Center News
A Newsletter of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Buddy Leaves a Lasting Legacy If
If you know Buddy Sapolsky, you know that there aren’t many people as universally loved and respected as he is. “He can relate to anyone and everyone, from the newest staff member to the most sophisticated board member,” explains JCC Association President and CEO Alan Finkelstein. Members are equally important to him. “I think Buddy knows the name of half of our members and he is always open to listening to their ideas and feedback,” says Chairman of the JCC Board, Neil Demchick.
Buddy Makes His Mark on Baltimore
Buddy came to Baltimore in 1995 to a JCC of 8,000 members and under his leadership the JCC has grown to more than 17,000 individuals. His vision included not only expanding our physical space, but identifying ways to create a more dynamic, inclusive JCC that looked beyond the boundaries of location, religious affiliation and even membership to create one of the best Centers in the country. The JCC facilities you see today would not have been possible without a huge capital campaign that was started in 1996 with Buddy at the helm. Together with key JCC communal leaders and in partnership with The ASSOCIATED, the JCC totally renovated and expanded both of its facilities. Throughout the past 17 years, the changes and additions have created new Early Childhood Centers in both buildings, the Meyerhoff Health & Fitness Wing at the Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Owings Mills campus, and complete renovations of the entire Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Park Heights building. Buddy also helped champion significant facility improvements at Camp Milldale. During his tenure, Buddy envisioned stronger partnerships and affiliations with JCC’s sister agencies and other local organizations serving similar interests. Through these select
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partnerships, the JCC is able to offer more rich and rewarding Jewish experiences in synagogues, libraries, and other locations around Baltimore. In many ways, these strategic partnerships have enabled the JCC to alter its vision from one of a limited neighborhood meeting place to an organization that meets the needs of many small neighborhoods. “During the past five years, we have reached beyond our walls to serve Jewish families and young adults downtown, and in other neighborhoods outside the Owings Mills/ Pikesville corridor with programs like Got Shabbat, Downtown Baltimore JCC (DBJCC) and now Charm City Tribe” explains Buddy. The success of each initiative speaks to the JCC’s ability to meet the changing needs of the today’s Jewish community.
Protecting the Mission of the JCC
“We have always tried to stay true to the mission of helping people who are the most vulnerable in the community such as the frail elderly, teens at risk and individuals with special needs,” says Buddy. Enhancing programming for children and adults with special needs has grown tremendously over the years so that we now offer programs for all ages including a new resource rich website as part of the new Baltimore Jewish Abilities Alliance. Through programs like BBYO, JCC Maccabi®, TNT Camp (for Middles Schoolers), Moztai Shabbos at PH for teens and other initiatives, Buddy has helped to develop the JCC as a place where teens want to be involved. Buddy has also worked diligently to meet the unique needs of the Park Heights religious community too. From enhancing our single gender fitness options to opening our buildings to members and teens on Saturday nights when the clocks change, to expanding family and children’s activities, he has truly helped make the Weinberg Park Heights JCC a major community gathering place for area residents. Buddy continues on page 15
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