On Sunday, January 20th, 2008, of JCCGCI's beloved Leona Goldberg, passed away. Leona had served as JCCGCI's Case Management Coordinator for 23 years (3/82-4/05). The following is a tribute written by Rabbi Wiener on the occasion of Leona Goldberg's 20th anniversary at JCCGCI (which was celebrated at a special ceremony on 4/19/02, when Leona was honored by numerous public officials and community leaders:

 Tribute to Leona Goldberg

The Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island was blessed with the tenure of Case Management Coordinator Leona Goldberg beginning in March of 1982.  On March 1st, 2002, she completed her twentieth (20th) year (and began her 21st year) of extraordinarily dedicated service to the frail, indigent, refugee and infirm elderly of the Coney Island and Brighton Beach communities.

Leona Goldberg's responsibilities are broad. She is responsible for and the primary provider of friendly visiting and telephone reassurance to scores of isolated and lonely seniors throughout the communities of southern Brooklyn. She is responsible for and the primary provider of case assistance services including entitlement counseling, advocacy, information, referral, emergency assistance and a host of other related activities. But all these examples of her professional responsibilities are not in themselves what makes Leona Goldberg unique. True, for one individual to find time to provide all these services is uncommon. But what is truly special and unprecedented about Leona Goldberg is the devotion of her entire being to the clients that she serves.

Altman Foundation Awards Major, Multifarious Support to JCCGCI

In keeping with its twenty-year record of commitment to the diverse populations served by the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI), the Altman Foundation has awarded a major three-year grant to provide vital support for the council's Senior Support Systems, Nonprofit Helpdesk and Capacity Building efforts. The Altman Foundation has the distinction of being the first such entity to provide funding for the JCCGCI, an act of benevolence that spurred numerous other foundations to begin doing the same on a sustained basis.

The JCCGCI's Senior Support Systems offer a wide range of services to senior citizens living in Southern Brooklyn. These services encompass five senior centers, which provide daily meals, case assistance, and educational and recreational activities; and services including home care, transportation, friendly visiting and home-delivered meals to thousands of low-income elderly individuals who are largely homebound due to frail health. The Nonprofit Helpdesk provides professional computer technology, fiscal management and related assistance to community-based nonprofit organizations throughout New York City to improve their management capacity and delivery of social services. In addition to its funding of these two components of the council, the Altman Foundation's new grant will strengthen the JCCGCI's overall capacity to operate its array of social service programs, which also includes services on behalf of educationally at-risk youth, vocationally disadvantaged poor and recent immigrants to the area.

We are humbled that the Benjamin and Esther Gold Mikvah of Brighton Beach chose to honor JCCGCI and Shorefront Jewish Community Council at the occasion of their 30th anniversary Melave Malka on 1/5/08. We gratefully acknowledge the presence of and kind remarks delivered by Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny. Assemblyman Steven H. Cymbrowitz was also represented at the Melave Malka, for which we are grateful. A copy of the invitation to this event and of Borough President Marty Markowitz's proclamation in honor of this event may be viewed by clicking here.

Thanks to the ongoing sensitivity and caring of Professor and Mrs. Jonathan and Dina Leader, additional funding has been made available to help further our Home Relief Program for At-Risk Elderly. This program serves many survivors of the Holocaust.