Moms in Business

Mom’s in Busi n e ss SPOT LIGHT

Orit Lender

CEO, Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island

In her first year as CEO of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, Orit Lender has stewarded the agency through a time of uncertainty while also leading pandemic recovery efforts throughout the community. In short, it’s been a busy year for the JCC’s first female CEO. Yet, it seems no one could have been better prepared to navigate this complex situation than Orit, a mother of two with over 20 years of experience in community-building.

The daughter of Israeli parents, Orit lived in Israel on Kibbutz Urim before moving to Staten Island as a child. She began working for the JCC in 2001, making a positive impact on young people’s lives as the Youth Empowerment Director. She went on to serve the island’s senior population, developing and supervising all of the JCC’s senior centers. In her roles as Assistant and, later, Deputy Executive Director, Orit’s vision and leadership touched all aspects of the JCC’s mission to serve Staten Islanders at every age and stage of life. During this time, she also completed the Duke University Executive Leadership for Non-Profit Certificate program.

In 2020, Orit was selected to be the JCC’s next Chief Executive Officer. While navigating the leadership transition period, she was also navigating the early months of the pandemic. As the JCC’s facilities temporarily closed to the public, Orit led the agency through new initiatives that not only aided Staten Islanders in crisis, but also kept the Jewish community connected.

Driven by the Jewish principle of tikkun olam, or repairing the world, Orit collaborates with other community leaders and organizations to touch more lives with the JCC’s work. She serves as a member of many of these organizations, including UJA-Federation of NY, the Staten Island Not for Profit Association (SINFPA), and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Through these relationships, Orit works to build a better, more caring community for all.

Orit’s leadership inspires the next generation—not only through the growth of JCC programs, like summer camp, that empower kids to be kind and community-minded, but also right at home. Orit and her husband Ed are the proud parents of David, age 17, and Ethan, age 11, who are also active in JCC youth and sports programs.