Three families. Three very different journeys. One place with donor-funded scholarships that made all the difference.
Weinstein JCC Impact In Action
Scholarships are Creating Life-Changing Opportunities
Three families. Three very different journeys. One place with donor-funded scholarships that made all the difference.
When Liudmyla Aleksashyna fled Ukraine in 2022 with her two sons, Oleksandr“ Sasha”, 9 years old, and Kyryl, 7 years old, she carried almost nothing. Her husband remains behind in a war zone. Her boys slept in basements as sirens wailed above them. A scholarship to Camp Hilbert opened their world and changed everything. They learned English, made friends, and discovered swimming.
Today, Sasha and Kyryl both swim year‐round on the JCC’ s Dolphin Club Swim Team. This year, Sasha won first place in the 50‐yard freestyle at the district championship.
“ I was so proud, I cried,” Liudmyla said.“ Without the JCC, they wouldn’ t have this.”
Sasha & Kyryl
The friendships they made at Camp Hilbert have lasted throughout the year, with the boys staying in touch and planning which sessions they will attend together next summer. For Liudmyla, the impact went even deeper.“ Camp helped them feel like this is their home now,” she explained.“ It helped them build a new life.”
Olen Clark, now age 5, entered the world with a rare genetic disorder and spent his first two years at home with a feeding tube and an in‐home nurse. His father, Taylor Clark, realized standard daycare could not meet Olen’ s needs.“ JCC was several steps above most programs in the city,” he said.“ When he finally got there, we just saw him skyrocket in his development.” A scholarship opened the door for his family and made the JCC experience possible.
Thanks to donor‐funded scholarships, the Weinstein JCC gives every child the chance to grow, belong, and thrive.
Olen Clark
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