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Spring 2026 Newsletter

2026-05-13T11:24:42-04:00May 13th, 2026|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , |

Thanks to your compassion and support, WJCS transforms the lives of  Westchester residents all ages and backgrounds. Here, some recent program and staff highlights. WJCS Early Childhood programs of Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, and Mount Vernon came together at libraries across Westchester County to celebrate the Week of the Young Child/El Dia de los Niños. Children and their families and caregivers enjoyed storytimes, sing-a-longs, and arts and crafts donated by Made with Love Studio! WJCS Shelanu’s Target Sweep event was a night of laughter, friendly competition, and meaningful skill-building. Members of our Shelanu friendship community for individuals on the autism spectrum practiced ...

Shelanu: Transformation Begins Here

2026-05-08T14:54:19-04:00May 8th, 2026|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , |

by Nicholas Primavera, Coordinator of WJCS Shelanu & Supper Club Program This week, I had the opportunity to interview some of our members about the word “bullying” and how Shelanu has helped them grow. One member shared that before joining Shelanu, they were bullied and struggled with confidence. Since becoming part of the program, they have built friendships, worked toward goals, and even achieved impressive degrees. Another member explained that one of the best ways to handle bullying was to block out negativity and not engage with hurtful comments. Choosing peace over conflict helped them move forward. One inspiring ...

WJCS Early Childhood Programs Celebrate the Week of the Young Child & El Día de los Niños

2026-05-07T16:21:17-04:00May 7th, 2026|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

This April, WJCS Early Childhood Programs proudly celebrated the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)'s 2026 Week of the Young Child and El Día de los Niños with a series of joyful, family-centered events across Westchester County. These celebrations highlighted the importance of play, creativity, and community while bringing together children, parents, caregivers, and community partners in warm and welcoming spaces. In Mount Vernon, families gathered at the local library for a festive evening filled with connection and fun. Children shared pizza, participated in a lively story time, and enjoyed creating a hands-on craft. The event offered ...

Superhero Therapy: An Innovative Way to Get Kids to Open Up

2026-04-24T17:06:33-04:00April 24th, 2026|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

Most children have favorite superheroes. For Geovany Martinez, Clinic Director for the Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) Clinic in Yonkers, those superheroes are the doorway into the thoughts and feelings of his young clients. In individual therapy as well as in the Superhero Play Therapy Groups he conducts, Martinez uses characters from pop culture to help young clients, usually between the ages of five to nine, talk about their distress, symptoms, and stories.  Martinez’s office is filled with superhero stickers on the wall and superhero figurines. It’s an environment which invites discussion about beloved superheroes and TV characters. "Hearing someone ...

It’s not too late to Give for Good!

2026-04-23T14:57:00-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

What a thrill it was to gather at last week's Gala to celebrate the life-changing work of WJCS! We're so grateful to our courageous clients who shared their powerful stories of struggle and resilience and to our attendees who gave so generously at our Give for Good Auction. If you missed our spectacular Gala, not to worry! You can hear the personal and inspiring stories shared by WJCS clients at the event by watching their videos below. At our Gala, we heard from people whose lives are immeasurably better because of WJCS. Meet Sonjaia, who has triumphed over mental ...

WJCS 2026 Gala: A Resounding Success!

2026-05-06T13:11:07-04:00April 22nd, 2026|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) hosted its 2026 Gala on April 15th at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, New York. More than 330 attendees—Westchester business, community, and political leaders, including Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, and Assemblyman Chris Burdick, turned out to support the agency's major fundraising event of the year. WJCS, founded in 1943, is one of the largest human service organizations in Westchester, providing help to nearly 20,000 county residents of all ages and backgrounds each year. WJCS honored Marion Morgenthal, co-founder of the WJCS POINT ...

Meet Our WJCS 2026 Gala Honorees!

2026-04-13T16:13:08-04:00February 2nd, 2026|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

WJCS is thrilled to honor at our 2026 Gala the remarkable contributions of individuals and agencies that have worked in partnership with WJCS to have a transformative impact on Westchester.   Honoring Marion Morgenthal Co-Founder of POINT Marion Morgenthal is the mother of two sons, one of whom has significant learning disabilities. In managing his education, Marion and her husband, Lance Lynford, navigated various special education programs, a boarding school for neurodiverse students, and a vocation-focused post-secondary program. It was when they were facing the end of formal education that Marion, Lance, and families they had met along the ...

Black History Month: A Note From Our CEO

2026-02-02T13:45:04-05:00February 2nd, 2026|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: |

As we start the beginning of Black History Month, we take time to recognize and honor the profound contributions of Black Americans to our nation’s history, culture, and ongoing pursuit of justice. It is also a moment for us at Westchester Jewish Community Services to acknowledge and appreciate our Black colleagues whose leadership, care, insight, and commitment strengthen our organization and deepen our impact every day. Your work matters, and we are grateful for it. Some of you may have seen the news recently of the death of Claudette Colvin at the age of 86. In March of 1955, ...

Family Volunteer Day Event: Food Pantry Drive 2026

2026-01-20T14:26:47-05:00January 20th, 2026|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , |

More than 95 volunteers gathered at Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) Headquarters in White Plains on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a Family Volunteer Event. Children and their parents assembled 50 Winter Hug Care Packages filled with soup cans, hot cocoa packets, tea bags, milk cartons, mittens, Teddy Bears, and hats that will be distributed families in need through our Food Pantry at the WJCS Mary J. Blige Center in Yonkers, NY. Participants also donated 20 cases of pasta, rice, beans, crackers, cereal, shelf stable milk, and more. "These community donations of essential goods are so important to ...

20th Annual WJCS Have a Heart for the Holidays Luncheon

2025-12-03T12:41:28-05:00November 20th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , |

Scarsdale resident and Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) Board member Linda Plattus hosted her 20th annual luncheon, along with WJCS Board Members Sarah Kayle and Nina Ross; NextGen Council Members Yael Friedland and Samantha Stavis; and Host Committee Michelle Dinenberg, Poornima Eber, Allison Friedland, Fara Friedman, Jennifer Galeon, Jessica Levinson, Jessica Eckhaus Modell, and Robin Silk on November 19. The luncheon raised over $10,000 and more than 250 toys have been collected so far. Local community groups are expected to collect close to 1,000 more toys in the next few weeks. Gifts will be distributed to WJCS ...

Family Volunteer Day Event: Personal Care Kit Drive 2025

2025-11-19T13:19:57-05:00November 18th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) was proud to host its first Family Volunteer Day Event on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2025, at Headquarters in White Plains, NY. Approximately 60 children, parents, families, and local community groups, including Girl Scouts Troops #2190 and #2775, and members of the Young Men’s Service League of Westchester gathered at WJCS to volunteer their time. Donors contributed nearly $3,000 in much-needed supplies for hygiene kits that will be distributed to WJCS Satellite School-based Clinics in 11 different schools located in Peekskill, Elmsford, Rye, Eastchester, and Yonkers. Volunteers packed 206 Personal Care Kits filled with ...

Congratulations to our WJCS 2025 Third Quarter Staff Award Winners!

2026-03-18T17:30:07-04:00February 12th, 2026|Categories: Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: |

Each quarter, WJCS celebrates employees who go above and beyond, demonstrating their dedication and commitment to WJCS’ mission and clients. We feel so privileged to work with wonderful staff who have care, compassion, and expertise. Read below to learn about our 2025 Third Quarter Staff Award Winners.

Congratulations to our WJCS 2025 Second Quarter Staff Award Winners!

2025-10-17T14:52:10-04:00October 17th, 2025|Categories: Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: |

Each quarter, WJCS celebrates employees who go above and beyond, demonstrating their dedication and commitment to WJCS’ mission and clients. We feel so privileged to work with wonderful staff who have care, compassion, and expertise. Read below to learn about our most recent Quarterly Staff Award Winners.

WJCS Annual 2025 Sukkot Luncheon for Holocaust Survivors

2025-10-20T13:20:15-04:00October 10th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

More than 50 Holocaust Survivors, along with their relatives and caregivers, gathered on Thursday, October 9th to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale. The luncheon, hosted by Westchester Jewish Community Services, was attended by Congressman George Latimer, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, State Senator Shelley B. Mayer, and Michael Elkin, CFO of the Claims Conference (Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany). WJCS CEO Seth Diamond, and Allison Danzig, Coordinator of WJCS Holocaust Survivor Services, spoke to the guests, which also included many WJCS Board members, about the ...

The WJCS Parent Child Center is celebrating 25 years in New Rochelle!

2025-09-10T15:15:55-04:00September 10th, 2025|Categories: Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , |

Join us for a joyful 25th Anniversary Celebration on October 21st from 10am to 12pm at the Boys and Girls Club (79 7th St, New Rochelle, NY 10801). We’ll have fun activities, music, and a pizza party! The WJCS Parent Child Center is a FREE early childhood learning program for children from birth to age 4, who attend along with their parents or caregivers. The program runs from October to May. Click here to register.

Congratulations to our WJCS 2025 First Quarter Staff Award Winners!

2025-07-22T14:01:42-04:00July 22nd, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , |

Each quarter, WJCS celebrates employees who go above and beyond, demonstrating their dedication and commitment to WJCS’ mission and clients. We feel so privileged to work with wonderful staff who have care, compassion, and expertise. Read below to learn about our most recent Quarterly Staff Award Winners.

Thank you for supporting our 2025 Back-to-School Drive!

2025-08-28T14:12:22-04:00August 28th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

Thanks to your generosity, our 2025 Back-to-School Drive was record-breaking! Because of you, hundreds of children from under-resourced communities in Westchester will start the school year with the supplies – and the confidence – they need to succeed. We are deeply grateful for your support. Together, we helped set students up for a great school year ahead. Your donations ensured that children in our behavioral health clinics, school-based satellite clinics, after-school enrichment classes, the Parent Child Center, and many other WJCS programs are entering the classroom with the tools they need to learn, thrive, and reach their potential. We ...

Gaining Skills and Confidence: WJCS’ Volunteer Internship Program (VIP)

2025-07-02T16:17:07-04:00July 1st, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , |

by Ava Propper Rubin (From left: Jodi Maxner, WJCS VIP Coordinator; Susannah, VIP participant; Maria F. Callarame, External Affairs Manager at St. Joseph's Medical Center) “Volunteering at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers has been a wonderful experience for me. It has been the perfect stepping stone as I re-enter the world of work. I work as a cashier in the gift shop four days a week. I am slowly overcoming my fears of getting back to work and socializing in professional environments. I have gained confidence that I am capable of being professional in the workplace.” ~Susannah, ...

Bar and Bat Mitzvah Projects at WJCS

2025-06-26T16:53:58-04:00June 26th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , |

by Ava Propper Rubin  Take some Mitzvot (religious commandments), throw in Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), and sprinkle the vast Westchester communities served by Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), and you have a great opportunity for Jewish youth celebrating their B’nai Mitzvah to experience fulfillment and help others.  When taking on the responsibilities of Jewish adulthood at ages 12 or 13, many boys and girls in our community are asked or required to do a Mitzvah Project. In anticipation of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, they reflect on issues that are meaningful to them and work with community organizations ...

WJCS 2025 Back-to-School Drive

2025-08-29T15:36:50-04:00June 12th, 2025|Categories: Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

As the school year winds down, WJCS is already looking ahead to September — and to the many families in our community who will face the overwhelming challenge of preparing their children for the new school year. With the cost of living rising and financial pressures mounting for so many, the burden of back-to-school shopping has become more than just stressful — it’s simply out of reach. You can help children in under-resourced Westchester communities start the new school year strong!   Last year, thanks to generous supporters like you, we provided hundreds of students with essential supplies. This ...

WJCS Hosted Its 5th Annual Holocaust Survivor Day Luncheon

2025-06-05T15:03:03-04:00June 5th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

On Wednesday June 4th, Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) hosted its 5th Annual Holocaust Survivor Day Luncheon. The event brought together dozens of Holocaust Survivors living in the Westchester community along with their family members and caregivers. Holocaust Survivors Day is dedicated to celebrating the strength and impact of Holocaust Survivors. “In bringing survivors of the Shoah together, we celebrate their strength, resilience, connection to community and Jewish peoplehood, and generational wisdom,” said Marcy Gringlas, Ph.D., President of the Seed the Dream Foundation, which sponsored the event. The joy of being and celebrating together was evident to all those who ...

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