The Levite Jewish Community Center’s fifth annual J’la Gala lit up Pizitz Auditorium Thursday night — and raised just more than $200,000 to help ensure that more families can access the programs and opportunities The J provides.
This year’s total nearly matches last year’s record sum and brings the annual event’s total to well north of three-quarters of a million dollars raised.
Centered on this year’s theme, “Lighting the Way,” the evening brought together supporters for gourmet kosher dining, spirited silent and live auctions, and moving reminders of the lives changed through the Levite JCC Scholarship Fund. The gala’s proceeds will help remove financial barriers to such programs as the Cohn Early Childhood Learning Center preschool, summer camp, youth activities, wellness offerings, and swim lessons.
In his remarks, LJCC Board Chair Steven Corenblum connected The J’s mission to a timeless Jewish principle: treating others as we ourselves would hope to be treated.
“That is not just a beautiful ideal,” he said. “It’s the mission of the Levite Jewish Community Center.”
Bringing the mission to life
That mission came to life through Mya Horne, who shared how her 8-year-old daughter Kai gained both swimming skills and confidence through The J’s Swim School before joining the dive team.
“Your support tonight does more than subsidize pool time,” Mya told the crowd. “It lights the way for girls like Kai to build character, and it gives them the freedom to be bold.”