| 1975: |
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South County Women’s Division begins at a meeting in Florence Melton’s apartment. |
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| 1976: |
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A small, satellite office of the West Palm Beach-based Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County is opened near downtown Boca Raton with one part-time employee. |
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| 1978: |
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About 40 people meet in the chapel of Temple Beth El in Boca Raton to address the increasing needs of the growing Jewish population in South Palm Beach County. |
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| 1979: |
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The South Palm Beach County Jewish Federation (the name of which is later changed to the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County) becomes incorporated as a separate entity to serve the now 15,000 Jews in the area. |
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| 1980: |
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The first independent South County campaign raises more than $900,000.
Jewish Family Service becomes the Federation’s first beneficiary agency. Jewish population: 37,000. |
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| 1981: |
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Roy Flack, Stanley Katz and Richard Siemens donate approximately 20 acres of land in West Boca Raton to the Federation. (An additional three acres is added in 1983). |
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| 1982: |
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A Jewish day school (later named Donna Klein Jewish Academy) becomes the Federation’s second agency.
Margie Baer brings the Lion of Judah program (which was started in Miami) to JFSPBC; women donors are now contributing $5,000 or more per year to the Annual Campaign. Clarice Pressner later founds the Crown of Judah Division, recognizing women contributing $10,000 or above. |
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| 1983: |
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The Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center is established as an agency of the Federation. |
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| 1984: |
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The Federation moves to the new, six-acre Baer Campus on Spanish River Boulevard, just west of Federal Highway. It is the organization’s first free-standing “home.”
The Jewish Community Foundation is established.
Jewish population: 62,000. |
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| 1986: |
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The Federation purchases an adjacent five acres of land west of Boca Raton and ground is broken on what would become the 28-acre Richard & Carole Siemens Jewish Campus. |
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| 1987: |
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The Delray Beach Satellite Office opens in a storefront.
JARC (the Jewish Association for Residential Care) becomes a Federation agency and opens its first group home for adults with developmental disabilities — the Barry Clayman House.
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| 1989: |
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Jewish Family Service is dedicated as Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service.
The first resident moves into The Shirley H. Gould House, the Federation’s government-subsidized HUD housing facility for low-income seniors. |
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| 1990: |
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JARC opens its second group home, the Rockoff House.
Jewish population: 90,000. |
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| 1991: |
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At least 15,000 attend the official opening of the 28-acre Richard & Carole Siemens Campus, new home of the Federation and its agencies and day school. It features a professional theater (Zinman Hall), softball fields, tennis courts and a state-of-the-art fitness facility.
JARC opens its third group home, Brumer House.
The annual campaign raises $8 million, with an additional $4 million for Operation Exodus and $5 million in the capital campaign.
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| 1994: |
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Lion of Judah Endowment Program is created to recognize women who have established a minimum endowment of $100,000 to perpetuate their Lion gifts. Margie Plough creates the first Lion of Judah Endowment. |
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| 1995: |
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Federation acquires 55 additional acres of land to the north, adjacent to the existing Siemens Campus.
Federation obtains a $7.1 million U.S. government grant to build a second HUD housing facility for low-income seniors, and plans are announced for an Alzheimer’s Day Care Center, both on the new north campus.
The Federation commissions a major population study of the south Palm Beach County Jewish community. |
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| 1996: |
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Results of the Jewish Community Study confirm a burgeoning Jewish population of 116,000, with a tremendous growth rate among seniors (most notably in Delray Beach).
The Federation announces plans to purchase the 50,000 square-foot Phar-Mor store in Delray Beach to create a senior center.
JARC announces plans to build the Melvin & Elaine Stein Living & Learning Center on the Federation’s new north campus.
Groundbreaking takes place for the fourth JARC group home, the Melvin Rosenblatt House.
The Jewish Education Commission (JEC) is established to coordinate Jewish learning opportunities throughout the area. |
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| 1997: |
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Build-out of the initial 7,500-square-foot Phase I of the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Senior Center in Delray Beach is completed, and the old Delray Beach satellite office is closed.
The Federation’s Family Division, Kosher Konnection hot meals program, Adolph & Rose Levis JCC, Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service and the Jewish Education Commission’s Adult Education programs are housed in the new Delray Beach facility.
JARC opens the Melvin Rosenblatt House and announces plans for a fifth house. |
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| 1998: |
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Groundbreaking takes place on the new North Campus. The entrance boulevard extending from 95th Avenue South opens.
Weinberg House, the Federation’s second, 105-unit, government subsidized HUD housing facility, welcomes its new residents. It is the first Federation building to be completed on the new acreage. |
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| 1999: |
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Plans and building continue on Phase I of the North Campus. The facilities are to include:
the Adolph & Rose Levis Alzheimer and Adult Day Care Center
the Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center for Jewish Life Enhancement
the JARC Melvin & Elaine Stein Living & Learning Center,
and a new educational complex for Donna Klein Jewish Academy. |
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| 2001: |
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Completed and in operation are:
The Adolph & Rose Levis Alzheimer and Adult Day Care Center,
the Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center for Jewish Life Enhancement,
and JARC’s Mel & Elaine Stein Living and Learning Center (which includes the Mel & Edith Clayman Training and Resource Center and the Adolph & Rose Levis Apartment Complex)
Jewish population of Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach grows to 129,000. |
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| 2002: |
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The Donna Klein Jewish Academy Transitional High School Campus opens.
3,500 people flood the campus for an outdoor Israel Solidarity Rally. |
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| 2003: |
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JFSPBC is named one of the top15 Jewish Federations in the United States by the prestigious Chronicle of Philanthropy newspaper.
Our Federation also wins the coveted Sapir Award for annual campaign strength, innovation and success from United Jewish Communities.
Partnership 2000 begins to build relationships with Sister City Kiryat Bialik, a growing community north of Haifa, through educational, professional and other exchanges. |
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| 2004: |
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JFSPBC celebrates its 25th anniversary, the 20th anniversary of the Jewish Community Foundation and the bar mitzvah (13th) year of the Siemens Campus, reaching a fundraising milestone of $20 million. |
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| 2005: |
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Results from the first major Jewish population study undertaken in 10 years shows a population of over 131,000 Jews residing between Boca Raton, Highland Beach and Delray Beach— with tremendous growth in our young family populations. JFSPBC has the oldest Jewish residents in the country. Sixty-two percent are over 65, and 40 percent are over 75. Further, 81% of low-income Jews in SPBC are 65 and older.
The Jewish Women’s Foundation, an initiative of the Federation’s Jewish Community Foundation, is launched.
More than 5,000 people celebrate Israel's independence together at the first annual Israel Under the Stars event at Mizner Park in east Boca Raton.
1,200 fill the JCC gym for an Israel Solidarity Rally. |
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| 2006: |
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Hurricane Wilma slammed south Palm Beach County (late October 2005) causing over $1,000,000 in damage to the Federation campus. Gloria and Lee Baker donate $1 million, the single-largest unrestricted gift ever received, to help with repairs.
The Israel Emergency Campaign raises $3 million to help the rebuilding efforts in response to rocket attacks by Hezbollah. |
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| 2007: |
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Toby Weinman Palchik names the Federation's Center for Jewish Philanthropy with a $1 million gift.
Our Federation continues to boast the largest number of Lion of Judah Endowments in the nation.
Metro Division is launched to engage younger adults (20s-50s) in social, educational, business networking and philanthropic activities.
Wexner Heritage Program class begins at Federation; this prestigious two-year program is designed to develop and strengthen the skills of South Palm Beach County's top young Jewish communal leaders. |
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| 2008: |
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Dorothy Seaman names JFSPBC’s Women's Philanthropy Department with a $1 million gift.
Annual Campaign reaches highest total yet at $20.8 million. |
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| 2009: |
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Initial plans developed for the North Campus, including a Continuing Care Retirement Community.
JFSPBC Department of Community Special Needs is launched and begins serving local residents.
JFSPBC’s comprehensive Senior Study is completed, documenting the considerable unmet needs of local seniors, and recommending ways to address gaps in services.
First Next Gen class is formed to prepare the next decade of leadership for the Federation and agencies. Many are Wexner Heritage grads.
1,500 attend Israel Solidarity Rally on the Federation campus fields
Technological leaps include Bill’s blog, Facebook pages, Twitter, and online RSVPs for nearly all events
JARC opens the Rales Campus with four new group homes.
The High School at Donna Klein Jewish Academy moves from portables onto the south campus adjacent to their other school building.
RRJFS breaks ground on adult living and learning center in Delray Beach.
Marleen Forkas endowed our Federation's Chair of Contemporary Jewish Issues, ensuring high profile speakers (in perpetuity) for the annual Lion of Judah Luncheon.
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| 2010: |
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Metro Division launches Tikkun-Olam Society of the Annual Campaign, with a more accessible contribution level set at $365.
Our Metro Division starts its Community sub division and begins programming that includes family activities.
Department of Jewish Education is established within the Federation.
Funds are allocated to a new Synagogue Outreach Initiative.
The Central Park Blvd. and 95th Ave. campus entrances are upgraded and modernized.
The Federation Board approves Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) Project, and issuance of $9 million predevelopment revenue bonds.
Campaign launches the new Donor Choice program, which allows contributors to direct their gifts to one of three "giving centers" including Safety Net Services, Jewish Life & Learning, Israel & Our Global Jewish Family areas, in additional to the traditional, general annual campaign.
Women’s Philanthropy brings back the annual Crown of Judah Luncheon for $10,000+ Lions, with a new annual Clarice Pressner award.
Pomegranate Society is launched for women contributing $1,800 to $4,999 to the Annual Campaign.
Community-wide Jewish festival Fedstock: 2 Days of Love and Nachas planned for thousands at Mizner Park Amphitheater.
The Shirley and Barton Weisman Delray Community Center for adults on Atlantic Avenue west of Delray Beach is opened by RRJFS. |
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| 2011: |
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Campaign launches its Adopt-a-Project initiative, an opportunity for country clubs, geographic areas and divisions to raise supplemental dollars for community needs above and beyond the Annual Campaign
With a benevolent gift from the Pechter Family Foundation, Jack and Marilyn Pechter name our Federation's Local Safety Net Services Giving Center in honor of Jack's parents Sarah and Max.
Jewish Community Foundation fully rolls out its community-wide Create a Jewish Legacy campaign, engaging local synagogues, schools and Jewish agencies to work with each other in strengthening the future of our Jewish community.
The Anne and Norman Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation is named with a generous gift that will ensure a brighter Jewish future.
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Synagogues & Temples
