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JCC Movement, a $1.6B economic engine of 164 JCCs and 38,000 workers – among the Jewish community’s largest—joins appeal with nearly 144 nonprofits
NEW YORK, March 20, 2020 – This week, JCC Association of North America, which represents 164 Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Community Camps (JCCs), joined close to 144 faith-based and charitable organizations across the country in calling on Congress and the administration to approve the $60 billion COVID-19 Relief and Stimulus package in order to bolster nonprofits amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
The JCC Movement, a $1.6 billion engine in the faith-based, non-profit sector that derives 79% of its income from program and service fees, faces the same economic turbulence as countless other nonprofits and businesses.
JCCs, which employ 38,000 people from specialized program professionals to hourly manual laborers who maintain and secure the facilities, see more than 1.5 million people of every age, faith, and background walk through their doors each week at facilities across the continent.
In addition to JCC Association, other leading nonprofits and movements joining the stimulus call include American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity, the Native Ways Federation, Teach for America, and the Union for Reform Judaism.
As part of the third phase of federal coronavirus stimulus, the groups are urging the government to provide nonprofit payroll tax credit relief in the form of an “above-the-line” or universal charitable deduction for contributions through the end of 2021.
“The JCC Movement has been at the heart of Jewish life in North America for over a century. In the midst of this pandemic, the essence of how JCCs are serving their members is changing dramatically,” said JCC Association of North America CEO Doron Krakow. “The expansive support of both federal and state government at this time will be critical in ensuring that JCCs can continue to do the vitally important work of building and strengthening their communities.”
Even as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold, JCCs across the U.S. and Canada, with JCC Association’s support, are pivoting to rapidly provide virtual classes, content, and gatherings for their members and communities. At the same time, local JCCs, in partnership with JCC Association, are exploring how they can play a key role in both responding to this evolving crisis and in preparing for a post-pandemic world.
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About JCC Association of North America
JCC Association of North America strengthens and leads JCCs, YM-YWHAs and camps throughout North America. As the convening organization, JCC Association partners with JCCs to bring together the collective power and knowledge of the JCC Movement. JCC Association offers services and resources to increase the effectiveness of JCCs as they provide community engagement and educational, cultural, social, recreational and Jewish identity-building programs to enhance Jewish life throughout North America. By supporting the 25,000 Jewish communal professionals who connect with two million JCC participants each year—JCC Association encourages engaged lives of purpose and meaning.
Learn more at jcca.org, on Facebook and on Twitter at @JCCAssociation
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