On Thursday, February 2nd, the Boulder Jewish Community Center’s efforts to build a new facility took a major step forward as Susan Rona, representing the JCC, and Butch Weaver, representing the Oreg Foundation, owner of the future site of the new JCC, signed a donor agreement whereby the Oreg Foundation will transfer a roughly ten-acre parcel to the JCC.

The Oreg Foundation (originally the Weaver Family Foundation) purchased a thirty acre parcel at the corner of Cherryvale and Arapahoe over a decade ago, with the intent that Jewish nonprofit agencies could establish a Boulder Jewish Commons on the site. The JCC will be the first organization to do so. The JCC has raised $16,600,000 towards its goal of $18 million to construct its new facility, has finalized its architectural plans, and has worked closely with the Oreg Foundation to work out the details of its future on the Boulder Jewish Commons site. Together, the JCC and the Oreg Foundation have begun to submit the JCC’s plans to the City of Boulder for zoning approvals. The land transfer agreement signed on February 2nd marks another step forward for the project, as the Oreg Foundation formalized its commitment to the JCC.

To celebrate, the Oreg Foundation and the JCC held a signing ceremony on the site of the future JCC, complete with a champagne toast. Butch Weaver, President of the Oreg Foundation, was joined by Julie Shaffer, Executive Director of the Foundation, as well as Francine Lavin Weaver, the President of 18 Pomegranates Foundation. Each spoke of the original vision the Weaver Family Foundation had of a Boulder Jewish Commons and of their pleasure at seeing the JCC move forward towards construction. The JCC was represented by Susan Rona, President of the Board, Jonathan Lev, Executive Director, Wendy Aronson, Assistant Executive Director, and several members of the JCC’s Board and staff. “This is an incredible day for the JCC, the Oreg Foundation, the Weaver family, and the entire community,” said Jonathan Lev. “It is a truly historic milestone.”

The JCC and Oreg Foundation will now work with the City of Boulder to seek the necessary approvals and permits for the project. The JCC will break ground after the city and permitting process and is dependent on the City’s timetable for approvals.

For more information about the JCC’s project, please see www.boulderjccbuilding.org

The JCC will break ground after the city and permitting process and is dependent on the City’s timetable for approvals.