This year, the Marjorie & Lewis Katz JCC has received a generous $50,000 challenge gift from a local family foundation dedicated to supporting its special needs programming. This impactful donation will benefit  the Camp Tikvah and it’s year-round activities. On #GivingTuesday, supporters are encouraged to join the JCC network in meeting this challenge, expanding the reach of these essential programs, and making summer camp – and so much more – accessible for children with special needs. 

Brian Adler, Associate Executive Director and Development Director of the JCC, emphasizes the importance of inclusive programs like Camp Tikvah: “The significance of inclusion cannot be overstated. Programs like Camp Tikvah allow us to create a place where every child feels seen, valued and embraced. With community support, we can continue making a difference for families who rely on us for an inclusive, nurturing environment.  We want to continue to grow our programs and offerings every year.  Our challenge has been in hiring staff to meet the community needs”, Adler said, “unfortunately, we sometimes will have to postpone a child’s start date for camp until we are able to hire and fund the appropriate advocate for them.”

For families like the Grosskopfs, Camp Tikvah has had a transformative impact beyond inclusion. Jennifer Grosskopf, whose son Jacob attended Camp Tikvah last summer, shares her gratitude: “Camp By The Sea has been life-changing for Jacob. With his advocate blending in as part of the camp staff, Jacob felt just like every other camper. He talks about camp constantly and can’t wait to go back next year. And knowing that there isn’t an added cost for Jacob’s support needs – as many camps charge extra for advocates or one-on-one counselors – has meant the world to our family. Because of donors to Camp Tikvah, camp remains affordable for families that have children with special needs.” This #GivingTuesday, help the Marjorie & Lewis Katz JCC create more inclusive summer memories for children with special needs by supporting Camp Tikvah and other meaningful programs. Dollars raised go directly to hiring additional staff to include as many children as possible.