ALS of Michigan, inc. Lou Gehrig's Disease A Chapter the The ALS Association iP1(1-111.1YilfitiG: T4 2004 ULTI1114111 (11-114111 6 1) fiu(T1oN fir (411:11 TM ASSOCIATION JOIN Eli f041 SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 AT 6:30 P.M. DINNER CATERED BY OPUS ONE - FABULOUS LIVE AUCTION Jewishly," Finkelstein said. This isn't the first time the JCCA has attempted to raise its profile. Over the past century, JCCs evolved from urban settlement houses for immi- grants and places for young men to play basketball, to gleaming suburban centers built around camps, preschools and gyms, much like YMCAs. During the 1990s,the JCCA tried to "put the J back in JCC," publicizing the fact they also offer adult Jewish education and Jewish cultural events. But "the world has totally changed" since then, Finkelstein said. DANCING TO THE MUSIC OF14101JVEA11Ti CORD MOTOR COMPANY CONFERENCE & EVENT CENTER DEARBORN $150 PER PERSON TAIINDS P.1OVIDT -HOPI TO PIOPLI WITII fILS TOUNDING 07-1114910PLI (4141910P1.1 Having An Effect First there was a 1999 shooting at a Los Angeles JCC, followed by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Both events underlined the need for tighter security. Then the 2000-01 National Jewish Population Survey came out, showing that nearly 20 percent of the 4.3 mil- lion most Jewishly active members of the community — out of some 5.2 million Jews in the United States — belonged to a JCC. That study reaf- firmed the notion that many Jews have stepped into a JCC in recent years, Finkelstein said. Working from the NJPS figures, the JCCA plan estimated that 28 percent of Jewish households — amounting to 1.7 million Jews, or one-third of American Jewry — either belong to a JCC or have participated in an activity at one. The JCCA then hired a leading branding firm, Landor Associates of New York, to retool its image. The firm interviewed more than 100 edu- cators, rabbis, Jewish communal pro- fessionals and others about JCCs. The interviews showed that JCCs had a "fuzzy" image that needed more focus. Some at the biennial welcomed the move. "It gives me a guide as to what I can look to as my vision," said Richard Comiter, president of the JCC of the Greater Palm Beach area. OTS, Of Iggittid Dr. Abe ET Sheri Mark-Slaim Dr. Mark ET Lisa Rosenberg Barry ET Jody Rogow "Throughout his one-year battle with ALS, Bill dose to continue to see life's beauty. Through his vision I will continue to seek ways to gain a deeper understanding of this debilitating disease, My hope is that you will too," A chance to turn ho c into rca-at,v ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), more commonly known as Lou Gehrigis Disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that paralyzes a person over time. ALS is not a rare disease. Nearly 300,000 people living today in the U.S. will die from ALS if a cure or prevention is not found. Your support will provide hope to people living with ALS, improw their quality of life and fund research to find a cure. Jewish News Staff Writer Harry Kirsbaum and JTA Correspondent Bram Eisenthal in Montreal con- tributed to this story. FOR TICKETS & INCORMATION (ALL 1-800-881-5164 • H°MEDICS K etel One 1111/1011 IVINT SPONSORS %%INF' ., Al I) ( hetdi s salon HOUR. e\k teightWatchers ALS of Michigan proudly sponsors this event honoring the memory of Jerrry Kiosk (1999), Sanford Roth (2000), Steven Katz (7003) and Dr. Bill Ross (1004).