Westchester Archives - Westchester Jewish Community Services

WJCS 2025 Gala: A Huge Success!
Gallery

WJCS 2025 Gala: A Huge Success!

Miriam Arond2025-04-09T16:36:17-04:00April 9th, 2025|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: joel s. beckman, gillian rittmaster, wjcs 2025 gala, fundraiser, Gala, Nonprofit, Westchester|

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) held a hugely successful Gala at Brae Burn Country Club on Tuesday, April 8th with more than 350 community and business leaders, government officials, and Westchester residents, all passionate advocates for helping those in need in Westchester. Scarsdale residents Joel S. Beckman and Gillian Rittmaster were honored at the celebratory event hosted by one of the largest human service non-profit organization in the county. The evening was filled with inspiring words and personal, transformative stories of WJCS clients who shared their struggles before coming to the agency and how the organization transformed their lives. ...

WJCS is Named Best-in-Class Employer
Gallery

WJCS is Named Best-in-Class Employer

Miriam Arond2025-04-02T12:45:47-04:00April 2nd, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: gallagher, best employer, best-in-class employer, scott bojer, Nonprofit, Westchester|

(From left: Seth Diamond, WJCS Chief Executive Officer; Milagros Rivera, WJCS Director of Human Resources; Scott Bojer, Area Vice President at Gallagher; Stephan Spilkowitz, WJCS Director of Engagement and Culture) Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is delighted to share that our agency has been named Best-in-Class Employer by Gallagher. Scott Bojer, Area Vice President at Gallagher, visited WJCS Headquarters in North White Plains and presented the award to WJCS CEO Seth Diamond and WJCS Human Resources Director Milagros Rivera. “This Best-in-Class designation is a reflection of our agency’s unwavering commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, ...

The Intersection of Trauma & Developmental Disabilities

Miriam Arond2025-04-01T14:06:04-04:00April 1st, 2025|Categories: Courses, Mental Health|Tags: mental health training, mental health course, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, developmental disabilities, Trauma, Nonprofit, Mental Health, Westchester|

In order to enable clinicians to better serve this unique client population, this course will: provide information on how trauma may present differently in the developmental disability population compared to neurotypicals, encourage participants to think critically about how traumatic experiences might be experienced through the lens of a person with developmental disabilities, and identify ways in which current evidence-based interventions for trauma could be adapted for this population of clients.

WJCS April 8th Gala Will Honor Joel S. Beckman and Gillian Rittmaster
Gallery

WJCS April 8th Gala Will Honor Joel S. Beckman and Gillian Rittmaster

Miriam Arond2025-01-30T16:17:49-05:00January 30th, 2025|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: joel s. beckman, gillian rittmaster, wjcs 2025 gala, brae burn country club, fundraiser, Gala, Nonprofit, Westchester|

On Tuesday, April 8th, we will be celebrating our WJCS 2025 Gala at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY.  We are thrilled to announce that we will be honoring Joel S. Beckman and Gillian Rittmaster, two remarkable individuals who have contributed so much to the impact of WJCS and to the Westchester community at large. Joel S. Beckman co-founded Greenbriar Equity Group, a private investment firm, in 1999 and retired in 2017. Prior to that, he was a Managing Director and Partner at Goldman Sachs. He has been a dedicated member of the WJCS Board and active in ...

Winter Happenings at WJCS!
Gallery

Winter Happenings at WJCS!

Miriam Arond2025-02-06T11:17:55-05:00January 28th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: winter, grant news, newsletter, Nonprofit, Westchester|

Thank you to our generous donors who contributed to the WJCS 2024 Have a Heart for the Holidays Gift Drive, children and parents in WJCS Early Childhood Programs as well as in our mental health clinics were delighted to receive toys, games, and gift cards that brightened their holiday season. Clients in our WJCS Outpatient Services for People with Developmental Disabilities Program created beautiful artwork in gratitude for the gifts they received from the Drive (see above, right)! We're deeply grateful to the many legislators and legislative staff who attended our New York State Delegation Breakfast on January 24th. ...

Providing Connection For Older Adults
Gallery

Providing Connection For Older Adults

Miriam Arond2025-01-30T14:42:49-05:00January 25th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: isolation to connection, senior support, jccmw, jewish community center of mid-westchester, cheryl brandwein, senior programs, senior services, aging safely, older adults, Nonprofit, Westchester|

Almost 40% of people living in Westchester who are age 65 and older live alone. In recognizing that many seniors face physical, emotional, and practical challenges, the Jewish Community Center Mid-Westchester (JCCMW) and Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) are proud to announce the continuation of their Isolation to Connection program, a free program that is open to all. Knowing what senior services are available and accessing then can be confusing. The Isolation to Connection program, which is funded through a grant from UJA-Federation of NY, assists isolated older adults in Westchester by providing a caring professional who offers support ...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Belonging 2025
Gallery

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Belonging 2025

Miriam Arond2025-01-29T16:23:52-05:00January 24th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: dr. martin luther king jr., diversity, equity, inclusion, MLK, Martin Luther King, WJCS, Nonprofit, Westchester|

WJCS hosted its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Belonging on Tuesday, January 21 to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was a commemoration filled with passion, music, service, and words of inspiration. As WJCS CEO Seth Diamond said, "the theme of belonging is one that resonates deeply. It speaks to our shared humanity and the intentional effort required to create spaces where every person feels valued, seen, and included. Dr. King reminded us, 'We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.' At WJCS, ...

Annual WJCS 2024 Staff Awards
Gallery

Annual WJCS 2024 Staff Awards

Miriam Arond2025-01-15T16:04:26-05:00January 16th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: staff recognition, staff awards, WJCS, Nonprofit, Westchester|

WJCS celebrated outstanding achievements by employees over the past year at our annual holiday celebration on January 10th. Congratulations to our well-deserving 2024 Staff Award Winners! Batkin Developmental Disabilities Professional of the Year Award Kendra Fray, Residence Manager Kendra has been a vital member of WJCS Community Programs since 2014, bringing exceptional leadership and compassion to her role as Residence Manager. Known for her hands-on approach, Kendra ensures individuals’ needs are prioritized—whether coordinating medical appointments, supporting families through transitions, or decorating new spaces to ease adjustments. Her leadership was especially evident during the successful transition of residents from ...

Together, We Transform Lives
Gallery

Together, We Transform Lives

Miriam Arond2024-12-16T15:15:37-05:00December 13th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: donate now, Year End Appeal, Nonprofit, Westchester|

Every day Westchester residents of all backgrounds who face mental health, trauma, disability, parenting, aging, and other challenges are provided life-saving services and programs at Westchester Jewish Community Services. It is our privilege and passion to help nearly 20,000 people each year. But we can’t do it without you! Our Year End Appeal is happening now! Every new and increased gift will be matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000 with a Matching Gift from the Mensch Family in memory of Reggi Mensch. Your generosity transforms the lives of those we serve. With your help, we offer dozens of ...

Community Counts: Coming Together to Celebrate Holidays
Gallery

Community Counts: Coming Together to Celebrate Holidays

Miriam Arond2024-12-11T14:00:13-05:00December 12th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: holidays, have a heart for the holidays, gift drive, holocaust survivor programs, Shelanu, Chai House, IDD, Community, Nonprofit, Westchester|

Loneliness was declared a public health epidemic in 2023 by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. A 2024 American Psychiatric Association poll found that 30% of adults reported having experienced feelings of loneliness at least once a week during the past year. Ten percent said they feel lonely every day. The array of programs and services we offer at Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), one of the largest non-profit agencies in Westchester, range from mental health, trauma, and disabilities to senior care, early childhood development, educational enrichment, LGBTQ+, caregiver support, Jewish educational, spiritual, and cultural enrichment, and much more. What ...

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Gallery

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Katy Wong2024-10-10T13:14:37-04:00October 8th, 2024|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: Domestic Violence, Trauma, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Westchester|

October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Relationship violence affects millions of people, both children and adults, and can leave long-lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars. WJCS is proud to partner with the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation in our Margaret's Place program, which provides safe spaces within Westchester public schools where middle school and high school students can share their experience with relationship violence, get counseling, and find hope and healing. Margaret Place educates youth and school communities about violence prevention and engages peer leaders in public awareness programs. While most people recognize how dangerous domestic violence is, both ...

Westchester Jewish Community Services and Family Service Society of Yonkers Announce Strategic Affiliation
Gallery

Westchester Jewish Community Services and Family Service Society of Yonkers Announce Strategic Affiliation

Miriam Arond2024-09-20T13:40:17-04:00September 26th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: fssy, family service society of yonkers, yonkers, Westchester|

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), one of the largest non-sectarian, not-for-profit human services agencies in Westchester County, and Family Service Society of Yonkers (FSSY), a human services agency with a 140-year history of serving the Westchester community, are proud to announce they have entered into a strategic affiliation, to take effect October 1st. This partnership will enhance the reach and depth of services provided to the residents of Westchester County. Through this affiliation, WJCS and FSSY will deliver a comprehensive and coordinated range of human services that will better support youth, the elderly, and families in Yonkers and the ...

Volunteer Spotlight: Murray Forseter
Gallery

Volunteer Spotlight: Murray Forseter

Miriam Arond2024-11-01T16:17:33-04:00August 23rd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: murray forseter, meal delivery, get involved, volunteer, Westchester|

1,600 home-delivered meals to seniors! That is the astounding number of meals WJCS Murray Forseter estimates he has delivered to senior residents in Yonkers, Scarsdale, Mount Vernon, White Plains, and Hartsdale since he began volunteering in the WJCS senior food program 15 years ago. Murray began volunteering at WJCS after retiring from a successful career in publishing in 2009. Now, 75, he made his last food delivery on June 26th and marked the milestone by publishing a post, entitled “Delivering Food to the Greatest Generation,” on his blog called No Socks Needed Anymore. In his post, Murray shares stories ...

WJCS Awarded $35,000 Grant from Aging in America
Gallery

WJCS Awarded $35,000 Grant from Aging in America

Miriam Arond2024-07-03T11:17:30-04:00July 11th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: aging in america, 65+, geriatric care management, senior services, senior care, Elderly, Seniors, Westchester|

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is proud to announce it has been awarded a $35,000 grant from Aging in America to support Geriatric Care Management. The grant will support Geriatric Care Management services to low-income, frail elderly individuals throughout Westchester County to maintain and enhance their physical and emotional quality of life. “For many seniors, especially those who live alone, life can become progressively more challenging and isolating, compromising their ability to age well and safely in place,” said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. “Stressors, such as chronic medical conditions, the loss of a spouse, lack of connection to family or ...

NAMI Walk with #WJCSProud
Gallery

NAMI Walk with #WJCSProud

Miriam Arond2024-05-07T13:41:52-04:00May 7th, 2024|Tags: NAMI, nami walk, mental health awareness month, fundraiser, Nonprofit, Mental Health, Westchester|

Join team #WJCSProud for the 2024 NAMI Walk this Mental Health Awareness Month!

WJCS 2024 Gala: A Resounding Success!
Gallery

WJCS 2024 Gala: A Resounding Success!

Miriam Arond2024-04-18T15:46:28-04:00April 17th, 2024|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: brae burn, meira fleisch, stephanie marquesano, annual gala, fundraiser, Gala, Nonprofit, Westchester|

(From left) Seth Diamond, CEO; Meira Fleisch, Honoree; Stephanie Marquesano, Honoree; Lauren Candela-Katz, Chief Advancement Officer; Shannon Van Loon, Chief Program Officer Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) held a hugely successful Gala at Brae Burn Country Club on Tuesday April 16th with hundreds of Westchester community and business leaders, government officials, and Westchester residents, all passionate advocates for helping those in need in Westchester County. The event honorees were Meira Fleisch of Larchmont, a child and family advocate and longtime WJCS Board member who was an Early Learning Specialist in the WJCS ParentChild+ program for many years, and Stephanie ...

Post-October 7th: Supporting the Jewish Community
Gallery

Post-October 7th: Supporting the Jewish Community

Miriam Arond2024-04-08T17:24:40-04:00April 8th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage|Tags: october 7, synagogue, jcc, jewish community, response to hamas attacks, Jewish Programs, Trauma, Support, Bereavement, Westchester|

The October 7th massacre committed by Hamas terrorists in Israel has stung all those in the Jewish community as well as many people who are just plainly appalled at the barbaric savagery and kidnapping that took place. The Jewish Programs division at WJCS has been actively supporting youth, adults, and the elderly during this frightening and devastating period in numerous ways. Our focus has been on addressing mental health and building resilience, which includes offering education about trauma and building coping skills. WJCS partners with over 25 synagogues, Jewish nursery and day schools, JCCs, and assisted living facilities. We have ...

EARTH MONTH NEWS: WJCS Furthers its Commitment to Sustainability
Gallery

EARTH MONTH NEWS: WJCS Furthers its Commitment to Sustainability

Miriam Arond2024-04-03T10:50:54-04:00April 2nd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: hybrid energy, earth month, sustainability, green business, solar panels, green hybrid energy solutions, con edison, green business partner, Westchester|

Solar Panels Installed at WJCS Headquarters in North White Plains A new state-of-the-art solar system seamlessly positioned on the roof of WJCS. April is Earth Month! WJCS is proud to announce the installation of solar panels atop its headquarters in North White Plains. The initiative underscores WJCS's commitment to sustainability and its dedication to fostering a healthier, more resilient community. The solar panel is the latest step taken by WJCS, a member of the Green Business Partnership, to reduce its carbon footprint. The state of the solar panels will generate clean, sustainable electricity, significantly decreasing reliance on traditional energy ...

Supporting Families: Building Skills to Help Them Thrive
Gallery

Supporting Families: Building Skills to Help Them Thrive

Miriam Arond2024-04-03T10:47:46-04:00February 26th, 2024|Categories: General|Tags: after-school programs, youth development, academic support, socioemotional learning, LGBTQIA+, Parent-Child, early childhood, Children, Youth, Families, Westchester|

Ten percent of children in Westchester county live below the poverty line. Boosting the educational, social, and emotional skills of the next generation has invaluable long-term impact. By supporting children, youth, and families, we are ensuring positive outcomes for them now and in the future. WJCS recognizes that every child deserves to have the skills, tools, resources, and affirmations they need to be prepared for and thrive in school. WJCS is devoted to decreasing the effects of socioeconomic disparities and promoting parent-child engagement, early literacy, and social-emotional building for families from under-resourced and marginalized communities. After-school programs promote positive ...

National Volunteer Month

Miriam Arond2024-02-23T11:24:27-05:00February 23rd, 2024|Tags: volunteer month, helping hands, national volunteer month, volunteer, Community, Nonprofit, Westchester|

National Volunteer Month

Meet Our WJCS 2024 Gala Honorees!
Gallery

Meet Our WJCS 2024 Gala Honorees!

Miriam Arond2024-02-22T10:01:32-05:00February 22nd, 2024|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: nonprofit westchester, charity, wjcs 2024 gala, meira fleisch, stephanie marquesano, the harris project, wjcs events, gala honorees, philanthropy, fundraiser, Gala, Westchester|

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is proud to be hosting its annual Gala on April 16, 2024, at 6pm at the Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY. The Gala will be honoring Meira Fleisch, a Board member and longtime Early Learning Specialist at WJCS, and Stephanie Marquesano, Founder and President of the harris project. "We are thrilled to honor Meira Fleisch and Stephanie Marquesano, two remarkable individuals who have consistently used their outstanding skills and deep compassion to improve the lives and future of children, youth, and families,” said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. "Each of these people are ...

Helping People with Disabilities Enjoy a Full Life
Gallery

Helping People with Disabilities Enjoy a Full Life

Miriam Arond2024-02-22T09:57:25-05:00February 20th, 2024|Categories: Disabilities, Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: special needs, intelletual and developmental disabilities, nonprofit westchester, IDD, intellectual disabilities, community residences, developmental disabilities, Disabilities, Autism, Westchester|

People with disabilities tend to experience loneliness and social isolation at significantly higher rates than people without disabilities. They are also at a higher risk for experiencing trauma. Loneliness is a particularly significant driver of poor well-being among people with a disability. Interventions to reduce loneliness make a huge impact. The adults we serve are eager to lead rich, full lives—but they need support. They need help with life skills, like time management and helping with household chores to the best of their ability. They need vocational counseling and opportunities for recreation, socialization, and community involvement. And, some individuals need significant daily care. "All of us ...

Tips for Family Caregivers
Gallery

Tips for Family Caregivers

Miriam Arond2024-10-16T12:25:14-04:00February 16th, 2024|Categories: General|Tags: caregivers, Elderly, caregiving, Seniors, Westchester|

November is National Family Caregivers Month! Here are some tips for caregivers from WJCS: Create a network of support for you and your loved one, including medical professionals, family, friends, neighbors, and mental health and recreational services. Put your oxygen mask on first! If you aren’t caring for yourself you cannot care for a loved one. Exercise, eat right, see friends and family, ask yourself what brings you peace and comfort. Caregiving is a balance of attending to your loved one and finding activity and joy outside of the caregiving. Get respite from the caregiving when you can even if ...

Building Trust in Community
Gallery

Building Trust in Community

Miriam Arond2024-02-22T09:54:26-05:00February 7th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: nonprofit westchester, charity, newsletter, aging, philanthropy, education, Community, Disability, Trauma, Mental Health, Westchester|

To quote Mr. Rogers, “All of us, at some time or other need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world.” WJCS helps people in our community of all ages and backgrounds who face difficult challenges in life and need additional support to build a strong foundation of well-being to strengthen their ability to weather life’s storms. Whether people are experiencing mental health, trauma, disability, aging, educational, or often systemic challenges, we all know that accessing support can be very difficult. Being a champion of WJCS means you ...