On Monday, May 4th and Tuesday, May 5th, Sweetest Smiles Photography will host a porch photography fundraiser benefitting the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC’s Families in Need, a special COVID-19 emergency fund. The fundraiser, which takes place in conjunction with Giving Tuesday Now, a national campaign to raise emergency funds for non-profit organizations, will support the JCC’s social service programs.

Any Staten Islander who signs up and donates to the JCC will receive a brief family photography session on their front porch. Time slots in the afternoons of Monday and Tuesday are available to book here.

Sweetest Smiles Photography has already raised over $1,000 for the JCC over the past few weeks through their front porch photography campaign.

“We are incredibly grateful to Sweetest Smiles Photography and all of the families who participated in this fundraiser so far,” noted JCC CEO David Sorkin. “This is a great way to get a beautiful family photo taken while also helping families in need across our community.”
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Since the coronavirus crisis began, the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island has stepped up to ensure that Staten Islanders in need had resources and support during this difficult time.

The Nancy Avis L’Dor V’Dor Awards, which are held every spring, are taking a different form this year to help those negatively affected by the coronavirus crisis on Staten Island.

This year, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island is turning the event virtual to raise funds for its Families in Need campaign, a COVID-19 emergency fund. Rather than an in-person event, funds will be raised by mail, online, and via text to help those affected by the loss of wages, food insecurity, and isolation. Individuals are encouraged to express their sentiments to the honorees by placing an ad in the digital journal, which will be posted on the JCC website for the duration of 2020.

The event, which is held annually and usually takes the form of a brunch, honors extraordinary women who have worked to improve the Staten Island community. This year, the honorees are:
Marcia Klein – First Generation Award
Yolanda Rudich – First Generation Award
Jennifer Straniere – First Generation Award
Flair Shalem – Next Generation Award
Dr. Gracelyn Santos – Bridge to the Community Award

The event is named in memory of Nancy Avis, the JCC’s first woman President of the Board of Trustees. Avis had a hand in many philanthropic causes that improved the quality of life on Staten Island.

“This is such a fitting tribute to Nancy’s legacy,” said Event Chair Kim Avis. “If she was still here, she would have been leading this campaign.”

“We’re all looking for ways to make a difference in our community. We appreciate that in honor of our five honorees who have done so much for our community, and in honor of our mom, we hope you’ll participate and help Families in Need,” said Dr. Victor Avis.

Families in Need supports the JCC’s social services, which have not stopped running since the crisis began. Staff have been distributing thousands of meals to seniors, as well as helping others who suffer from food insecurity through the JCC’s Kosher Food Pantry. JCC social services have gone completely virtual, with staff members providing access to health insurance navigation, mental health services, legal support resources, and other COVID-19 resources over the phone and email.

“Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number will grow as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Without the help of the JCC, many people would not have food, legal services, health insurance, mental health services, and other critical services. With your support of our virtual L’Dor V’Dor campaign, together we can help Families in Need in our own Staten Island community,” said JCC CEO David Sorkin.

To learn more and support the event, click here. 

Our members and staff recently celebrated Purim at several fun events!

First was the Café Europa Purim Celebration for Holocaust survivors. Children from the JCC’s after school program performed Purim songs and made baskets for the survivors. Everyone also celebrated Rabbi Romi Cohn’s 94th birthday! It was a touching event dedicated to keeping the light glowing.

We've got several great upcoming events in January and February!

First is Sunshine Sunday, our annual event benefitting Lucille and Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp! This year, we are proud to recognize Marie DiTommaso; Rosemarie Stazzone, RN, MS, CNE; and our Sunrise Walk Basket & Event Committee: Dawn Petermann, Debbie Monello, Andria O’Leary, and Joanne Vitale.  The event will take place on Sunday, January 26th at the Old Bermuda Inn from 1-5pm.
Learn more and buy tickets here

We will also host the #RememberMe Brunch on Sunday, February 23rd from 10am-1pm at the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC. At the event, which benefits the JCC’s Family Solutions to Memory Loss, we will honor Cherine Hanna, Adele McMahon, LCSW-R, Jackie Reiter, LMSW, and Rabbi Stephen Stern, PhD.
Learn more and buy tickets here

We hope to see you at our events this winter!

On Sunday, November 17th, we joined with several community and faith-based organizations to hold a memorial ceremony honoring the lives of those we lost in the shootings in Pittsburgh and Poway. We are especially grateful to Rabbi Chuck Diamond, the former rabbi from Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, who spoke about his former congregants who were killed just over a year ago.

We will never forget their memories and continue to honor them by fighting against Anti-Semitism and hate of any kind.