Dear Rady JCC Friends,
Better days are coming.
Six weeks have now passed since we have all had to adapt to our new normal. Our fitness facility, once pulsing with activity, has all but disappeared. Our pool, normally flowing with energy, now sits empty and calm. Many of our cultural programs are either cancelled or postponed.
But through this all, our members continue to prove to us their determination and commitment to the Rady while they cannot be here. We are seeing this through many ways.
Many of our members have made the decision to convert their monthly membership dues into donations during this ongoing pandemic. This generosity greatly assists us right now as many of our normal operating expenses remain. We thank you for stepping up.
We continue to receive notes of encouragement from our members, on the phone and through email, letting us know what the Rady JCC means to them and their families. Please know that these messages are both heard and appreciated, and greatly affect the Rady JCC staff and Board of Directors.
We also continue to see increased engagement with Rady JCC Virtual Connect, our online community made up of links and resources to fitness classes, health resources, and cultural programs and activities. We update Virtual Connect daily, and have widened the breadth of offerings to our members. Many of our Rady JCC instructors and trainers continue to produce videos so members can stay connected with them. We encourage you to see for yourself by visiting Rady JCC Virtual Connect.
This Wednesday is Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel’s 72nd birthday. Normally, we would be ramping up for a great party along with our partner organizations. Our entire community would come out to celebrate and dance, create memories, and enjoy each other’s company. This year will be different.
While we can’t be together, we can certainly still celebrate together. There are a number of virtual events taking place now until the end of Yom Ha’atzmaut, both locally and on a global scale. You can find a full listing of all of these on Rady JCC Virtual Connect.
So yes, looking back at these past six weeks, we have all had to adjust our lives. We have had to make sacrifices, put things on hold, and continually search for the light during these dark times.
In the midst of this darkness, one statement shines bright: the heart of a community is made up by its members.
And Rady’s heartbeat is stronger than ever.
Warm regards,
Rob Berkowits
Executive Director
Rady JCC