By Paul Wein
More than 200 people attended the event, which began with a lavish feast and concluded with an award ceremony honoring JCC Founders Roberta and Marvin Ross as people of the year, Naomi Nachman with the Harrison-Kerr Achievement Award for her efforts as director of the JCC's Kosher Culinary Institute, and Dr. Steven Wald with the JCC Inspirational Award for his battle against traumatic brain injury.
In addition to presenting awards to the honorees, the event also helped raise funds for the JCC to help pay for the many services they provide, which include Holocaust survivor's groups, sending children to Summer camp, and holding support groups for those suffering from TBI. The funds raised will also go toward the JCC's ultimate goal - the construction of a full-service facility that will provide social, educational and recreational programs for the entire Five Towns community.
Both the honorees and the staff of the JCC, as well as those in attendance, thought the event was a huge success.
"This is a tremendous turnout," said Rina Shkoknik, the executive director of the JCC. "Having so many people here shows that the community supports both what we do and what we plan to do." Shkoknik said that while the money raised will help fund their programs, the JCC is always thinking of the future. "The money raised will help us move forward," she said. "We want to be able to build our full service facility. This is our dream."
Joel Daniels, the JCC's chief financial officer, said that while he enjoyed the evening's festivities and thought the turnout was, "beautiful," he enjoys seeing how the money they raise is spent rather than how it is obtained. "On Saturday, I accompanied Holocaust survivors to a model seder at the Woodmere Jewish Center and I had the best time," recalled Daniels. "I get so much satisfaction seeing where the money we raise goes and how it helps those in need."
Naomi Nachman, a native of Sydney, Australia who moved to Woodmere in 2003 with her husband Zvi, said that her receipt of the Harrison-Kerr Community Achievement Award was an honor. "I am very flattered and excited," she said. "I am so thankful to the JCC for not only honoring me, but allowing me to follow my passion of cooking and teach it to others every day. The JCC has always made me feel at home."
Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside), who attended the event, said the JCC is, "an integral part of the community and has very exciting plans for the future. As a long-term fixture in this community, it is good to see the support they are getting both today and throughout the years. They are indispensable."
Stephen Bucki, a vice president of HSBC Bank and the official banker of the JCC for the last 12 years, said that in the last four years, the JCC has grown tremendously. "This is a fantastic organization," he said. "More people should know about it."
Comments about this story? PWein@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
