Annual Report 2026 - Digital - Flipbook - Page 6
The Annual Report 2025-2026 | THE POWER OF BELONGING
Jody and David’s individual paths to JCC
volunteerism were a little di昀昀erent but
equally impressive. A lifelong Milwaukee
resident, David’s JCC journey began in
his teen years, when he worked as a
counselor at what is now The Albert &
Ann Deshur JCC Rainbow Day Camp, as
well as at JCC Sport Clinics. Years later,
he would follow in his mother’s footsteps
to serve as Chair of the Rainbow Day
Camp committee. His love of camp and
longtime friendship with camp’s executive
director Lenny Kass led to the creation of
a beautiful program – “Rainbow Camp”
– that supports patients at Children’s
Wisconsin while they experience the joys
of camping. David also spent 6 years as a
JCC Board member.
VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT
Jody & David Margolis
Jody’s JCC journey started on the JCC
Board of Directors. She also was heavily
involved in the JCC Parenting Center, cochairing the 10th anniversary event. Jody
shifted course from lay to professional
leader in 2011 when Mark Shapiro
asked her to create the JCC Center for
Inclusion & Special Needs – now known
as JCC Disability Inclusion. With Jody’s
leadership and vision, JCC inclusion
programs 昀氀ourished. After retiring in
2021, Jody’s involvement merely shifted.
She mentored current director Sarah
McCutcheon and guided her into her
leadership position, and Jody and David
continue to 昀椀nancially support the annual
Chaverim Friendsgiving – they attend
every year.
The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish
Community Center is pleased to present
this year’s Joe E. Smith Distinguished Volunteer Award to Jody and David Margolis
– a pair who could easily be recognized
individually for their remarkable service
to the community, but who together make
a team that inspires and amazes.
If you are a KidShare “regular,” you’ll understand their unparalleled commitment
to the JCC. The Margolises have co-chaired
not once, not twice, but three times!
“We have said YES to co-chairing KidShare
three times because we have experienced,
from so many di昀昀erent perspectives
(including personal and professional
perspectives), the positive impact of JCC
programs on the kids in our community,”
Jody shared. “The JCC provides so many
great programs for kids, saying ‘YES!’ to
KidShare has been one of the easiest –
and most impactful – opportunities we
have had to give back to our community.”
For the Margolises, their greatest source
of pride comes from their JCC leadership
l’Dor v’Dor – generation to generation.
“We represent 4 generations of family
taking advantage of JCC programs and
3 generations of family volunteering at
the JCC,” Jody and David said with pride,
adding that they now have a second
generation of Gan Ami learning in their
grandson, Micah Goodman. They added,
“Pride and joy in our family, AND our
community, for sustaining the JCC – l’Dor
v’Dor.”
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