JCA Charitable Foundation

Creating for Tomorrow

Dear Trustees of the JCA Charitable Foundation,

We write to you in gratitude for your continued investments in the Jewish community. Because of you our beloved community is stronger, healthier and happier. Thank you.

The St. Louis Jewish Community Center (the J) has been a cornerstone in building community for 143 years. Facilities and programs have changed, evolved, and expanded; but what has remained constant is the J’s welcoming of all people as they connect and form community.

Many in the Jewish community report seldom or never attending religious services, yet they desire to connect with Judaism and one another in diverse ways. The J is “home” for 50% of the Jewish community in St. Louis. We also welcome the larger St. Louis community under our tent. Children learning in the J's Early Childhood Centers, young families seeking connection, young adults living with developmental challenges, and seniors thriving in our Adult Day at the J program are all part of our J family.

With this background, we want to share an inspiring plan that will help the J meet the changing needs of those we serve. Following successful investments in the Staenberg Family Complex and Camp Sabra, it is now time for us to focus on enhancing the Marilyn Fox Building in West St. Louis County in response to demand for additional services in adult day care, early childhood, day camps, community building, and fitness.

As we look to the future, we see an urgent need to expand our services and to meet the current and anticipated needs of our community. It is with this vision that we are embarking on our Creating the J for Tomorrow campaign.

The plan calls for $11 million in philanthropy to expand and enhance our programs and to upgrade our facilities that house them. Early commitments have already been secured, totaling $5.5 million, leaving an additional $5.5 million to be raised.

We enthusiastically submit this proposal and are grateful for your thoughtful consideration. This important initiative to expand services at the Marilyn Fox Building will empower us to fulfill current and future needs of our community and ensure that our impact on generations of Jewish families extends far beyond our time.

We look back with gratitude for those who laid the groundwork for today’s J. The time is now for the Jewish community of today to invest for the Jewish community of tomorrow.

With Gratitude,

Debbie Lefton Capital Campaign Co-Chair

Greg Siwak Capital Campaign Co-Chair

Ted Flom Board Chair

Lynn Wittels President & CEO

Seniors at the J

While the J is home for all ages, the senior population of the Jewish community is particularly active at the J. Almost one out of every four program participants at the Fox building is 65 years old or older. At the Staenberg Family Complex, over one out of every three program participants is 65 and older. The actual numbers, however, are likely significantly higher, as these numbers only account for seniors who purchase a ticket to an event and/or scan in with their membership cards. These numbers do not even include programs where capturing attendance data is difficult like Sababa and Israel’s 75th celebration!

As the general St. Louis Jewish population ages, we anticipate that these numbers will continue to grow and thus we must prepare accordingly for the seniors of tomorrow. In the most recent community study, the Jewish community in St. Louis is growing, aging and planning to stay in the area. 18% of all people in Jewish households in St. Louis were 65 or older eight years ago, and 22% of those in all-Jewish households are 65 and older. Also, nearly a third of Jews live in Chesterfield and St. Charles. Thus, the J, the Town Square of the Jewish community, must continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of our community and expand our mission and programming through the renovation of the Fox building.

Currently, seniors at the J participate in a variety of programs and activities with some like Adult Day at the J and our Meals on Wheels Program, designed specifically for the senior in need. However, Jewish seniors in our community participate in many other J programs such as our Fitness & Wellness and our signature Cultural Arts programs. These offerings play a major role in the social and emotional health and vitality of older Jewish adults in our community. Additionally, in the days prior to the pandemic the Marilyn Fox Building was a natural meeting and gathering place for West County seniors through our partnership with St. Louis Oasis. We hope to bring this partnership back to offer even more programming for seniors at the J.

One thing is clear: The J’s transformation of the Marilyn Fox Building will contribute to a healthy, thriving Jewish senior population and ultimately empower the J to further its mission and impact, creating a larger, more robust place for Jews in this community to come together and call home for generations to come.

Our Request: An Opportunity to Create the J for Tomorrow

We are grateful to the JCA Charitable Foundation for its community leadership and continued partnership with us in elevating the lives of Jewish seniors. As we launch this initiative, we are reaching out to significant community builders, like you, to consider investing in this crucial project.

Expanding services and programs at the Marilyn Fox Building is vital to the J’s mission of enriching lives, building community, promoting inclusivity, and creating meaningful Jewish experiences. If the J is to continue delivering its mission, with a special focus on opportunities in West County, an investment is essential.

Transforming our West County facility calls for $11 million from our community. The J has always relied on individual and family generosity to create opportunities, programs, and services. Revenue from membership and fees alone have never been sufficient to fully meet our mission. In fact, philanthropy helps create the foundation for all the J does, including its plans for the Marilyn Fox Building, enhancing the entire organization.

As the J approaches its 150th anniversary, the time is right to plan and launch this philanthropic effort. Giving from our community will make a significant difference in our ability to serve more and serve better. The J has been fortunate to benefit from several early leadership gifts, which total $5.5 million toward the $11 million proposed goal. An additional $5.5 million must be secured to fulfill our mission and dreams.

We cordially invite the JCA Charitable Foundation to consider an investment of $1 million in this important work. Your generosity will inspire others and propel us even further towards our goal of transforming the Marilyn Fox building and our greater community.

Once again, we are genuinely thankful for your consideration of our request and for all you have done for the J and our beloved community. We are happy to answer any questions you have, and we look forward to your response.

Creating the J for Tomorrow - Main Level

Recognition Opportunities

We are eager to work with you to determine the appropriate naming opportunity that honors your commitment to this effort.

Adult Day Center - $1 million

The Adult Day Center at the Marilyn Fox Building will be a center that supports seniors and young adults with cognitive and physical impairments. We will replicate our award-winning program at our Creve Coeur location that promotes cognitive, physical, and social stimulation, while also encouraging individual growth in an inclusive and supportive environment. A gift of $1 million will secure the naming rights to this important space for your foundation or in honor of someone special.

Early Childhood Center - $1 million

The Early Childhood Center (ECC) at the Marilyn Fox Building will support children ages six weeks to five years. In 2022, 15% of our ECC students received scholarship support to attend and 20% of these children were identified as having special needs. Despite the challenges we and all ECC programs face given extreme staffing shortages, 100% of the children who graduated from our program in each of the past 12 years have been deemed Kindergarten-ready by the CDC’s Milestones Matter checklist used to evaluate success. A gift of $1 million will secure naming rights to this important space for your foundation or in honor of someone special.

If these naming opportunities do not align with your passions and interests, we are happy to explore other opportunities to recognize your investment in this project.

Thank you for your consideration!

We invite the JCA Foundation to join us in building the foundation for the Jewish community of tomorrow.

Your support will empower us to put the pieces in place for a vibrant, thriving community for generations to come. Together, we will enrich lives, build community, promote inclusivity, and create meaningful Jewish experiences for the broader community.

Thank you again for your thoughtful consideration of support for this project.