EmbraceFORTY-THIRD ANNUAL the REPORT Journey JCA 43rd Annual Report 1 Contents 1 Life’s Journey 2 President’s Message 3 Program Accomplishments 10 Financial Highlights 12 Lay Leaders 14 Staff Members 15 Legacy Society Members 16 Campaign Donors 17 Endowment Donors 18 Annual Fund Contributors 25 Annual Report Sponsors
2 JCA 43rd Annual Report All of us make life’s journey alongside family and friends – day after day, year upon year.
When older adults need help navigating life’s twists and turns, JCA is there. We offer compassionate care and expert answers to seniors and their families. We also empower young and old to reach across the years and enrich each other’s journeys.
JCA’s community of care, which has served seniors for more than four decades, is made possible by our family and friends: the generous donors, caring volunteers, dedicated staff, passionate advocates and visionary partners who walk alongside us – day after day, year upon year.
Thank you for being part of JCA’s journey.
Agency 8127 Agency 52847 JCA 43rd Annual Report 1 President’s Message
Dear Friend,
For 43 years, the Jewish Council for the This past year, we also completed a Aging of Greater Washington (JCA) has branding study that gave us important helped seniors thrive. insights on how the community views JCA and how to improve communication As you read this annual report, which with our key audiences. We made provides highlights of the fiscal year that significant progress on improving ended on June 30, 2016, I encourage JCA’s IT infrastructure. Our Succession you to consider the thousands of and Sustainability Task Force laid the personal journeys that intertwine with groundwork for the next generation of JCA’s journey. These are the journeys leaders. And we expanded the reach of of vulnerable seniors and concerned several supportive service programs. caretakers, of determined older jobseekers and productive older workers, of I hope that you will read about our dedicated volunteers of all ages, and accomplishments on the following pages, of generous donors, grant makers and and that you will be as proud of those more. Because we touch so many lives achievements as I am. in so many ways – and because we are entrusted with public and private It has been a privilege to be at the helm resources that we must use wisely to do of JCA for the past two years, and to the greatest good – it is essential that JCA be part of a journey that already spans prepare for what tomorrow may bring. generations. It is a journey that I believe will span many more. In 2015, our Board of Directors adopted a strategic plan for 2016-2018, which you With deep appreciation for your can view at AccessJCA.org/StrategicPlan. continued support, Although it is a guide for JCA’s near-term future, JCA embraced it with a larger journey in mind. Sheldon Grosberg
2 JCA 43rd Annual Report . . . imagine. . . dream. . . believe
Program Accomplishments Intergenerational Programs Connecting the generations is an integral • We launched Tech Connect, a collaborative part of JCA’s mission, and our Heyman program with Montgomery County Interages® Center is a recognized leader Recreation at the Wheaton High School in intergenerational programming. IT Academy. It enables older adults to Program accomplishments during fiscal improve their digital literacy by learning year 2016 include: from teenagers, while enhancing cross- • 353 Interages volunteers age 50+ generational communication. donated 6,778 hours of skilled and • We implemented REAL (Reading compassionate volunteer service. and Education to Advance Lives) in • 916 at-risk youth received mentoring collaboration with the Montgomery and tutoring through the programs we County Department of Health and operated at 83 locations in Montgomery Human Services (HHS) and Montgomery County. County Public Libraries, at three HHS Centers. Volunteers served 219 youth, as • 471 youth participants interacted with well as their families and caregivers, by 453 frail older adults living in senior reading to children, working to improve facilities or attending adult day centers. literacy skills, and sharing information about healthy living.
Thirty years ago, Austin Heyman established a nonprofit called Interages, which in 2012 merged into JCA. Today, the Heyman Interages® Center, named in his honor, offers a wide array of intergenerational programs. Interages is just one example of Austin’s visionary leadership and lasting impact, and last year we recognized his extraordinary work on behalf of Montgomery County seniors and youth with the 2015 Advocate for the Aging Award. Chuck Short (left), special Interages volunteer Kim Mitchell reads to a child assistant to County Executive Isiah Leggett, presented the award to his in the Summer Grandreaders program at Rockville longtime friend. Chuck received the same award in 2014. Public Library.
JCA 43rd Annual Report 3 Program Accomplishments Information, Education & Outreach Across the D.C. Metro area, older adults • JCA’s social media presence continued to and their families count on JCA for senior- grow, as we shared resources, promoted friendly education and expert information programs and connected with the about aging. Accomplishments in this area community on Twitter, LinkedIn and during FY16 include: Facebook. As of June 30, we had more • 1,164 hours of volunteer assistance by than 2,000 Facebook followers. phone and email helped those seeking resources and information about Each spring, the Sylvia Blajwas aging well from the Rose Benté Lee Productive Aging Award Dinner Senior HelpLine and Steven M. Reich
HomeCare Resource Center. blasts limiting stereotypes of aging. JCA’s programs would not be possible • SeniorTech volunteers donated 1,437 On May 15, more than 400 friends of JCA without our caring, hours of instruction at our training attended our 23rd Annual Dinner, where dedicated staff. centers in Virginia and Maryland, where we presented our 2015 Humanitarian In recognition of Award to philanthropists Esthy and 695 students learned computer or other that fact, each year James Adler and our 2015 Productive technology skills. we present the Aging Award to actor and director Sam • In collaboration with Washington Jewish Ruth Breslow-Young Waterston. Attorney Kenneth Feinberg Week, we published quarterly Senior Staff Award to one or (above left) interviewed Waterston, who Resources Guides on timely topics for more outstanding team is best known for his long-running role as today’s older adults. members. One of 2015’s two awardees was D.A. Jack McCoy on TV’s Law & Order. Development Assistant Lorrie LeSchack, • The quarterly AccessJCA print newsletter shown here with Sam Waterston at the reached more than 7,000 households Productive Aging Award Dinner. and our JCA Today online newsletter kept us connected to thousands of friends and supporters.
4 JCA 43rd Annual Report . . . explore. . . grow. . . thrive
Adult Day Programs Seniors and caregivers find care, compassion and community at JCA’s Misler Adult Day Center and Kensington Clubs, which are part of our Ruth & Hans Cahnmann Center for Supportive Services. Last year’s accomplishments include: • The Albert & Helen Misler Adult Day Center provided 9,058 days of care to 93 vulnerable seniors. Participant days increased 15 percent from fiscal year 2015.
• The Gorlitz Kensington Clubs, our social day programs for older adults with early- stage memory loss, served 41 members at the JCA Headquarters Building on Parklawn Drive in Rockville, Maryland and 13 members at its new location at Ingleside at King Farm, a life plan community in Rockville. The two Clubs With music and smiles, our Senior provided a total of 2,940 member days, a Prom captures the spirit of JCA. 53 percent increase from fiscal year 2015. At JCA’s fourth annual Senior Prom on April 10, teen volunteers from BBYO spent the • JCA received a grant from the Edward afternoon dancing and socializing with participants from the JCA Kensington Club N. and Della L. Thome Foundation and Misler Center (where the Prom was hosted) as well as seniors who live in Charles to establish another Club for early- E. Smith Life Communities. Our intergenerational Prom was part of Good Deeds Day, stage memory loss in the underserved an international day of giving back, presented locally by The Jewish Federation of northern region of Montgomery County. Greater Washington. • Our supportive services team facilitated Seniors like Gloria, shown here in her 2015 Prom photo and again at this year’s free Caregiver Support Groups year Prom with a BBYO youth volunteer, savored the food, the music and especially the round. attention. Gloria is a former Misler Center client and prior to that was a member of our Kensington Club @ Parklawn. This lovely lady is a terrific dancer and an inspirational octogenarian, on and off the dance floor!
JCA 43rd Annual Report 5 Our team is proof that experience counts.
JCA believes in equal opportunity for all Ellen Greenberg (bottom left), who heads workers, regardless of age, and that 50+ up JCA’s education and information programs, workers should have a level playing field in celebrated 30 years at JCA in 2015, and their ability to compete for and obtain jobs. we marked the occasion with a surprise Recognizing the value of experienced workers, party at JCA. Micki Gordon (bottom right), we have proudly signed the AARP “Work our assistant CEO and senior director of Reimagined Pledge” – a promise to recruit development, crossed the 25-year mark in across diverse age groups and to consider 2016, and we celebrated her service to JCA at all applicants on an equal basis as we hire for our 43rd Annual Meeting. positions within our organization. David, Ellen and Micki are part of a JCA Not only do we take pride in recruiting “quarter-century club” that also includes Moti experienced workers, but we also are fortunate Galil, director of the Rose and Harold Kramer to have many longtime employees who make Center on Transportation; and Chris Prinz, bus JCA a stronger organization and a truly special driver. Many more staff members have been place to work. Three staff members reached with us for more than 10, 15, or 20 years. special anniversaries during the past year. In addition, many JCA volunteers have impressive tenures, and they include On October 18, 2015, more than 150 friends several former staffers who now lend gathered for a beautiful brunch at Woodmont their time and talent to JCA in a Country Club to celebrate David Gamse’s different way! 25th anniversary at the helm of JCA. David’s family – including grandson, Davin, shown Our seasoned team members – here with his proud PopPop – made the day paid and volunteer – provide even more special. Taking turns at the podium continuity, perspective, and were David’s son, Jason; daughter, Megan; institutional memory. They also and wife, Peg. They delighted the crowd with help make JCA feel like family. funny stories and personal insights about David’s passion for his work.
6 JCA 43rd Annual Report . . . learn. . . discover. . . achieve
Program Accomplishments Senior Employment JCA is an older worker expert, and our Our 50+ Employment employment programs address the needs Expos are jam-packed of jobseekers who face a variety of challenges. with resources for • Our Senior Community Service older jobseekers. Employment Program (SCSEP) provided 58,442 hours of community service More than 1,800 jobseekers age 50 valued at $544,922 through the work of or better attended our 2016 Expo 96 on-the-job trainees. Grant funding on April 4 in North Bethesda, where enabled us to compensate all SCSEP they had the chance to network with participants at minimum wage or above. 52 employers and connect with 29 They gained job skills while providing community organizations offering a valuable community service to 54 range of resources. government agencies and local charities, Six free seminars helped attendees get up to speed on including JCA. timely topics, 30 coaches conducted one-on-one resumé • 2,547 jobseekers age 50+ connected with reviews for 129 jobseekers, and a volunteer-run technology 146 exhibitors at two 50+ Employment center enabled dozens of jobseekers to improve their Expos. online job-search skills. Keynote speaker Pat Lawson Muse of NBC4 news inspired and energized the jobseekers. • The Career Gateway program provided A sister Expo held in Tysons on April 18 served another 30+ hours of intensive, specialized 730 jobseekers with a similar array of resources and training and mentoring to 60 networking opportunities. The Virginia Expo featured 44 professionals age 50+ looking to re-enter employers, 21 community resource organizations, and a the workforce. keynote address from ABC7 Chief Meteorologist Doug Hill.
JCA 43rd Annual Report 7 Program Accomplishments Transportation For 43 years, JCA has helped local seniors the JCC of Northern Virginia; and 3,027 travel throughout the area. Although rides (a 139 percent increase) to another needs have grown and evolved, one 223 seniors by 139 volunteer drivers thing remains constant: safe, affordable through VillageRides™. and accessible transportation is critical to helping people grow old with dignity, • JCA received a $250,000 grant from independence and vitality. the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to support the creation of a • Our ElderBuses provided 45,863 volunteer driver resource center to passenger trips, traveling a total of serve Montgomery and Prince George’s 126,960 miles, all within the metro D.C. Counties. area, while providing transportation valued at more than $2.2 million. • We completed Getting All Around the County, a federally funded project to • Connect-A-Ride mobility specialists increase the engagement of seniors and We put the focus on pedestrian answered 9,614 inquiries from 2,612 adults of all ages with disabilities in safety with a senior-themed callers and made 8,105 referrals to help transportation planning. JCA is now a seniors find safe, affordable rides. mentor to similar projects across the Tired Faces campaign. country. • The Escorted Transportation Project Tired Faces is part of Street Smart, a provided 708 rides to 240 low-income, • JCA received an FTA grant of $270,948 program sponsored by the Metropolitan disabled seniors. to support the purchase of three new Washington Council of Governments and wheelchair-accessible ElderBuses as well the National Capital Region Transportation • We empowered 120 seniors as well as as the maintenance of several vehicles Planning Board. JCA collaborated with disabled adults of all ages to use public in our fleet. the Montgomery County Department transportation at RideSmart Workshops. of Transportation and other experts to • We launched the Still Driving program develop the new campaign. The ads, • Our volunteer driver programs to address the emotional issues that which won a national media award, continued to grow, providing 8,624 rides accompany each person’s decision to appear on many Montgomery County (a 223 percent increase from last year) retire from driving and ran two three- Ride On buses, as well as on transit shelters to 214 seniors via 332 volunteer drivers session support groups. and in senior centers. through NV Rides, a collaboration with
8 JCA 43rd Annual Report . . . listen. . . share. . . connect
We help seniors with day-to-day journeys that shape the quality of life’s larger journey.
When older adults can get where they want and need to go – including medical appointments, errands and social outings – they are more likely to stay healthy, vital and connected to the community. Our volunteer-driver programs are setting the pace in a world where 90 percent of adults wish to stay in their homes as they age. VillageRides helps to connect volunteer drivers with Villages and other nonprofit organizations in Montgomery County and currently works with 10 Villages, which are intergenerational, neighbor-to-neighbor support networks that help seniors continue to live in the homes and communities they know and love. NV Rides, which is operated by JCC of Northern Virginia, coordinates volunteer drivers in partnership with nonprofits and community groups. Last year, these two programs provided 11,651 rides for seniors with the help of 471 volunteer drivers.
Each year, we present the Ruth Breslow-Young Staff Award to one or more outstanding team members. One of 2015’s two awardees was Bus Driver Chris Prinz, shown here with a former Misler Center client. Chris has been a JCA bus driver for more than 30 years! We applaud his professionalism and commitment to helping seniors. Volunteer driver Jeff Spruill, who participates in VillageRides through the Villages of Kensington, gives the “gift of a lift” to neighbors.
JCA 43rd Annual Report 9 Financial Highlights Philanthropy is the cornerstone of every JCA program.
Philanthropic support, which we of Greater Washington and its United through the National Center for describe in detail on pages 15-24, Jewish Endowment Fund; $148,201 Productive Aging® (a JCA program) and includes: from the State of Maryland; $125,170 rental income from the Nonprofit Village, • Pledges and outright gifts of cash from Fairfax County, VA; $99,572 from a charity that leases from us the top floor or securities to our annual fund, the Metropolitan Washington Council of our 31,000-square-foot headquarters Campaign for the 21st Century and of Governments; and $57,921 from the office. As of June 30, 2016, 19 charities in Productive Aging Award Dinner. Community Transportation Association addition to JCA had found a home in the of America. In addition, we received JCA headquarters building. • The donations we received through capital grants from the State of Maryland the United Way, Combined Federal for $155,041 and Montgomery County Compassion Funds provided essential Campaign and Maryland Charity for $125,000. income. A $75,400 release from these Campaign. endowed funds helped to provide • Such non-cash gifts as donated program Program fees charged for computer program stability during the year. For space, computers, furniture, and legal training, adult day programs, certain details, see page 17. counsel as well as other essential transportation services and other volunteer support. services helped make ends meet, yet Each gift, grant and fee is a building block to the we never want such fees to be a barrier work we do, and we are proactive about explaining • Funds from Car-J, a vehicle donations between those who need help and the them. In recognition of our commitment to transparency, GuideStar, a national library of program that simultaneously supports help we provide. When fees presented JCA, the Jewish Foundation for Group charitable information, has named JCA a Gold a hardship, we utilized state and other Exchange Participant. Homes and the Bender JCC of Greater public resources when we could and Washington. our own pool of Opportunity Grants Grants and contracts supported many (“scholarships,” donated by generous JCA programs. These included $1,363,981 friends) when we could not. from Montgomery County, MD; $670,681 The fee revenue we report also from Senior Service America, Inc.; includes honoraria or billings from the $310,862 from The Jewish Federation professional consultation we provided
10 JCA 43rd Annual Report . . . build. . . create. . . collaborate
Clients come first at JCA, with 87 cents of every dollar directed into programs, not overhead.
Sources of Support* Community Investment*
Transportation 27%