YES! I would like to support the J.
Donate HERE or contact Elana MacGilpin at 860-231-6317 or emacgilpin@mandelljcc.org
Every day of the year, the Mandell JCC serves as a gathering place for our community. Members meet for yoga and then grab a coffee at the J Café. Seniors come for Brainsavers and enjoy lunch together. Children in the Early Childhood Center run, jump and dig on their new playgrounds. Teens head to the fitness center to workout. Adults come to see a film or an author.
The Mandell JCC is the heartbeat of our community, the place where connections happen and where people thrive. We are here every day – only because of your support. As a non-profit organization, fundraising is critical for the JCC to continue enriching the lives of so many, to create the “home away from home” that our members cherish, to grow our programs and our inclusive and diverse community.
Membership revenue and program fees do not cover our costs. Donations and grants are vital to our operating expenses. We need your help so we can always be the gathering place for this community, on the good days and on the challenging days. Now more than ever.
The JCC is where our community comes together.
Please consider a gift to the J. You are already part of our JCC Family – now is your opportunity to be part of our success.
With gratitude,
Steven M. Greenspan, Chair of the Board
David Jacobs, President & CEO
"Our Friends of the J Campaign makes it possible for us to provide fulfilling programs, foster connections, and build a vibrant community."
The Oliver Family
For our family, the JCC is far more than just a child care center or after school program. It’s a true community. We first joined the JCC when we enrolled our older daughter in Kids Korner. We quickly realized how many incredible programs the JCC offers. We now take advantage of so many of them including summer camp, swimming, pottery, dance, and karate. The JCC has become an essential part of our lives, and we have the facility to thank for our children blossoming before our very eyes.
The Mandell JCC is not just a safe and enriching place for our kids to learn, grow, and make friends. It has also been a wonderful space for us as parents, whether it’s taking advantage of wellness programs, swimming, or cultural events - we have found it to be a welcoming and supportive community for our family.
One of the biggest challenges as parents is balancing work and our busy schedules while ensuring our kids have opportunities to explore their interests. The JCC has given us peace of mind as working parents and provided a community where our children can explore and grow all while feeling part of a close knit community.
Above all, our favorite part of the JCC is the warm, welcoming environment we feel from the moment we walk in, to the strong sense of belonging we feel at every event, class, and program our family attends. The JCC is more than just a facility, it’s a place where our family continues to grow, and celebrate traditions and milestones together.
Johanna Goldblatt and Andrew Helfman
While I grew up as a part of a Jewish family in Georgia, the area I grew up in did not have a large Jewish community. When I moved to Connecticut and met Andrew, our eyes were opened up to the thriving Jewish community in the Hartford area which was different than anything we had ever experienced. Soon into our relationship, we joined the JCC. While the amenities and Fitness Center are great, it’s the community that makes it a cornerstone of our daily life.
Going to the JCC feels like home, like family. From the staff, to the members, we’ve created a familiar community that we wouldn’t have had without the Mandell JCC. As we think
about building our future together, being near the JCC and the West Hartford Jewish community is important to us. It’s changed how we look at what we value and where we want to spend our time!
