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Dear Chevre (Friends),

Welcome to the Spring Quarterly Development Newsletter! With big goals for 2025 including hosting the JCC Maccabi Games + Access this summer, the Tucson J hit the ground running and has already accomplished so much together in the first quarter of the year. In my daily interactions with members, guests and our outstanding staff, I am reminded that each of us plays a role in the success of the Tucson J – and that success would not be possible without the generous support of our donors.  


We cannot say thank you enough! Your support is essential in helping us fulfill our mission and uphold our commitment to building a vibrant community rooted in Jewish values. With your contributions, we can continue offering top-quality programs and services in a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for people of all ages. 


So far in 2025, individuals and organizations who believe in the power of our work have contributed nearly 20% toward our fundraising goal of $1.9 million across campaigns, and we are only $250K shy of reaching the $1.4 million mark that will make the JCC Maccabi Games a success! As the year continues, your support will allow us to sustain the impactful programs and services we offer and grow to meet the emerging and diverse needs of our evolving community including providing scholarships, funding facilities upgrades, program enhancements, and so much more. The future is bright at the Tucson J and it is because of you! 


As you read on, know that these updates and developments are just the start of everything that is to come this year. If this is only the beginning, imagine all that we will accomplish together!  


With gratitude,

Fran Katz,
Chief Development Officer

The Tucson J is a dynamic gathering place where community, connection, and discovery come to life. More than just a space, it’s an experience—where every visit sparks new opportunities, every program fosters belonging, and every moment leaves a lasting impact. Everyone belongs at the Tucson J, and our community deserves top-notch facilities to learn, play, and grow in! With the support of our donors, 2025 has already been a year of meaningful growth and engagement as we: 

  • grew to 2,053 member units and 3,638 insurance-based members, with an average of more than 10,000 check-ins per week. 
     
  • continued to improve our physical spaces to be both more functional and aesthetic; this March we upgraded the North hallway flooring to stained concrete. 
     
  • fully remodeled the Jewish Heritage Center thanks to the generosity of Marianne Langer in memory of her husband Allen Langer z”l. The space will continue to be a hub for our J-Care afterschool program, donor events, and a variety of arts and culture programming. 
     
  • purchased new pool deck furniture in late March and look forward to the Sarver Tennis Center court resurfacing project in June 2025 in order to better serve our growing Aquatics and Racquet Sports participants with a comfortable, quality experience. 
     
  • Sent Amy Dowe, Sr. Director of Wellness + Experience to the Fitness Industry Suppliers Association conference in Oceanside CA in February to learn about the most   
newsletter graphic with the words Fitness and wellness on a teal background

At the Tucson J, wellness is more than a workout—it’s a pathway to well-being at every stage of life. Our Fitness + Wellness department goes beyond the traditional gym experience, offering innovative programs designed to empower individuals of all ages to move, connect, and thrive in our Youth and Adult Sports + Rec programs, Group Fitness and Personal Training programs, Healthy Aging programs, on the courts at the Sarver Tennis Center, or making a splash in the pool. Led by expert professionals who foster both strength and community, our team creates an environment where lasting wellness journeys begin. Thanks to the power of our donors and the enthusiasm of our members, we started the 2025 off strong with: 

  • the all new J Wellness Collective for members, boutique wellness offerings in collaboration with the renowned Stretch Labs and Alexander Technique programs, acupuncturists, herbal medicine, individualized yoga, and more. 
     
  • the return of Adult Dance classes for Salsa/Bachata and Swing. 
     
  • continued growth in our Tennis programming with new Tennis Leagues started in February 2025 and the return of monthly Racquet Sports Socials. 
     
  • prepared for summer with the return of American Red Cross Lifeguard Training and Adult Stroke Clinics. 
     
  • received a Banner Community Reinvestment grant for $50,000 to fuel growth and innovation in our Healthy Aging programs and help keep participation accessible to this important demographic of our community. 
     
  • hired Evan Holt, Head Stingray Swim Coach, Seth Miller, Aquatics Program Specialist, and Sam Alexander, Head Tennis Pro + Racquet Sports Program Specialist. 

Arts, Culture, and Community programs at the Tucson J act as both windows opening new worlds for our community to experience, and mirrors that provide opportunities to reflect. Whether through storytelling, music, visual arts, or thought-provoking discussions, our programs start conversation, spark inspiration, and strengthen the fabric of our community. Thanks to your generosity, we continue to break down barriers and make these transformative experiences widely accessible—most at little to no cost. In just the first quarter of 2025, fueled by the passion of our community we: 

  • hosted a wonderfully successful 2025 Tucson J International Film Festival. We are grateful to the committee who continues to steward the longest-running film festival in Southern Arizona. Over 2,000 tickets were scanned (which means in-person tickets were scanned or a household viewed a film from the comfort of their home). Highlights included: 
    • a talk-back with Omri Bezalel, director of “Listen”, a coming-of-age film, a unique and daring portrayal of the moral ambiguity, love, and loss faced by soldiers in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Presented in partnership with the Weintraub Israel Center. 
    • showing off fabulous Bella Abzug style hats and hearing from Jeff Lieberman, the director of Bella! 

    • laughing out loud with 250+ audience members for the screening of “Bad Shabbos”   

    • learning to play the card game, “Yaniv” with Tucson Hebrew Academy students following the film screening 

    • enjoying samosa appetizers and a dance performance with ZUZI Dance before the screening of “Call Me Dancer” 

  • continue to engage our community – over 262 of them, in fact — in a variety of clubs and classes, including Chess Club, the Widow’s Circle, all levels of Spanish and Beginner and Advanced Mah Jong and more, with conversational Hebrew in partnership with the Weintraub Israel Center coming later this Spring!   

  • opened the first two Fine Art Gallery shows of the year – Indie Artists Pushing Boundaries by various Tucson artists and My Colorful Southwest by Joe Bourne – and in the first two months of the year, sold $8,668 of local art. 

  • brought in celebrated musician Neshama Carlebach and talented band members performed to a packed house of 230 people of all ages as part of the 2025 Beth + Mike Kasser Patron of the Arts Signature Series. The concert was presented in loving memory of Ray Lederman. The evening began with Havdalah by the Chai Notes from the University of Arizona.  

  • hired Chloe Loos as the Director of Arts and Culture at the Tucson J, bringing with her expertise around film and theater, creating experiences and learning offerings with the user in mind, and community engagement to our team!  

  • celebrated the growth of PJ Library in Southern Arizona currently with 646 children (birth through age 8) enrolled and 473 families engaged. The PJ Library team, Mary Ellen Loebl, Suzette Joffroy and Mallory Sussman continue to innovate new ways to create meaningful touchpoints with families beyond the monthly books sent from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. 

 

So far in 2025, PJ Library has hosted multiple gatherings: 

  • Day of Chesed in partnership with the Tucson Hebrew Academy

  • Tu Bishvat with Grand

  • Stakeholder Lunch Gathering in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation
     
  • Multiple gatherings facilitated by two parent connectors 

PJ Library is a gift from the Tucson J, and is made possible by the Einstein-Sim, Hazan, Kippur, Langer, Loebl, Margolis, Rosenzweig, and Sharpe families, with support from Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona, in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. 

At the Tucson J, we are committed to providing high-quality programs that support children from infants through teens at every stage of their development. Our early childhood education, summer camp, and afterschool programs are designed to foster independence, creativity, and resilience in a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment. With a focus on social-emotional growth, hands-on learning, and community-building, we equip young people with the skills and confidence they need to thrive. Known for excellence, innovation, and heart, our programs are a trusted resource for families across Tucson. And thanks to your generosity, we continue to expand access, keeping these opportunities affordable so more children can thrive at the J. Because of the support of our donors and our commitment to serving families in Tucson in meaningful ways, this quarter so far, we: 
 

  • have 273 students currently enrolled in our Early Childhood Education program with 130 contracts already renewed for the next school year and are looking forward to welcoming approximately 50 kids to join us in our classrooms for Early Childhood Education camp this summer. 
     
  • celebrated Tu Bishvat ECE style with activities including planting herbs, playing with nature loose parts, reading about trees, and singing about trees. 
     
  • spent February promoting literacy for Love of Reading Month with activities including guest readers, a favorite book character parade, and a book fair. 
     
  • partied for Purim with one of the J’s favorite annual traditions: the Purim costume parade and megillah reading. 
     
  • upgraded some of the furniture in the classrooms including cozy area items, bookshelves, and trikes for the toddler playground. 
     
  • continue to invest in professional development opportunities with learning around processed-art curriculum, STEAM, Purim, and Maccabi; additionally, ECE Assistant Director Tiffany Mills-Horton attended the Western Regional Conference in San Jose, California in March and staff will complete the Quality First Training + Assessment in April. 
     
  • are on a waitlist for most units for Camp J with 389 Individual campers registered for the 2025 summer so far, and an average of 277 campers per week. 
     
  • new in Camp J this year, are looking forward to welcoming a wilderness specialist to teach camping skills, desert nature, and orienteering. 
     
  • had upward of 11 past Camp J campers apply for the first time to work at camp – and are proud of the legacy of leadership and cross-generational our program is leaving on the youth who grow with us! 
     
  • sent Robin Kelley, Director of Camping services, to Israel in March to train our two camp shlichim, Itay and Ofir.  
     
  • serve 147 kids in our J-Care Afterschool Program with an average monthly attendance of 131 kids. 

  • engaged 105 children in our most-attended School Days Out ever for Martin Luther King Day and began an ongoing partnership creating Hygiene Kits for Our Family Services, which serves youth experiencing homelessness.  

  • built on the Learning Lab program which now directly engages each JCare age group at least once a week by promoting High Yield learning in the fields of mathematics, language arts, spelling, and reading!  

At the Tucson J, we believe in the principal of Betselem Elohim – everyone is created in God’s image. So, inclusion isn’t just a value—it’s a commitment. Our Disability Program Services department provides vital resources and enriching experiences for individuals with disabilities through two cornerstone programs: Arts for All and Taglit. As one of Southern Arizona’s largest day programs, we offer personalized support that helps participants build life and social skills, develop their creativity, and gain confidence in a welcoming, inclusive environment that truly celebrates our participants as an integral part of who we are as a community. These programs not only empower individuals but also strengthen our entire community by fostering an environment of belonging and support. As we deepen our work, the impact we’ll make in 2025 is inspiring; so far, we: 

  • serve 41 participants in our Taglit Day program, 37 at Arts for All, and will welcome another 25 participants this summer for camp. 
     
  • increased collaboration and strengthened the DPS community with weekly Taglit trips to Arts for All to take art classes led by AFA teaching artists including drawing classes with long-time AFA teaching artist, Harriett Morton and ceramics classes led by Ceramics teaching artist, Lisette Fuentes. 
     
  • welcomed participants from Beacon Day Program for its annual Friendship Concert in the J’s Ballroom. Musical Therapist, Sierra Norris, led Taglit and Beacon day program participants in songs and musical productions for Taglit families and Tucson J staff. 
     
  • continued weekly cooking classes as part of a grant received from the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation; at the end of the grant (April ’25) participants will receive a cookbook with their favorite healthy and simple recipes. 
     
  • received a $30,000 workforce development grant through the City of Tucson in February which will be used to launch a J Shop at the J’s Wellness Desk where Tucson J staff and Taglit participants will work together to take and fulfill orders for branded J items that benefit our members such as sunscreen and water bottles, with the ultimate goal of expanding the program to include food orders from Café at the J.  
     
  • were awarded a grant from the Halle Foundation in March to support DPS’ ongoing work readiness and vocational programming. The funding will provide curriculum development, staff training, start-up supplies and materials, as well as a part time vocational coordinator position.  
     
  • joined Arts for All, ECE, Summer Camp, and After School Programs with its use of Brightwheel, an online platform for communication with parents/guardians concerning program updates, schedules, and day-to-day activities.  
     
  • promoted Missi Alston from Arts for All Director to Assistant Director of Disability Program Services and Alba Montalvo Canez from Arts for All Floor Supervisor to Arts for All Program Manager, and Wendy Nevarez from Taglit Direct Support Professional to Taglit Program Manager. 
     
  • put DPS Staff Excellence Award funds to good use, with winner Wendy Nevarez, Taglit Program Manager enrolling in American Sign Language classes.