department
campaigns: Capital, Annual, and Legacy. Plus, you will read remarkable stories
about the small gifts and acts of kindness that make all the difference in the lives of
our members, young and old alike.
However, this premier installment is different. This issue focuses 100% on the amazing
successes of our Capital Campaign, and is written in honor of the amazing leaders,
committee members, and volunteers who have worked, and continue working,
tirelessly to ensure the success of this $12 Million dollar campaign.
This special issue is also designed to acknowledge our generous donors who have
given selflessly, one campaign after the next (and sometimes to more than one
campaign at the same time!) to ensure the growth of our MAR-JCC. Because of
generous philanthropists, like George Feldenkreis and Alan and Diane Lieberman,
who are featured in this issue, along with the 150+ others who have donated to date,
we have raised almost $8 million dollars in 18 months. From the bottom of my heart, I
thank you for your generosity and dedication.
I hope you enjoy this new publication, and as we build it, please know that your
ideas and suggestions are important to us. Please call or email any time. The
Development Department at the MAR-JCC always welcomes the opportunity to talk
with you.
Warm regards,
NAMED ROOMS & SPACES
PRINCIPAL NAMINGS
George Feldenkreis Cultural Arts and Education Center
Alan & Diane Lieberman Theater
Scheck Family Courtyard
Ashley Ziff Gymnastics Program
Kiblisky Family Gymnastics Studio
Woldenberg Family Dance Center
Philip & Joanna Solomon Entranceway
NAMED ROOMS & SPACES
Isaac & Patricia Almosny Music Room
Assor Family Gymnastics Studio Reception
Joel & Viviana Bary Gymnastics Concession
Beacon Investment Properties Exhibition Hall
Steve & Diana Berenson Audio Visual Booth
Michael & Claudia Feldenkreis Costume Shop
David & Raquel Frank Gymnastics Beam Area
Galsky Family Rikudim Room
Hodes Family Arts Courtyard
Edward & Sandra Liberman Art Room
MG3 Developer Group Pilates Room
Reckson Family Foundation Music Room
Ira & Ricky Rothstein Box Office
Salomon & Alina Serfati Rikudim Room
Gabriel and Nathalie Serfaty Spinning Room
Mauricio & Laura Sion Art Room
Ofer & Denise Tamir and Ruth Burstyn Green Room
Roberto & Lilyan Vainrub J-CAT Office
Eithan & Inbal Vainstein Art Room
Wakszol Family Music Vestibule
GROUP NAMINGS
Aerobics Room
Alex & Monica Brakha
Jose & Karina Fincheltub
Meyer & Karina Fincheltub
Alberto & Jennifer Gross
Alex & Karen Guenoun
Daniel & Nathaly Kaswan
Simon & Karen Kaswan
Allan & Tamara Kiblisky
Anthony & Daniela Kiblisky
Joe & Yael Kiblisky
Henrique & Nadine Perel
Eduardo & Renee Sabo
Salomon & Ghila Toledano
Richard & Ivette Toledano
Eyal & Debbie Yecutieli
Fitness Gym Welcome Center & Concession
John & Susan Cogan
Teodoro & Anabelle Cohen
Ariel & Jocy Furman
Group Fitness Center
Miguel & Dominique Bacal
Uri & Vanessa Benhamrom
Dan & Lilian Cohen
Emilio & Miriam Di Marcoberardino
Eli & Denise Gelman
Andres & Fanny Hausmann
Samuel & Pierina Szomstein
Rikudim Office
Michael & Cynthia Berkman
Eduardo & Dana Nicolaievsky
Rikudim Room 2
David & Gay Bensadon
Abraham & Anat Garzon
Richard & Ivonn Goihman
Sami & Ronit Shiro
Javier & Florette Wainer
Naming opportunities still available.
Contact Development Department.
New Parking Lot Constructed in Record Time:
Camp Drop-off and Pick-up a breeze!
At the request of our members, and as the first stage
of campus growth, the MAR-JCC engaged the
services of Zyscovich architects to redesign our
parking lot, with the goal of adding additional
parking spaces, improving the flow of traffic, and
enhancing drop-off and pick-up during the school
year and for summer camp.
The job needed to be done in 13 weeks and general contractor, Max
South, was up for the challenge. Working tirelessly days, nights and
weekends, the new parking lot was completed 10
days before the first day
of summer camp. The
result? Smooth sailing…
well, smooth driving!
Drop off and pick up
times were reduced by 30
minutes and the
MAR-JCC has 111 New
parking spaces for use
throughout the year!
Building Today and
Securing Tomorrow
We are well on our way to reaching our $12 Million dollar Capital
Campaign goal, and are anxiously anticipating the groundbreaking! The
new building will be beautiful and, of course, state-of-the-art, but what will
happen in 10 years, 25 years, 50 years? How will we pay for upgrades,
improvements and repairs when the dollars have long been spent? That’s
where the Create a Jewish Legacy comes in!
Although the MAR-JCC derives operating revenue from membership dues,
registration fees, state and other grants, and funding from the Greater
Miami Jewish Federation and the United Way of Miami Dade, these
sources are exhausted each year and are not enough to secure the future
of our JCC.
In order to ensure our “J” is still around for future generations, we must
build an endowment that will offer perpetual income for the future needs
of our Center. To achieve that goal, the MAR-JCC has joined forces with
Create a Jewish Legacy (CJL), a program that represents a shared
commitment by area agencies, synagogues and day schools, currently 17
in total, to work together to collectively secure endowment gifts.
Please consider the MAR-JCC and the Jewish community in your legacy
plan. It is never too early or too late to create a lasting legacy for you and
your family, and to guarantee a Jewish future for our descendants and our
community. L’dor va’dor, from generation to generation.
Jewish Community Leader and Philanthropist, George Feldenkreis,
Names New Cultural Arts and Education Center at MAR-JCC.
Ardent supporter and long-time friend of the
Michael-Ann Russell JCC, George Feldenkreis,
Chairman and CEO of Perry Ellis International and
well-known philanthropist, pledged a significant
monetary amount to name the MAR-JCC’s new
Cultural Arts and Education Center, slated for
groundbreaking in early 2014.
“If you were to look in the dictionary
under Jewish Leader,’ you would find
George’s photograph, because of his
undying commitment to the Jewish
people,” said Gary Bomzer, President
and CEO of the MAR-JCC.
Feldenkreis arrived in the United
States, from Cuba, in 1961, and was
overwhelmed with the assistance and
compassion he received from local
Jewish organizations. He then vowed
to return the kindness he received,
and he has done so at least one
hundred-fold.
With all of the responsibilities of running Perry Ellis
International, a publically traded company,
Feldenkreis not only provides generous financial
support to organizations like the Sue and Leonard
Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies and
the George Feldenkreis Judaic Studies Program, in
the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of
Miami, but finds the time to sit on the Advisory
Council of the MAR-JCC, and on the Board of
Trustees for the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and
the Simon Wiesenthal Center, among others.
His devotion to the Jewish people is
echoed by his son, Oscar Feldenkreis,
and his daughter, Fanny Hanono, two
incredible Jewish leaders in their own
right. Oscar is a member of the
Leadership Council of the Greater
Miami Jewish Federation, President of
the Latin American division of Israel
Bonds for over ten years, and of the
Kosher Food Bank… while Fanny sits on
the board of the Greater Miami Jewish
Federation, is a past Chair of the
MAR-JCC, and is currently the cochair of the Capital Campaign that
will make the new George Feldenkreis
Cultural Arts and Education Center a
reality.
We have George Feldenkreis to thank for making the
first lead gift to this Campaign and for laying the
foundation for this incredible new Center that will
take the MAR-JCC to the next level, and opens the
door for new and exciting Jewish cultural
programming for the North Miami Dade community.
The Alan and Diane Lieberman Theater Presents:
The Art of Giving
As we look back upon the successful 2012-2013 season of cultural arts at the
MAR-JCC, including a wonderful season of J-CAT, our Meet the Author and
Jewish Book Review Series, unique Israel Cinema Nights, and Israeli Dance and
Folk Dance festivals, and quickly realize we’re on track for another season of
incredible triumphs, we could not help but to try to envision how far our
successes will go when we open the doors to our new Alan and Diane
Lieberman Theater.
The naming of the state-of-the-art, 200-seat theater by Alan Lieberman, owner
of the South Beach Group, and his wife Diane Lieberman, owner of South Beach
International Realty, came with a generous pledge of $1 Million dollars, and is
the ultimate expression of their undying support of cultural arts and Jewish
communal organizations throughout South Florida.
The Liebermans’ passions and generosity are far reaching and extend to the Museum of Contemporary Art
(MOCA), the New World Symphony, Adrienne Arsht Center, Art Basel Miami Beach, Aventura Turnberry Jewish
Center, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and, of course, the MAR-JCC.
In addition to their current commitment to bring new and exciting theater to the North Miami Dade
Community, thousands of local children, primarily from underserved communities, have benefited from the
Alan & Diane Lieberman Children’s Cultural Art Series, now in its 18th season, which introduces young
audiences to the world of the arts.
So, as the Liebermans practice the “Art of Giving,” we are fortunate to be among the organizations that
benefits from their noteworthy “performances.”
Capital Campaign moves on to
Construction Document Phase
The Design Development Phase of the
Capital Campaign is complete, and we
are moving into the Construction
Document Phase.
Under the supervision of MAR-JCC Board
member and Vice-Chair of the Facilities
Operations Committee, Danny Halberstein, who volunteers countless hours per
week to this project, Zyscovich Architects
will prepare final construction drawings
and other specifications to crystallize the
design concept, scope of work, and
describe it in terms of architectural,
landscape, structural, plumbing,
electrical, and mechanical drawings.
This is also when Zyscovich will define all
the materials, finishes and the structural
system that will be used in the building.
The campus is abuzz with talk of the new
building and the Construction Document
Phase brings us one step closer to the
anticipated early 2014 groundbreaking.
Continuation of “Building Community TOGETHER”
seating which will double as an event venue for MAR-JCC members as
well as for community organizations.
The new building, accessed by the Phil and Joanna Solomon Entryway, will
feature the Kiblisky Family Gymnastics Studio, which will be home to the
Ashley Ziff Gymnastics Program. We will welcome the Woldenberg Dance
Center, with three large, studios, to house the 650 participants in our
“Rikudim” Israeli Dance program and Bamachol Dance Academy. Plus,
our cultural arts programs will be enhanced by a 3-room Arts Center, a 3room Music Center, and a new Group Fitness Center.
The last phase of our new construction, the Scheck Family Plaza, will lie at
the center of the MAR-JCC and be the focal point of the new and existing
buildings. The final phase will also include a refurbishing and expansion of
our existing fitness center to rival similar clubs in the area, and the addition
of two new classrooms for our ever-expanding Early Childhood
Development Center.
This is an exciting time at the MAR-JCC. Please contact Elizabeth Mitrani,
(305) 932-4200, ext. 114, [email protected], with any questions and
to CONTRIBUTE TODAY. Your gift means the world and makes all the
difference.
OUR GENEROUS DONORS
We want to extend a heartfelt Thank You to all of the
generous Capital Campaign donors* who have invested,
early on, to help the MAR-JCC make our shared dreams a
reality. We are truly building our community TOGETHER!
Jonathan & Janine Abenhaim • Marcelo & Judith Acherman
Joe & Yael Ackerman • Alberto & Miriam Aghion
Isaac & Patricia Almosny • Avi & Karen Assor
Miguel & Silvia Assor • Enrique & Julie Assor
Mijael & Leslie Attias • Micky & Dominique Bacal
Raymond & Patricia Bakzlarz • Joel & Viviana Bary
Larry Baum • David & Sara Bejar • Elias & Nicole Benaim
Elias & Geula Benasayag • Jose & Myriam Bendayan
Uri & Vanessa Benhamron • David & Gay Bensadon
Ariel & Daphna Bentata • Moises & Erica Benzaquen
Steven & Diana Berenson • Victor & Gabriela Berenstein
Michael & Cynthia Berkman • Joel & Gabriela Birnbaum
Bruno & Jennifer Bloch • Bogomolni Family
Gil & Elise Bonwitt • Alex & Monica Brakha
Eduardo & Ana Brender • Peter & Stacy Buffa
Ruth Burstyn • Alejandro & Sandra Chaberman
Abraham & Clarise Chehebar • Miguel & Yael Chocron
John & Susan Cogan • Andres & Karina Cohen
Dan & Lilian Cohen • Ted & Anabelle Cohen
Mike & Tania Cusnir • Sidney & Francine De la Rosa
Daniel & Grace Del Castillo
Emilio & Miriam Di Marcobernardino
Adrian & Rosalie Dombey • Claudio & Karen Dombey
Roberto & Hanna Dorfzaun • Elliot & Jessica Dornbusch
Jose & Claudia Edery • Joel & Liliana Eidelstein
Jeffrey & Lucy Eisenband • Roberto & Lynn Elovic
Salomon & Stephanie Esquenazi • Jacobo & Rebeca Essenfeld
Sergio & Rosa Farache • Michael & Claudia Feldenkreis
George Feldenkreis • Steve & Janette Feldman
Marc & Colette Feldman • Feldman Family Supporting Foundation
Jose & Karina Fincheltub • Meyer & Karina Fincheltub
Max & Carla Fischbach • Stuart & Melissa Fishman
David & Raquel Frank • Ariel & Jocy Furman
Aby & Emily Galsky • Salomon & Elizabeth Galsky
Henry & Vicky Gampel • Meyer & Karen Gampel
Abraham & Anat Garzon • Eli & Denise Gelman
Israel & Frida Getzel • Natalio & Monica Ghitelman
Jaime & Stefany Ghitelman • Richard & Ivonn Goihman
Daniel & Monica Goldstein • Alberto & Jennifer Gross
Alex & Karen Guenoun • Elias & Stephanie Gutt
Marc & Vivianne Haime • Ricardo & Stephanie Halfen
Fanny Hanono • Jorge & Denisse Hanz
Andres & Fanny Hausmann • Derek & Jacqueline Hodes
Daniel & Nathaly Kaswan • Simon & Karen Kaswan
Joel & Monica Kertznus • The Kiblisky Family
Allan & Tamara Kiblisky • Anthony & Daniela Kiblsky
Josi & Yael Kiblsky • Moises & Annie Kleiner
Robert & Lorena Lechter • Bill & Shirley Lehman
Hernan & Paola Leonoff • Edward & Sandra Liberman
Alan & Diane Lieberman • Alexandre Mann
Naftali & Yael Mizrachi • Eduardo & Dana Nicolaievsky
David & Genie Ojalvo • Leo & Raquel Peicher
Henrique & Nadine Perel • Leon & Aida Perez
Alberto & Stephanie Perlman • Josef & Mariam Preschel
Hazkel & Nora Puterman • The Ethel & Harry Reckson Foundation
Mario & Andrea Ribak • Boris & Jessica Rimeris
Alberto & Emma Romano • Gustavo & Silvana Rosemblat
Ira & Rickey Rothstein • Eduardo & Renee Sabo
The Saiegh Family • Michael & Raquel Scheck
Jeffrey & Adrienne Scheck • Marty & Hili Scheck
Steven & Michele Scheck • Jacobo & Ori Serfati
Salomon & Alina Serfati • Gabriel & Nathalie Serfaty
Sami & Ronit Shiro • Marcos & Deborah Singer
Mauricio & Laura Sion • Philip & Joanna Solomon
Harry & Nathalie Sudarsky • Salomon & Nuri Sutton
Samuel & Pierina Szomstein • Isaac & Ivone Talmaciu
Ofer & Denise Tamir • Dana & David Tangir
Steven & Camilla Tchira • Salomon & Ghila Toledano
Roberto & Lilyan Vainrub • Eittan & Inbal Vainstein
Max & Laura Waich • Javier & Florette Wainer
The Wakszol Family • David Waxman
David & Galit Weisinger • Jacobo & Tammy Wengrowsky
Harry Woldenberg • Idel & Yvette Woldenberg
Jaime & June Woldenberg • Jorge & Tammy Woldenberg
Joseph & Ivette Woldenberg • Moises & Helene Woldenberg
Roberto & Carriee Woldenberg • Allan & Ellen Yarkin
Eyal & Debbie Yecutieli/Gross • Achikam & Sherley Yogev
SanfordL. Ziff
*Includes constituents who have made official pledges to the Capital
Campaign. We apologize if anyone was inadvertently left off this list.
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MIAMI, FL
PERMIT NO. 1210
The official philanthropy
newsletter of the MAR-JCC
18900 NE 25 Avenue • North Miami Beach, FL 33180
Be sure to visit the
Capital Campaign Central tent
during the Maccabi Games
to see our new
animated virtual tour
of the George Feldenkreis
Cultural Arts & Education Center
AL
A RE EE!
TS
MUS imated
An
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New al Tour o
Virtu Building
New
Our state registration number is CH-1998.
A copy of the official registration and
financial information may be obtained from
the Division of Consumer Services by calling
toll-free, within the state 1-800-HELP-FLA.
Registration does not imply endorsement,
approval or recommendation. We utilize
100% of each contribution to
further our agency’s mission.
Printed on recycled paper.
Edited by: Elizabeth Mitrani
Designed by: Shanna Bronstein