We’re #WJCSProud of our summer achievements! Here are some highlights.
New York State Senator Shelley Mayer joined us as we celebrated the hope, strength, and resilience of Holocaust Survivors in Westchester at our 2nd Annual Holocaust Survivors Day luncheon in White Plains. Allison Danzig, Coordinator of WJCS Holocaust Survivor and Family Services, (far left) welcomed guests, and shared with the Survivors that they inspire us every day. We are grateful to CBS New York and News 12 Westchester for covering the moving event, filled with music, friendship, and gratitude. Thank you to our partners, UJA-Federation of New York, and the Claims Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, for their support.
Children from birth to 5 years, along with their caregivers, had a blast at our Summer Fun at Hartley Park program, a twice-a-week playgroup where they enjoyed playing, singing, and creating art. Employees from across a variety of WJCS divisions (photo below) were thrilled to visit the program and take part in the enriching and entertaining activities. Thank you to our program partners: the City of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Parks & Recreation Dept., and the Mount Vernon Public Library.
The WJCS Summer Wiener Academy for Young Women was a great success this summer….with music, art, yoga, field trips….and visits from some special V.I.P. guests! Please take a look at our video.
Thank you to UJA Westchester, Supplies for Success, Westchester Reform Temple, Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester, Young Israel of Scarsdale, Bet Torah, and Order Out of Chaos for supporting our annual WJCS Back-to-School Drive. It was thrilling to see our generous donors bringing and filling new backpacks with new school supplies to ensure that children in under-resourced neighborhoods in Westchester can be prepared for a successful school year.
Gillian Rittmaster LCSW, Assistant Executive Director of WJCS Jewish Programs (left), Heidi Weiss, LMSW, MHA, Coordinator of WJCS Addressing Alzheimer’s (center), and Shari Birnbaum-Baum, LMSW. Coordinator of WJCS Partners in Caring (right), represented WJCS at the Westchester Jewish Music & Arts Festival at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla. It was a wonderful celebration with Israeli dancing, music from wonderful performers, including Neshama Carlebach, and catching up with our friends at partner agencies and members of our Westchester community. Thank you Westchester Jewish Council & Westchester County Parks for hosting this terrific event!
In other news: Thank you to Zion Episcopal Church for raising money to support WJCS Center Lane programs for LGBTQ+ youth by selling Pride accessories at a Greenburgh/Dobbs Ferry Pride event and CBS New York for interviewing a WJCS POINT participant about her volunteer work with Afya. WJCS CEO Seth Diamond published an article ” A Cruel Irony: Less Mental Health Stigma but Fewer Behavioral Health Clinicians” in the July issue of Behavioral Health News. W. Andrew Mullane, Ph.D., WJCS Director of Innovation, Integration, and Community Partnerships was quoted in the New York Times article: “Experts Say We Have the Tools to Fight Addiction. So Why Are More Americans Overdosing Than Ever?”
