Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst Inc.

“A family relationship exists among two board members.”

“The minutes of the finance committee have been documented. Other non-critical committees have not had their minutes documented, however jch may review that policy in the future.”

“The officer and board committee members reviewed the 990 in detail before filing.”

“Board members and officers must annually sign a conflict of interest statement and are informed that if one exists, they will be prohibited from acting or being involved in any decision-making process unless permitted by a majority of non-conflicted board members.”

“The nomination committee examines what similar agencies have paid for the positions of ceo/executive director and director of finance. The hiring decision is made by the president, chairman of the board, immediate past presidents and the nomination committee and is reflected in the board minutes. The ceo currently has a five year contract effective july 1, 2015 and ending june 30, 2020 that was approved by the marks jch finance committee. The ceo annually reviews the compensation of key employees. This was last done in fiscal year 2018.”

“Our governing document, policies and financial statements are always available upon request and are requested throughout the year by various interested parties.”

“Workforce development - in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, uja federation of new york provided a grant to the marks jch to lead an initiative enabling russian-speaking jewish emigres to receive access to multiple interventions which support their pursuit of quality jobs that offer a living wage, benefits, opportunities for career advancement, and a clear career trajectory in in-demand industries, ultimately resulting in true self-sufficiency. As well as providing local businesses with well-trained candidates for their job openings. The program has helped families achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through the placement in jobs with living wages and benefits. We continue to see the impact on the community and the growth of households towards stability. Holocaust survivors in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, jewish federations of north america provided a grant to enable the creation of a memory cafe within the marks jch center for holocaust survivors. As an outgrowth of our advanced care planning for holocaust survivors our social workers identified clients/members who were exhibiting memory loss and could no longer express their wishes for end of life care. Our memory cafe offers a therapeutic environment for survivors' onsite through monthly sessions led by trained art and music therapists. The initiative also provides caregiver support as well as transportation is available as needed for those who are frail. While new to the marks jch, the initiative has already made immense impact in creating an open and supportive environment for holocaust survivors and their caregivers in managing the hardships and isolation of frailty and aging. Youth with developmental disabilities with the support of a grant from the new york city department of health and mental hygiene, marks jch leads an initiative providing recreational and socialization services for youth with autism spectrum disorders. These programs integrate youth development, social and emotional learning, and academic skill building while strengthening the relationship between the marks jch and local schools and partner agencies, as well as fostering parental engagement. The initiative enables children with a variety of developmental disorders, including asd, to attend both weekday afterschool, and weekend enrichment classes in addition to family outings and parental workshops. The program has impacted and improved the quality of appropriate inclusion and standalone offerings to children and families thriving with development disabilities. Women's center with the support of the uja federation of new york the marks jch has launched supportive and educational programs directed at serving women and girls of the russian-speaking jewish local community. These initiatives include a program serving college student and post-college young women with monthly sessions and a mid-year retreat which include topics of philanthropy, professional mentorship, and a jewish lens on issues of importance to young women entrepreneurship, wayfinding, leadership skills, and networking. In addition the marks jch has actively begun to develop and raise resources for additional services for girls and women including a civic education fellowship for college student girls, food disorder prevention workshops for pre-adolescent and adolescent girls, services and peer support for new mothers at risk, and increased engagement with our single parent center. We have already begun to see the impact of these initiatives focused on young women and girls in the community including philanthropic endeavors from the within the community to support these programs, positive and healthy relationships and behaviors in teens and their peers, and increased stability and security for households led by single mothers.”

“This process has not changed since the prior year.”