THE SHALOM ORLANDO SECTION
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando
FAMILY
PART OF THE
by Laura Breen Galante The Rosen JCC has big plans after receiving a transformational gift from a local philanthropist and a substantial appropriation from the State of Florida A New Chapter Begins T he Jack & Lee Rosen Jewish Community Center in
lives. With this gift, I’m proud to help transform the Pargh Event Center into a vibrant space for celebrations, cultural programming, and community engagement – serving as a true home for the arts in Southwest Orlando.” A Very Good Match
Southwest Orlando has much to celebrate after recent news that the organization received two separate acquisitions of funds totaling more than $2 million. The first, a personal donation from local philanthropist Andy Pargh in the amount of $1 million, will support the JCC’s arts and culture initiative. “In recognition of his extraordinary support, our event center has been renamed the Pargh Event Center, which will be the home of a diverse lineup of arts and culture performances and events beginning this fall,” says Ofira Bondorowsky, CEO of the Rosen JCC. “We are launching a curated arts and culture program for Orlando’s south side.” The venue includes just under 6,000 square feet of space, fully outfitted with a stage and lighting, theater-style seating for 600, and banquet accommodations for more than 350 guests. The JCC is eager to expand artistic and cultural offerings in the Dr. Phillips area. An Epicenter for Arts and Culture During its first year, the goal is to have one event curated by the Rosen JCC at the Pargh Event Center every month from October through May. Offerings will highlight both performing and visual arts, to include Orlando Ballet, Opera Orlando, Central Florida Community Arts, The Bridge Theatre, and Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, to name a few. “The arts organizations in town want to expand their reach and be able to perform for a broader audience,” says Ofira, “so they’re really excited about the opportunity to bring their performances to the Rosen JCC, tapping into an audience that they may otherwise not be able to reach so easily.” Andy’s desire to create a cultural hub in Southwest Orlando has been impactful in uniting the community and bringing people together, both Jewish and non-Jewish, says Ofira. “Arts and culture is a vehicle for doing that,” she says. “It’s a conduit for how we can get people to gather, to unite, and to commune.” “I am deeply honored and humbled by the renaming of the Rosen Event Center to the Pargh Event Center,” says Andy. “This recognition is especially meaningful as it continues the legacy of giving instilled in me by my parents, who supported countless Jewish and humanitarian causes throughout their
In addition to Andy’s generous donation, the JCC was awarded a state appropriation of $570,000, which was
matched dollar for dollar by The Harris Rosen Foundation. The appropriation was awarded to establish a senior center at the Rosen JCC and improve accessibility, safety, and security measures. The JCC has started a senior program called the JCC Social, where seniors gather on Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for games, recreation, lectures, and field trips. “As a part of our initiative to build out our senior center programming, we were able to provide fitness classes tailored for seniors, including BeMoved and Gentle BeMoved by the Orlando Ballet, which was generously underwritten by The Pargh Foundation,” says Ofira. “The appropriation will help to pay for capital improvements within the building so that we can have an appropriate senior center that can serve more seniors and provide a more diverse array of programs and services.” The plan is to expand the programming so that every weekday, there’s something engaging and meaningful for seniors to experience. “We’re blessed,” says Ofira. “We couldn’t be more grateful for the support of House Representative Rita Harris, who championed our appropriation request in the House, and Senator Kristen Arrington, who is her counterpart in the Senate.” There was an incredible amount of advocacy, says Ofira, and Governor Ron DeSantis ultimately approved the Rosen JCC’s request in the state budget. The JCC also appreciates the assistance of Shalom Orlando and GrayRobinson, whose partnership and guidance were instrumental throughout the process. “We had a great year, and we’re truly grateful for the support,” says Ofira.
34 J LIFE | FALL 2025
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