History 1991-Present 

In the early 1990s, JCC turned its focus to the National Jewish Population Study released in 1991 which revealed that active involvement in Jewish practices was decreasing and that interfaith marriage rates among Jews had risen to over 50%. The agency made an even greater effort to enhance Jewish education efforts with a great focus on young families. This effort also included strengthening partnerships with other Jewish organizations and area synagogues.

In 1996, JCC’s Department of Jewish education, through an endowment, became the Pritzker Center for Jewish Education.

Also in 1996, JCC launched Project Chesed (kindness), a program developed to assist community members in need. The Women’s Auxiliary has taken a leadership role in initiating and organizing the services offered through Project Chesed, as they serve as liaisons who connect those in need with appropriate community referral services.

In 1997, JCC built and opened its newest Center, the Bernard Weinger JCC (300 Revere Drive, Northbrook). This 62,500 square-foot facility is a full-service community center including an Early Childhood Learning Center, fully equipped fitness center, aquatics center with a 25-yard six lane pool, full size gymnasium with two climbing walls, multi-purpose dance and exercise rooms, member lounge, and two playgrounds and outdoor ball fields. Even with the opening of the Bernard Weinger JCC, various synagogues in the Northern suburbs continue their partnerships with the agency as the home of some JCC Early Childhood programs.

In 2000, JCC of Chicago reorganized seven neighborhood centers into four regional service units, and four program areas (Early Childhood Education, Day Camping, Resident Camping, Jewish Education) became citywide service groups. This new structure is allowing JCC to monitor the spread of Jewish populations and to create innovative ways to serve them like the opening of Apachi Chicago Day Camp at UIC Campus and Beth Tikvah Early Childhood, A JCC Affiliate, in Hoffman Estates in 2002- 2003.

Today, JCC’s Early Childhood Services is the largest early childhood provider in Illinois. It serves more than 4,000 children each year at 15 locations throughout metropolitan Chicago offering full-day infant/toddler programs, full-day preschool, half-day preschool, kindergarten, adult/child classes, summer fun programs and enrichment activities for infants through five years.

Since the opening of the first JCC Day Camp in 1932, JCC Day Camps have grown to serve over 4,000 children each summer at 8 locations throughout Chicagoland and JCC’s Camp Chi serves more than 1,400 children and teens each summer. Camp Chi also offers teen travel programs and Chi Town Connection, a year-round program for teens in 9-12th grades that provides meaningful opportunities for socialization, recreation and Jewish association and continuity.

JCC of Chicago remains fresh and competitive in the marketplace by developing partnerships like NFL Flag Football, or Start Smart Sports Program out of the National Association for Youth Sports that teaches sportsmanship and reasonable goal-setting at a child’s earliest and most formative years.

JCC continues to respond to shifts in today’s family relations through new programs like Grand Adventures for grandparents and grandchildren to enjoy each other’s company in activities and programs designed exclusively for them, and programs like family holiday events, family camps at Perlstein Resort and Conference Center and parent/child classes.