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.