Category: Philanthropy

As we enter our season of miracles, a time of light and joy, we’re reflecting on all of the meaningful connections we’ve created together as a community. At the center is Jeff Dannick, whose programmatic vision as Executive Director of Pozez JCC guides all of our engagement opportunities and helps weave the fabric of connection that runs through Northern Virginia. 

We sat down with Jeff to discuss his philanthropic beginnings, what makes the J such a special place, and recent sources of light in the Northern Virginia community.

Q: How did you find your career path?

A: I grew up in a suburb of Syracuse in a Jewish household. My parents have always been civic-minded, and raised me with those values. When I was a kid, there was a bike-a-thon to raise money for cancer research. The first year I did it, I raised the most money in contributions, and won a new bike. That was my first foray into fundraising, and I was hooked.

I spent 20 years in the nonprofit theater sector, and then seven years working for Israel Tennis and Education Centers, raising money through the sport of tennis to fund programs teaching life skills to economically challenged children in Israel. But I missed being close to the impact. A friend suggested I look into working at a JCC. I was skeptical at first because I’d never been a member of one. But as it turns out, a JCC is an amalgamation of all the things I care about – helping people in need—in particular, children and seniors, promoting arts and culture, and repairing the world. I realized I could shape the programming to focus on causes that I had experience with, like Israel engagement and supporting families battling pediatric cancer. My career has very much come full circle in that sense.

Q: You’re very focused on having a direct impact on those in need. How do you create a space at the J that’s supportive and impactful for people of all ages and backgrounds?

A: I think you’ve got to look at the JCC as a dozen businesses under one roof. We’ve got our Early Childhood Learning Center, our summer camps, our health and fitness programs, our classes for seniors, our Inclusion and Disabilities Services, and so much more. We’re encouraging people not just to engage with the J, but to engage with one another. 

Our tagline is “Building Community, Enriching Lives,” and that guides everything we do. We lean into Jewish holidays, we lean into Shabbat, and we lean into our support of Israel, but we want everybody to feel comfortable here, whether that’s Jewish people or people of other faiths or people of no faith.

Q: You’ve created a Northern Virginia community built on engagement. How do you plan to move forward? What are your goals for our community this upcoming year?

A: The first goal is to continue to serve the people who we’re currently serving and to do it in a way that allows them to be successful in their lives, whether that’s the educational aspects, the social interaction aspects, or the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people. 

Beyond that, we’re only scratching the surface of those we could impact, both in the Jewish community and in the broader community. So we’re looking to dig deeper into our outreach areas, and we’re also leaning into social impact areas. We’ve created a new Volunteer Services program because we believe that when people volunteer, it not only contributes to the cause they’re supporting, but it contributes to their own feelings of connection and accomplishment.

Q: Speaking of accomplishments, can you share a few sources of light and inspiration from the J this year? 

A: Dean Bagdadi, our Israel Shaliach (emissary), has been an absolute bright spot. The way he’s been able to engage with people about a very complicated topic has brought light to the community and the individuals he has touched along the way. The work that we did around Oct. 7 to guide and comfort the community through an unimaginable tragedy, and programming the one-year commemoration of that massacre was very impactful. 

Also, just being in this building. I love being at the J. If you come and sit in our lobby on any given day, you’ll see it’s a multi-generational place where everyone is valued—the people playing games, reading books, or chatting over coffee with friends and the Educators and little ones passing through while singing and holding hands. One member I was recently talking to said that she’d really been struggling personally in her life until she found her community at the J. You can talk about big picture issues that bring light. You can talk about specific events that bring light. But ultimately, to me, it’s the individual people whose lives have been affected by the work that we do that illuminate everything.
To help Pozez JCC continue to create light and connection for our community, make a gift before the year ends.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of casino games, delicious kosher food and drinks, a DJ and dancing, and great company… all in support of Horizon Day Camp! Use your funny money at our table games of Blackjack, Poker, Craps, and Roulette; keep the excitement going and further your support through our silent auction and raffle. Bid on amazing items like four box tickets to a Capitals or Wizards game, tickets to Signature Theatre, a tasting for two at Caboose Brewing, a golf foursome, restaurant gift certificates, sports and celebrity memorabilia, escape room tickets, a Wine Lover’s basket, and so much more!  

Why Attend? 

Your exciting evening out supports Horizon Day Camp, an extraordinary program providing free summer camp, in-hospital, and year-round experiences for children ages 3 1/2 to 16 who are battling cancer. Horizon welcomes siblings, too, making it a place for families to feel joy and togetherness during tough times. Thanks to supporters like you, each camper can enjoy endless smiles, new friends, and unforgettable summers—completely free of charge. Every donation, every ticket, and every bid at our silent auction goes directly to creating a safe, fun, and healing space for kids. 

How Horizon Day Camp Makes a Difference 

Horizon makes a real impact in our community and has seen phenomenal growth! When we launched camp in 2022, we had 35 campers enrolled; in 2024 we had 116 campers enrolled. Here’s a look at a few fun facts from our 2024 camp season: 

• Transportation for All: Five buses completed 290 trips from five DMV locations, delivering 31% of our campers safely every day. 

• Daily Refreshments: Over 2,000 Cool Down Treats were enjoyed by campers and staff. 

• Camp Spirit: Approximately 7,000 claps and countless smiles lit up the campgrounds as everyone joined together for our camp song. 

• Exceptional Team: 44 dedicated summer staff members, including six healthcare professionals (RNs and EMTs), ensured the safety and joy of every child. 

Be a Part of the Magic 

Every dollar raised on November 9 helps give kids the chance to reclaim their childhood and experience the simple joys that come with summer camp. Your attendance at Casino Night isn’t just a night out; it’s an investment in laughter, joy, and memories for children and families facing unimaginable challenges. We’re looking forward to spending a fun evening together that fuels the magic of our Horizon programs. 

Also, by joining us on November 9th, you’ll be among the first to hear a transformational announcement about Horizon Day Camp!

Want to learn more about Casino Night? Click here to purchase tickets or to support Casino Night with your donation. 

Want to learn about other ways you can financially support Horizon Day Camp? Contact me by clicking here. 

I have had a car that no longer works sitting in front of my house for five months.

You know that thing when you know your car is dying, but you are in denial, so you will spend $150 to fix it, and then like six months later $300, and then three months later $493 and then one day your kid is driving it and it just completely stops running on Little River Turnpike and they try to coast home and they miraculously make it into the neighborhood but not to your house and also it isn’t exactly on the curb, so there is pushing and also towing involved and also another $2400 to fix it and you know that this car is probably is not worth $2400 so you have to figure out what to do next and that is why you have the car that no longer works sitting in front of your house in the first place?

I assume that middle part is just me, but the part about having a car that cost more to fix than it is currently worth might be familiar. The part about having a non-working vehicle in the street in front of your house (or in your driveway, or in your yard, or in your garage, or in your barn if you have a farm) might be hitting close to home. If you can relate to any of this, you, too, should consider donating your car to the J.

Why should I donate my car to the JCC? I can hear you asking it, and I will tell you why right now:

1. TAX DEDUCTION – you can deduct the value your car gets at auction, which is probably more than you could sell it for on your own. We are a 501(c)3 and more than happy to provide you with documentation for the IRS.
2. You don’t have to sell it on your own. You don’t have to take pictures. You don’t have to pay for ads. No creepy want-ad stalkers are going to come to your house.
3. You can stop thinking about it. A nice lady named Pam will call you and schedule a tow truck to come pick it up and it will all be over.
4. Your neighbors will stop resenting you for having a dirty, not driveable car just sitting there.
5. IT IS FOR A GREAT CAUSE. Here at the JCC, we have no-cost camps for kids with pediatric cancer, we have programs for seniors, we have outreach programs to provide social impact all throughout Northern Virginia and beyond, we support growing Jewish families, we enrich lives through cultural arts, disabilities and inclusion, recreational and educational activities, we offer amazing group exercise classes, a fantastic early childhood learning center, language classes, camps for all ages and abilities, Shabbat Connections, a gorgeous pool and state-of-the-art fitness center, and we provide a place for people to come and be a part of our community. And also… we need a new roof.

These are only some of reasons I am donating my car to Pozez JCC. I started working out in J-FIT after COVID and I liked it so much that I started working here full time. The staff and members here are my community and a second family. The J provides so many different types of experiences and opportunities for people throughout Northen Virginia… taking pride in being a vibrant Jewish community while welcoming people of all faiths, identities, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities as an important part of our fabric.

If you made it this far in my post, you clearly know you can donate your car (unless you are a skip-around reader, which is weird) and you are probably already a member and a supporter, but did you know you can donate stocks or other investments to the JCC and avoid paying capital gains taxes if you’ve had the investments for over a year? Did you know you can make a bequest or establish an endowment fund?

If you don’t have a car, there are so many other ways to give.

Please consider donating to the JCC. Our development team makes it easy. They take checks or cash or you can make a secure gift online with a credit card, Venmo, Google Pay, PayPal or bank transfer. If you have any questions, you can  contact Michelle Pearlstein, our Development Director, 703.537.3033, or you can stop by the Membership Office, where I spend most of my time, and we can chat about it. I am always happy to talk about ways you can support the J.