The Gelles family with parents, David and Robin, and grandchildren.

Why They Do It
The Gelles'

You can just tell that Alisha Gelles Cipriano, Stefanie Gelles Ochs and Matt Gelles are siblings! Right on cue, they all share the same sentiment about the Mandell JCC verbatim: “The JCC has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember.”

For Alisha, it was youth and teen theater which “was my second home, and a big part of my life. It was the warmest and best community for me, and a place I felt safe.” For Stefanie, it was not only the preschool and Campareenah, but “early memories of my mom singing and performing in the adult galas, and later as a high schooler, discovering my love for exercise and staying healthy when I started using the gym frequently.” For Matt, it was the JCC preschool and youth basketball league.

And now, all of the Gelles siblings have reveled in seeing their own children follow in their footsteps. Stefanie shares that, “I am now a proud ECC parent and see all of the wonderful things the JCC offers its members at every stage of life.” Alisha also loved her ECC experience when her son Jordan attended the full day program during his infancy, and her youngest Olivia attended for pre-school. In addition, Alisha had the pleasure of watching as her daughter Ella took to the same JCC stage, where she and her mother had once performed, to act in Aladdin and Seussical The Musical. And Matt says that when he and his wife Tracy fled New York City during COVID, they never went back! “We enrolled our then 2-year old son, Gabe, in the Koalas room at the ECC, and the JCC (and ECC) became our main source of community and connection in the midst of a global pandemic (which can otherwise be quite an isolating time!). We love the ECC and our son has had a fantastic experience in nursery school, as well as in all of the after-school extracurriculars. Gabe will be attending pre-K at the ECC this fall.”

This strong association with the JCC, and sustaining it in perpetuity, has deep roots in the Gelles family. “Starting with my grandparents Gerry and Phyllis, then my parents David and Robin, and now among my wife Tracy, myself, my siblings, and their spouses Ron Cipriano and David Ochs, philanthropy has been an extremely important part of our lives. This is especially true with respect to supporting the local Jewish community. As we raise our own family, it is crucial that we teach our children the importance of philanthropy, giving back, and staying connected to each other and to our Jewish community.”, says Matt. “My parents and grandparents were always strong supporters of Jewish Federation and the JCC, and it truly feels like a full circle moment in my life now that my husband, David, and I are involved.”, says Stefanie. Alisha describes it this way: “My grandparents were, and my parents continue to be, deeply committed to the Hartford Jewish community, of which the JCC is central. Carrying on that commitment is something Ron and I take very seriously. My great grandparents instilled in their successive generations the importance of supporting Jewish organizations in order to keep both the local and global Jewish communities afloat. Ron and I have been fortunate enough to be able to give back to these organizations and have already begun to impress upon our children their duty to do the same. ‘L’dor v’dor’, or generation-to-generation, as my grandfather Gerry often said.”

This is why all the Gelles siblings and their spouses jumped at the chance to donate to the annual fund and join JNext, a new generation of members coming together to raise funds and awareness for the causes they’re passionate about. “How could we say ‘no’? It is in our blood to want see the JCC continue and thrive for our children and our children’s children.”, adds Alisha. Matt shares that, “When JNEXT was created in the summer of 2021, it was a perfect fit for me and Tracy to get involved with other young adults who share the same sense of Jewish values and community. Tracy was recently elected to the Board of the JCC. She also co-chairs the JNEXT Events Committee. We are both proud to have a part in growing the next generation of JCC community.”

“Since I was a little girl, my parents have always taught by example the importance of giving back and supporting our Jewish community. My grandparents also taught me that philanthropy and helping others should be a priority, and I have a sense of duty to continue their legacy in this community and make them proud. JNEXT is a great opportunity to do just that. When I learned about this new initiative, it seemed like a perfect way to do my part to not only support the JCC, but to also engage and build the next generation of philanthropists and dedicated members of the JCC.”, says Stefanie.

“I greatly appreciate the sense of community and warmth I feel when I drop my son, Ethan, off at school every morning. It is a welcoming, safe place to belong. I see firsthand how other ECC families feel the same way and take advantage of the things the JCC has to offer. I believe JNEXT will be the vehicle to maintain all of this for generations to come.” Stefanie adds. It is with the shared goal of continuing to see the JCC grow that all three of the Gelles children, along with their spouses, have committed to helping secure a wonderful and vibrant future for the JCC, so families like theirs can enjoy it for years to come. They concluded, “we are so happy to see the JCC thriving and want to see it stay that way forever!”.