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Weinstein JCC Celebrates Community, Leadership, & Legacy at Annual Meeting

The Weinstein Jewish Community Center hosted its Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 22, at its Monument Avenue campus, bringing together community members to reflect on a year marked by transformation, achievement, and heartfelt connection.

A pre-meeting reception in the Richard A. Arenstein Lobby welcomed guests into a celebratory atmosphere honoring the Center’s people, stories, and enduring mission.

Capital Campaign Success: Mission Achieved

The highlight of the evening was the celebration of the Building a Bright Future Together Capital Campaign, which has raised a remarkable $11.3 million to date.

This milestone represents a community-wide effort, with more than 300 donors contributing to the campaign’s success. Special recognition was given to the Weinstein-Jecklin family and to Carole and Marcus Weinstein for their extraordinary leadership and generosity.

Launched in 2022, the Capital Campaign Advisory Committee—comprised of co-chairs David Fratkin, Sara Villalona, and Bruce Perretz (OBM), honorary co-chairs Ric Arenstein and Lynn Schwartz, members Greg Bishop, Sarah Arenstein Levy, and Stuart Simon, and staff members Orly Lewis and Stephanie Sulmer—worked with tireless commitment. Meeting weekly, they set bold goals and forged strong connections with members of the community.

Their initial target was met and exceeded, prompting the committee to raise the bar first to $8.5 million, and then again to a previously unimaginable $10.5 million. The campaign’s success is a testament to the powerful emotional connection between the JCC and its community.

In presenting the President’s Award to the Campaign Cabinet, Stuart Simon remarked, “What you have accomplished is nothing short of extraordinary. You set an ambitious goal—and you exceeded it. With diligence, vision, and a lot of determination, you rallied support, built trust, and inspired giving that will benefit our mission for decades to come.”

A New Chapter: Grand Re-Opening in August

Renovations and upgrades began in the summer of 2024 and are expected to be fully completed by the end of June 2025. These enhancements will align the JCC’s facilities with the excellence of its programming and support the Center’s growing and evolving community.

A grand re-opening celebration is scheduled for the last week in August, offering an opportunity to officially welcome both current members and prospective members into the reimagined, state-of-the-art facilities. The event will highlight the completion of long-awaited renovations and celebrate a new chapter in the life of the Center. Keep an eye out for more details to come!

Honoring Bruce Perretz

Ric Arenstein offered a touching tribute to his friend of more than 50 years, Bruce Perretz (OBM), a devoted board member and co-chair of the Capital Campaign. In Bruce’s honor, the Center announced the creation of the Bruce Perretz Capital Reserve and Endowment Fund, established with contributions from those who knew and admired him.

Bruce was known for his tireless behind-the-scenes work to ensure that the JCC’s physical spaces reflected the values of excellence, inclusivity, and warmth that define its mission. His passion for operations, his eye for detail, and his ability to bring people together made him an admired and respected leader. Though his passing left a profound void, this fund ensures that his legacy of care, service, and community-building will live on.

The endowment will support the long-term care and sustainability of the Center’s facilities, preserving the spaces that bring people together and honoring Bruce’s deep love for the Weinstein JCC.

Orly Lewis to Retire After 26 Years of Service

This summer, after 26 years at the Center, Orly Lewis will retire. Stuart Simon acknowledged Orly’s legacy and expressed profound thanks for her decades of service and impact.

Orly grew up in Beer Sheva, a city in southern Israel, and joined the Weinstein JCC in 1998 shortly after arriving in Richmond in her early twenties. She received her human resources management degree from the University of Richmond. While visiting the Center with her three young children, she was approached by the executive director about helping the JCC absorb 750 Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union. Intrigued, Orly accepted a part-time position that quickly evolved into a full-time calling.

Over time, she assumed increasing responsibilities—first in education and cultural arts, then in community engagement, and later as Assistant Executive Director. Her children attended the Center’s preschool, and today, one of her grandchildren does as well.

In March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold, Orly was named the Center’s CEO—the first woman to hold the position. Promoted after more than two decades of service, she brought much-needed steady leadership during an unprecedented global crisis. She guided the Center through turbulent times and went on to lead one of the most successful capital campaigns in its history.

In recognition of her extraordinary impact, August 20, 2025, will be celebrated as Orly Lewis Day. Details about the celebration will be shared in the coming months.

Annual Awards Honor Excellence and Commitment

Kaden Staffenberg receives award from Sara Arenstein Levy

Devon Barnhart and Landis Knee

Shari Menlowe-Barck and Orly Lewis

Several awards were presented during the evening to recognize outstanding leadership and service:

  • President’s Award – Capital Campaign Advisory Cabinet

  • Arenstein Family Excellence in Youth Service Award – Kaden Staffenberg

  • Esther, Edith and H.J. Bernstein Volunteer Leadership Award – Sarah Arenstein Levy

  • Leroy B. Goldberg Leadership Award – Devon Barnhart

  • Barbara Wise Staff Award – Shari Menlowe-Barck

Ten staff members were honored for 25 or more years of service:

Weinstein JCC Staff with 25+ years

  • Donna Peters – 43 years

  • Susan Quick – 40 years

  • Sharon Johnson – 39 years

  • Gayle Smith – 33 years

  • Shari Menlowe-Barck – 29 years

  • Marianne Krumpe – 28 years

  • Juanita Wilkins – 27 years

  • Orly Lewis – 26 years

  • Dawn Kowal – 26 years

  • Dave Decker – 25 years

Board of Directors Installed for 2025–2026 Term

The following officers and board members were installed for the 2025–2026 term:

  • Chair: Greg Bishop

  • President: Stuart Simon

  • President-Elect: Chris Greenberg

  • Honorary Vice Presidents: Ric Arenstein, Lynn Schwartz, Allison Weinstein

  • Vice Presidents: Charley Scher, Wes Simon

  • Secretary: Lynn Schwartz

  • Treasurer: Andy Brownstein

Board Members: Susie Adolf, Sharon Brager, Ashley Brooks, Shelley Gouldin, Erika Kain, Landis Knee, Sarah Arenstein Levy, Art Mullian, Jennie O'Holleran, Shana Levy Passman, Greg Samuels, KC Sledd, Sara Villalona, Sara Waskin, Gary Weiner, and Nathan Zasler.

Departing board members David Fratkin and Bob Weisberger were recognized with deep appreciation for their service and leadership.

A Community United by Purpose

In his President’s Report, Stuart Simon reflected on a year that challenged and inspired, emphasizing the enduring strength of the Center’s mission and the generosity of those who support it. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to staff, donors, volunteers, and committee members whose collective work shaped a transformative year.

He also paid tribute to David and Ann Long, who passed away in the past year, calling them “pillars of action not only in spirit but in action.”

Simon concluded with a resonant reminder: “This year has shown us what we are capable of when we believe in something greater than ourselves. The strength of the Weinstein JCC lies in its people, and in their unwavering belief in the power of community.”