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February 11, 2005/Adar 12 5765, Volume 57, No. 24
Federation commits to help senior center
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix has pledged to guarantee that senior programs will continue at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center Senior Center.
At a Feb. 7 federation board meeting, members approved a Memo of Understanding (MOU) stating that the federation will "secure and provide funding to the VOSJCC for the senior center," in an amount equal to the difference between the actual cost of operating and maintaining the senior center and the income the VOSJCC receives for the senior center from other sources.
That amount is estimated to be approximately $100,000 per year, according to the MOU.
"As we were working with the JCC in ensuring the continuity of this program, we assured them that the federation would guarantee the necessary funding ... whether it be through the allocations process, supplemental fund-raising ... or any other yet-to-be-determined vehicle," said Adam Schwartz, federation executive vice president.
The MOU covers the period March 1, 2005-July 31, 2006, and will be renewed annually, if terms are met.
Under the agreement, the JCC will provide cultural, social and educational programs for seniors in leased space at Beth El Congregation in Phoenix. In addition, the senior center will provide on-site and home-delivered hot kosher lunches - under the supervision of Greater Phoenix Vaad Hakashruth and according to its agreement with the Area Agency on Aging.
An average of 40 seniors visit the senior center each weekday for hot kosher meals and social and educational programs. Additionally, the center delivers about 50 hot kosher meals to homebound individuals.
Dad's Kosher Deli at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale will prepare the meals, said Irwin Kanefsky, JCC president.
Nearly $10,000 has been pledged to a special project fund established through the federation's 2005 Campaign for Jewish Needs, Schwartz said. "Our hope and our belief is that there will be people who, as they did last year, will contribute to ensure the program because it's critically needed," Schwartz said.
"The community is stepping up to help keep this program alive," Kanefsky said. "It's terrific that (people have) come to the front and realized the needs of the elderly. It isn't the responsibility only of the JCC, but of everybody."
The senior center must vacate its site at 1805 W. Montebello Ave., Phoenix, by the end of February, to make room for Phoenix's light rail project.
Final details are being worked out with Beth El, Kanefsky said. The Conservative synagogue, at 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix, is about two miles from the current location.
For more information about the Campaign for Jewish Needs, call 480-634-4900, ext. 1105, or e-mail campaign@jewishphoenix.org.
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