January 10, 2008

Jewish Community Centers of Chicago (JCC) will be getting a new General Director - the highest professional position in the agency -- as of February 1, 2008. Martin Levine, now the Associate General Director, started with JCC in 1976 as Assistant Executive Director of the Bernard Horwich Jewish Community Center in West Rogers Park. He moved up to become Assistant General Director of the JCC agency, and then Associate General Director. He has played a key role in most of JCC's major initiatives during his three decades of JCC service.

Where: JCC offers cultural, educational, social and recreational programs in full service community centers and other locations including 9 early childhood sites, 8 day camp sites, and Camp Chi, an overnight camp in Wisconsin. The newest site, the JCC Elaine Frank Apachi Day Camp on the Lake County Jewish Community Campus, located in Lake Zurich, will open in the summer of 2008. Starting in September, 2008, early childhood programs will be offered at the Campus as well as programs for children and adults. 

When: February 1, 2008

How: After a nation-wide search the search committee of the Board of Directors  of JCC of Chicago recommended Mr. Levine's appointment to the full Board; the appointment was endorsed by the Board on October 31, 2007.

Who: Martin Levine, currently the Associate General Director, will become the new General Director upon the retirement of Dr. Avrum Cohen, the current General Director who held the position for 10 years.
 

Quotes

"The JCC has a long and rich history of service to our communities made possible by the combined efforts of dedicated professionals and board members. Mr. Levine was our choice to succeed Dr. Cohen because he has been a central figure in working with our board and committees to ensure the health and vibrancy of this agency. In recent years and over his 30 plus years with us he has seen and been part of virtually every dimension of JCC.

JCC is challenged to adapt to the dispersion of Jewish households which makes the traditional, "neighborhood" Center no longer capable of serving a significant portion of the Jewish population. Under the leadership of Dr. Cohen and Mr. Levine, we have broadened our service reach to outlying areas through the use of satellite locations, by partnering with other organizations, and most recently by building a new camp and campus in Lake Zurich which will serve the northwest suburbs, an area with the fastest growing Jewish population in the Midwest. I am confident that with our selection of Mr. Levine as our next General Director, we will continue on a course that maintains the vitality of our programs and the fiscal health of the agency."

Rick Rein
President, JCC of Chicago

"JCC of Chicago is a vibrant institution that has been serving the Jewish community for 104 continuous years. Through our many programs, we touch thousands of lives every day. It has been my pleasure to serve as JCC's General Director these past 10 years. I have had the opportunity to work with JCCs and Jewish Federations in other parts of the country, and I can say that JCC of Chicago has the best combination of lay and staff leaders. Together, we have witnessed unparalleled growth in our program participation, the addition of satellite locations, and the reorganization of staff to strengthen our program quality and fiscal management.

Mr. Levine is the perfect choice to be at the helm of this organization. He has a depth of knowledge about this agency, its programs and services, its infrastructure, and the communities we serve. It is my strong belief that he will be an excellent leader and that he will take the agency from strength to strength."

Dr. Avrum Cohen
General Director, JCC of Chicago

"Throughout my 30 plus years with JCC of Chicago our programs and activities have changed; the locations where we provide our services have changed, but JCC's unique ability to connect Jews to today's world as living Jews, to help them make sense of our heritage has remained constant. As I take on professional leadership of JCC my goal is to ensure that every Jew in Chicago finds a way to deepen their connection to the joys and responsibilities of our Jewish heritage and through that connection create a better and more meaningful life for themselves, their family and their community. This is what flows in the arteries and veins of our Agency and has for over 104 years. I am excited and honored to be the agency's next General Director and look forward to building upon our successes while we continue to strengthen our donor support so that more people can participate in our programs."

Marty Levine
Associate General Director

About Jewish Community Centers of Chicago

JCC of Chicago has served Chicago and its suburbs for 104 years offering a wide array of contemporary life-enriching programs and services. JCC brings Jewish values to life every day so that members and program participants can deepen their connection to the joys and responsibilities of Jewish heritage to create a better and more meaningful future. JCC offers cultural, educational, social and recreational programs in full service community centers and other locations including 9 early childhood sites, 8 day camp sites, and Camp Chi, an overnight camp in Wisconsin. The newest site, the JCC Elaine Frank Apachi Day Camp on the Lake County Jewish Community Campus, located in Lake Zurich, will open in the summer of 2008. Starting in September, 2008, early childhood programs will be offered at the Campus as well as programs for children and families.

JCC also helps individuals in need at the Dina and Eli Field Multi-Service Center, the Edward and Honora Singer Residence in Uptown, and through JCC's Project Chesed, a program that helps match families in need with community resources.
 

Contact:

Jay Levenberg, Assistant General Director
Jewish Community Centers of Chicago
847.763.3666
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