Valley of the Sun JCC

Background and History Statement

The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center rose from its humble beginnings in 1945 to an integral part of the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus opened in 2002. The Center exists as a vital gathering place for Jewish people to participate in social, recreational and cultural activities. The JCC provides early childhood education, youth and adult educational, cultural and recreational programs, as well as health and fitness for the entire family.
Today, the JCC has more than 1,700 members who, for the most part, live or work within a five-mile radius of the Center. Although the JCC focuses on Jewish culture and values, it serves people of all faiths and races regardless of their ability to pay.

General Needs Statement

Fees from membership and programs only cover 83 percent of the organization’s expenses. The remaining 17 percent that is needed to meet our budget must be raised each year to fund all of the social, cultural and educational programs the JCC has to offer.
The Center relies on additional funding primarily from its signature event, JCC Heroes for Children Gala, as well as individual gifts, family, private and corporate foundation support. A significant amount of funds raised help provide scholarships for those who would not be able to participate without financial assistance.
It is imperative that the JCC increase giving to fund the start up of innovative programs, continue to provide outstanding community events and grant scholarships to children and families in need.

PROGRAMS: Provide a brief description of each major program including individual program budget, population served, program success

Early Childhood Education serves infants as young as six weeks through pre-kindergarten. Programs include high-quality daycare, award-winning education, day camps, parenting and children’s activities to all JCC members and non-members. 

I have both my boys in the ECE program since they were infants until they went off to kindergarten. The teachers are exceptional, caring individuals. We couldn’t have asked for a better developmental start for our kids.

Youth Services offers programs in cooking, crafts, theater, arts and crafts, music, after-school care, day camps and special events.

Being new immigrants and financially strained right now, you have allowed us to make use of the wonderful facility of the JCC as well as given us an opportunity to reiterate the importance of Judaism to our children.

Tweens/Teens are often a difficult demographic to please. The JCC has found great success with an outlet for fun at Club J, involvement in sports and the Maccabi Games, babysitter and lifeguard training, as well as the ever popular camp counselor-in-training program to prepare teens for their first job opportunity. .

Adult programming offers exceptional craft, cooking, cards, art, music and humanities classes as well as planned group activities in and outside the JCC.

Fitness programming includes a state-of-the-art fitness facility with new, cutting-edge equipment, as well as group fitness classes and individual training. The department also offers health and wellness screenings and spa services.

Sports department has youth and adult sport leagues featuring basketball, softball and soccer. In addition, the Maccabi Games, is an Olympic-style opportunity for teens to compete nationally and internationally.

I met so many great kids from all over the country and got to play basketball with some of the top athletes in other Jewish communities. It was a blast! I can’t wait (and am already saving) for the Maccabi Games in Israel next year.

Aquatics has been redesigned and improved with the Aquatic Concepts Swim Safe 1-2-3 program for infants through 12 years. The department also offers hydrotherapy, adult swim classes, water aerobics, aquatic training, triathlon training, water polo. The JCC is home to the Neptune Natation Swim Team, 2010 State Champions, for youth ages 5 – 18.

Name of Executive Director: Steven Rosenberg
Date of hire: 9/9/09
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Steve Rosenberg joined the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center after a 35 year career in JCC management throughout the east coast. He holds his Master of Social Work from Hunter School of Social Work, his Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College and a certificate in non-profit management from Columbia University Graduate School of Business, Institute for Non-Profit Management.
Affiliations: Commissioner of Human Services, City of Scottsdale

KEY STAFF BIOS

Joanie Charnow is the Director of Early Childhood Education Center and has held this position for the past 11 years.  She holds her Bachelor of Arts from Prescott College in Early Childhood Education. She has taught preschool in the Valley for the more than 25 years and also held the position of Summer Camp Director for the JCC on Maryland Avenue for seven years.

Alisa Chatinsky is the newest member JCC’s leadership team. As Director of Development, she brings more than 15 years non-profit management and fundraising experience to the Center. In her previous non-profit work she held positions of Chief Development Officer, Associate Director and Community Relations Director. Alisa received her Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northern Arizona University with her focus in advertising, marketing and public relations.
Member: Association of Fundraising Professionals
Former member:  Arizona Alliance of Non-Profits
Former member: Public Relations Society of America

Lisa E. Owens Director of Membership Sales holds her Bachelor of Arts from University of California – Los Angeles in sociology and business. She worked in the corporate world for 16 years prior to joining the JCC.
Member:  Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador
Member:  Scottsdale Women Chapter
Board Member: Arizona Jewish Business Alliance

Debbie Siebels has served as the Director of Financial Services since 2008 and controller for one year prior.  She has over 16 years of accounting experience ranging from public, governmental and nonprofit.  Debbie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from North West Missouri State University.
Member:  American Institute for Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Suzanne Swift serves as the Program Director for the JCC, working in a variety of positions here at JCC—Adult Services & Cultural Arts Director for the past seven years and Jewish Enrichment Director at Shemesh Day Camp.  Prior to coming to the Valley, she served as the Adult and Jewish Enrichment Director at the New Orleans JCC.  Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercer University, certifications from Hebrew College in Jewish Education and Jewish Family Education and completed work towards a Master of Arts in Judaic Studies and Master of Jewish Education at Spertus Institute of Judaic Studies and University of Connecticut.

Ronica Thompson joined the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in April 2010 as the Director of Human Resources and Payroll.  Ronica has eight years of experience in the human resources and payroll field and holds her Master of Business Administration from David Myers University.
Member:  Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM). 

Dae Williams is the Fitness and Aquatics Director and a former Captain in the US Marine Corps. He is a Certified Personal Trainer, Marine Corps Combat Water Safety Instructor, Conditioning Specialist, Hydrotherapy Specialist and Physical Therapist. Originally from Greece, Dae moved to Arizona in 1999 and began working for the JCC in May of 2004. Prior to joining the JCC he served in the Marine Corps, on active duty for six years, returning to active duty three additional times during the post Desert Storm conflict. Dae holds his Master’s degree in Physical Therapy.