Our Agencies: Jewish Community Center

The JCC’s mission is to enrich the community by perpetuating Jewish tradition and heritage while celebrating diversity of beliefs through arts, education, health, and wellness programs.

For 100 years, diversity has been at the heart of the JCC, dating back to when the first Eastern European Jews made their way to Indianapolis in the early 1900’s. Then the JCC was a communal center where people from this growing immigrant community gathered for social, recreational, and educational activities.

For the past 30 years under the leadership of CEO Ira Jaffee, the JCC has grown to serve nearly 1,100 people daily who work out, drop off their children for preschool or after-school programs, or participate in a continuing education class, program, or sports league.

With facilities and programs to serve all ages, the JCC has long been a hub of activity on Indy’s north side. Three generations have grown up in the JCC’s licensed childcare, camp programs, and youth sports leagues. JCC members

• enjoy the expansive Geon M Mordoh Fitness Center.
• swim and play in the Eskenazi Water Park.
• participate in group exercise classes and ball leagues.
• achieve goals with personal trainers and certified Pilates instructors.
• dance, stretch, and train their way to better fitness.

About 3,000 households or 9,500 individuals are JCC members, approximately 40 percent of whom are Jewish. Several thousand non-members avail themselves of the JCC’s offerings such as tennis, racquetball, basketball leagues, Pilates, adult education classes, and cultural arts programs. Over 10 percent of JCC members live below the poverty line, many of whom receive financial assistance for membership, after-school care, and day camp—a commitment the  JCC makes to the community as a proud United Way agency.

The JCC attracts thousands of visitors to its 40-acre campus every year through free events like the Earth Day Community Celebration sponsored by Citizens Energy Group (April 26 this year), the Ann Katz Festival of Books and Arts in the fall and its year-round Farmers Market on Sundays from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

The JCC is a beneficiary agency of the United Way of Central Indiana and the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, and an affiliate member of the JCC Association of North America. Please join me and my family at the JCC!

0Comments

Add Comment