This past week, our most recent former Board Chair, Billy Goodman, received the Western PA Trial Lawyers Association’s 2025 Daniel M. Berger Community Service Award for his work with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. Simply put, this award recognizes individuals or entities who go above and beyond in supporting an ongoing cause.
Billy began his tenure as the JCC’s Board Chair in September 2019, 6½ short months before the agency’s mandated closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After 18 consecutive years of having achieved positive operating returns, over the course of Billy’s 3-year term, the JCC lost more than $14 million in total revenue and $19 million in earned revenue relative to fiscal year 2019. We lost 52% of our membership and after having made our last long-term debt payment on March 2, 2020, concerns over whether we would be able to pay the bills forced us to take out a multi-million-dollar line of credit nearly two months later. Through it all, Billy’s entrepreneurial spirit led the way for the JCC to be more adaptive, innovative and resilient during the crisis. His call to “leave no stone unturned” was our rallying cry and he stood at our side – morning, noon and night – pushing us to go above and beyond what we thought was possible.
Despite the challenges, the JCC made incredible impact and very much lived up to its billing as “an agency always in motion.”
- Within 10 days of our closure, we hosted the first of our 60+ blood drives, through which 1,800 blood donations were collected helping nearly 5,400 patients.
- We were a COVID testing and vaccination site in which 3,000 COVID tests and more than 11,400 COVID vaccines were administered.
- More than 25,000 wellness check-ins were completed for our community of older adults.
- Approximately 110,000 meals were served or delivered to vulnerable older adults and school-aged children.
- Our virtual learning hubs across our two year-round locations supported more than 150 children from more than 20 schools.
None of this would have been possible without Billy’s leadership and his can-do attitude lives on at the JCC today, specifically in the speed of our decision making, our commitment to collaboration and our opportunistic mindset. We could not be prouder of Billy for having been honored by his colleagues and receiving such a prestigious award!
And speaking of going above and beyond, this week we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week and recognized the extraordinary efforts of our early childhood educators. This esteemed group of professionals are more than just teachers—they are nurturers, role models, problem-solvers and steady sources of comfort, curiosity and joy. Whether it’s welcoming each child with a smile, creating imaginative and engaging learning environments, or providing reassuring support to families, their dedication runs deep. They spend countless hours preparing thoughtful lesson plans and reflecting on each child’s individual needs and strengths. Their creativity and commitment to community make our JCC a place of growth and connection.
At the heart of everything we do is a shared obligation to making a difference—not just by meeting expectations, but by exceeding them. Going above and beyond isn’t about perfection or grand gestures; it’s about showing up with intention, care and a willingness to give a little more when it truly matters. That’s just the way we roll at the JCC.
Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom,
Jason
