On giving and being a part of the JCC community
Lisa and Jonathan Marcus
My husband Jon and I live in Squirrel Hill with our two children. Jon is a JCC board member and we were co-chairs of the 2025 Big Night Olympics.
All of us use the JCC facilities. While I’m not originally from Pittsburgh, my mother’s side of the family is from here, and I spent 12 summers at Emma Kaufmann Camp. Each summer, I would come into town and catch the camp bus at the JCC. Both the JCC and EKC were a core part of my childhood and hold some of my fondest memories.
The JCC is such an important institution in our community. It truly serves as a hub where people come together, build connections, and engage in meaningful experiences. Our family loves being part of the JCC, and supporting it is important to us because we want to ensure it remains a vibrant, welcoming, and thriving place for generations to come.
For anyone considering supporting the JCC, I would tell them that the JCC relies heavily on philanthropic support to maintain its facilities, sustain its programs and operations, and ensure that everyone can participate through its anonymous scholarship program.
We all benefit from the generosity and vision of those who supported the JCC over the decades, creating the vibrant community we enjoy today. Now, it is our turn to continue that legacy and help ensure the JCC remains strong and accessible for future generations.
One word that comes to mind when I think of the JCC is Community. It’s in the name. The JCC brings people together and creates a sense of belonging for so many individuals and families.
One thing that stands out to me is how much the JCC has evolved over the years. I have vivid memories of what it looked and felt like when I was growing up….the décor, the hallways, and the rooms. While the building has changed and modernized, the spirit of the JCC remains the same. It still carries that same sense of community, connection, and belonging that made it so meaningful to me as a child, and that continues to make it meaningful to my family today.