Jewish Center Gets
Additional Funding

Jackie Headapohl
I Contributing Writer

j

ewish Federation and
United Jewish Foundation
board members agreed
to disburse another $800,000 from
the General Fund to the Jewish
Community Center for its opera-
tional expenses and to pay down its
vendor debt at a board meeting Feb.
21, according to Federation CEO
Scott Kaufman.
This follows a disbursement last
month of $950,000 to keep the JCC
operational through mid-February.
The most recent disbursement
should carry the JCC through the
next few months until it starts
receiving revenue from its summer
camp programs and the Maccabi
Games, two main sources of revenue
for the Center.
A Federation task force is work-
ing to right the JCC's finances. The
Center has millions in long-term
debt. Accountants are rebuilding the
last three years of financial informa-
tion since it came to light last month
that its books were not accurate.
Kaufman says the board is still
waiting to get a complete picture of
the JCC's finances over the last three
years. That assessment should be
ready within the next few weeks and
will allow board members a "100
percent accurate picture of the JCC's
financial situation:' Kaufman said.
"Once we have that data, we will look
for alternative funding for the JCC,
calling on supporters and potential
donors:'
In the mean-
time, an interim
CEO has been
hired to manage
the JCC until a
long-term search
for a permanent
CEO can be under-
Jim Issner
taken. Jim Issner
will begin work
at the JCC March 4. Issner previ-
ously served as the interim executive
director of the Michigan Science
Center.
"He has expertise in transitional
management:' Kaufman said. "He
made some tough decisions while
he was there and left that job with a
stellar reputation:'
A search for a permanent CEO will
commence once all the information
is in and a plan is formed to "cre-
ate a JCC for the 21st century on a
budget we can afford:' Kaufman said.
"Meanwhile, we continue to move
forward at the JCC, where morale is
high among the staff and work con-
tinues seamlessly"

❑

( A Friendship Circle Project

-411111111 Z

ov e

Bakal
ed with L
IIPPb

Presented with ride

Our fresh, delicious challah is baked with love by a group of young adults with
special needs who have a passion for baking.

Our dough is kneaded with friendship, braided with love, baked with
understanding and presented with pride.

Support The Friendship Bakery by purchasing a loaf on Friday's at Hiller's
Market in West Bloomfield and Commerce Twp or by placing an order online

/TA
FRIENDSHIP

•

CIRCLE

To place your order or to find out more, visit:

friendshipcircle.org/bakery

1900000

February 27 • 2014

19