THE MERAGE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, Irvine, is pleased to announce that the Jewish Federation & Family Services, Orange County, has joined Henry and Susan Samueli as the lead sponsors for the 2018 Maccabi Games.
Considered the Jewish teen Olympics, the JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest is the largest Jewish youth event in the world, and will prove to be the largest Jewish event ever hosted in Orange County. From August 5 through 10, 2018, we will proudly welcome more than 2,000 visiting teens from 65 communities across the U.S. and Canada, Latin America, Europe and Israel, as well as more than 300 local teens, 800 host families, 1,500 volunteers and 15,000+ spectators. The competition and social events will take place in more than a dozen venues around Orange County, bringing our community together like never before.
“The JCC Maccabi Games is not just a sports competition or an arts festival; it is exponentially more. It is the largest international gathering of Jewish teens for one of the most exciting weeks of competition, culture, and friendship they will ever have. We are thrilled that Jewish Federation & Family Services is joining us as a leader in this endeavor which introduces our teens to global Jewry and gives us an epic opportunity to immerse our teens in Jewish values and Peoplehood,” explains Sam Cohen, Games Director and Associate Vice President, Merage JCC.
The $100,000 grant will ensure the life-changing experiences for all of the participants. “It enables us to convene the community on a scale we’ve never seen before, showcasing the diversity of Jewish Orange County – north to south, affiliated and non-affiliated, young to young at heart. We’re putting Orange County Jewish community on the map – we’re known as the community that consistently steps up to offer a transformative experience to thousands of Jewish teens and families,” adds Cohen.
In addition to the generous financial sponsorship, the Jewish Federation & Family Services leadership and staff are getting behind the Games with their talents and time as well. Dr. Lauren Gavshon, COO, JFFS, is co-chairing Maccabi’s Volunteer committee, recruiting and managing the thousand volunteers necessary for the success of the Games. Many JFFS professional and lay leaders are serving on the various Maccabi committees, housing Maccabi teen athletes during the Games, and working to plan and execute the Games’ evening programs and special events.
Jewish Federation & Family Services’ Lead Sponsorship of the 2018 Maccabi Games & ArtsFest was made possible by the generosity of the Leon Ninburg Israel Legacy Fund, the Albert Weissman and Rhoda Yvette Weissman Estate, and Edwin M. Posin.
