West Hartford Nonprofit Honored For Its Work During Pandemic

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce recognized the Mandell JCC as "Nonprofit of the Year" for its community impact during the coronavirus pandemic. JCC along with other members of the community, were also honored for their impact during the COVID-19 pandemic at its annual meeting on Monday, June 28 at the Farmington Polo Club.

“We are incredibly humbled and grateful to be recognized as 'Nonprofit of the Year,' said Annie Keith, Chief Operating Officer for the Mandell JCC, “especially amongst an extraordinary group of people who truly went above and beyond this past year.”

"I am honored and privileged to lead an amazing group of professionals at the Mandell JCC,” said Executive Director David Jacobs. “The way our staff pivoted during this crisis is nothing short of inspiring. They are all leaders in their own right, recognizing that just because we didn’t have a building, we could still find many ways to build community during this extraordinary time.”

When the Mandell JCC closed its doors on Friday, March 13, 2020, they were up and running online the next day offering free programming to everyone, including fitness and wellness classes.

“For so many people during the crisis, they realized that having those community relationships was so critical,” says Annie Keith, Chief Operating Officer for the Mandell JCC. “We also used this time to expand our footprint in the area of wellness, expanding our relationships with Saint Francis Hospital | Trinity Health of New England, Hartford Healthcare, ProHealth Physicians and Starling Physicians. We are so grateful to them for providing us with the experts necessary to navigate this pandemic and working with us to provide meaningful programs to the community.”

In addition to broadening its relationships with their healthcare partners, the Mandell JCC also partnered with Holistic Health Options to integrate a holistic approach to their wellness programming.

“Wellness is now at the leading edge of building a stronger community,” added Keith. “What has evolved over the last year and a half is a new reality in which we all need to be pro-active in taking responsibility for our health, and that starts with having the right expertise and meaningful partnerships. Keeping our employees healthy, and protecting the health of our communities, is essential and we want to do our part to reinforce the importance of having a strong, healthy and vibrant community."

"Moreover, it’s not just our employees. As employers continue to require their staff to return to the workplace in-person, it is important to consider how to best reintroduce employees back to the office, and to each other. Team building is arguably the most important investment companies can make right now. Through our Workplace Wellness and Corporate Team Building options, which includes our new High Ropes Challenge Course, employers can help build and strengthen those relationships that were put on pause during the pandemic. In addition, team-building activities increases collaboration and more engaged employees.”