The Isaac and Helaine Heller Financial Assistance Program

Isaac, or “Ike,” and Helaine Heller were long-time Scotch Plains residents and long-time generous supporters of the former Jewish Federation of Central NJ, which merged in 2012 with MetroWest to become Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest. 

Ike Heller, who grew up attending a one-room schoolhouse during the Depression and worked as a radio technician in the US Navy, became an entrepreneurial success as co-founder of Remco Industries. The company became one of the largest toy manufacturers in the US, producing walkie-talkies, board games, plastic battleships and submarines. He later founded Heller Industrial Parks, based in Edison, NJ, which now has more than 16 million square feet of commercial real estate throughout the nation. Helaine was a loving, kind and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. 

Together, Ike and Helaine supported scholarships to broaden participation for young people in Jewish educational programs.

The gift supports the historic Centennial Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, the largest fundraising initiative in the community’s history, which honors Federation’s upcoming 100^th anniversary in 2023. The JCF is the planned giving and endowment arm of Federation. 

Financial Assistance at the JCC

As a not-for-profit social service agency that serves the Jewish community and the community at large, the JCC is committed to helping people who need financial assistance. Financial assistance is available for membership, preschool, kindergarten, After School at the J and Camp Yachad. Please note that new applications must be submitted for each membership year (July 1 - June 30) with updated information for consideration.

The JCC’s goal is to allocate financial assistance to as many as possible of those truly in need. Therefore, should you receive financial assistance, and your financial situation improves during the year, please let us know so that another family can be helped. We hope that as a result of this process you will be able to take advantage of everything the JCC has to offer and to make the JCC your home away from home.

Financial Assistance FAQs

Our JCC doors are always open to individuals and families of all financial positions.  If you are interested in any of our programs but are experiencing financial hardship, the JCC has an ongoing financial assistance program that helps offset some of the costs of JCC programs.  Our community is fortunate to have this financial assistance program readily available to those in need thanks to a generous endowment from the family of Isaac and Helaine Heller. And we are here to help those who can benefit from this assistance! 

There are many reasons why an individual or family might find themselves thinking about financial assistance, and we are committed to providing that assistance. It is one of our top priorities. Our JCC believes that everyone in our community should have the same opportunity to be a part of our warm, welcoming center.  

If you or someone you know could benefit from financial assistance, we strongly encourage you to apply – even if you are unsure about the process or the qualifications.  Our Membership Director is happy to discuss the process with you and answer any questions you may have.  The financial assistance process is confidential, and we are here to help you along the way because we know that being a part of our JCC provides unmatched connections, friendships and experiences. 

If you would like to learn more before applying, please read the FAQs below.

Does the JCC offer financial assistance to individuals and families in need?

Yes. As a not-for-profit social service agency that serves the Jewish community and the community at large, the JCC is committed to helping people who need financial assistance in order to take part in all the JCC has to offer.

The JCC is able to provide ongoing financial assistance to those in need through an endowment fund which was gifted from the family of Isaac and Helaine Heller.  (Read more about the Isaac and Helaine Heller Financial Assistance Program at the JCC.)

Financial assistance is available for all JCC programs and services including, but not limited to, membership dues, school and after school programs, Camp Yachad, fitness, aquatics and adult programs.

How does an applicant apply for financial assistance?

The JCC uses FACTS software for all financial assistance applications. If you would like to complete an application, please contact Membership Director, Jodi Hotra, for a direct link to FACTS. 

Is the financial assistance application and program confidential?

Yes.  The financial assistance application and program is confidential.  The first step in the financial assistance process entails submitting your application to the Membership Director who will have access to your full application. The JCC Executive Director may also have full access. 

Once the Membership Director reviews and accepts the application, it will be presented anonymously to the Financial Assistance Review Committee. The applications are presented to the committee with only necessary information provided to them by the Membership Director. At no point in this review process will the committee know whose application they are reviewing.

Once an applicant has been granted financial assistance for the programs, the director(s) of the program(s) will be notified in order to apply that assistance to the recipient’s JCC account.  The director(s) will not have access to the applicant’s application or specific circumstances.

Please be assured that we take financial assistance confidentiality very seriously.  We have been providing financial assistance at the JCC for over 30 years.

What type of information does the financial assistance application require?

An applicant will be asked to provide information on household income and expenses.  Recent tax documents and current pay stubs are required.  An applicant must report expenses by line item (e.g., mortgage, rent, medical, food, clothing, recreation, vacations, etc.) 

The applicant must report the amount they believe they can afford to pay, and provide the extenuating circumstances which cause them to apply for this assistance. Some examples of extenuating circumstances are job loss, change in family situation, natural disaster, injury, illness or death. 

The applicant also needs to specify what program they are requesting financial assistance for; an applicant may request financial assistance for more than one program. 

If an applicant is unsure of what assistance to apply for based on their circumstances, the Membership Director is available to consult and provide guidance.

Is there a minimum income level that automatically disqualifies an applicant?

There is no minimum income level that disqualifies an applicant. 

How does the review process work?

The first step is the review of the application by the Membership Director. After reviewing the application, the Membership Director will follow up with any questions.  Once those questions have been satisfactorily answered, the application goes to the Financial Assistance Review Committee.

Once the committee reviews the application, the committee may have follow-up questions for the applicant, and the Membership Director will reach out to the applicant for answers.

After the application has been reviewed and any questions answered, the Financial Assistance Review Committee will make their decision and share with the Membership Director.

If an applicant is selected to receive financial assistance, the Membership Director will notify the applicant via email and include full information about the awarded assistance.  The applicant must accept in writing in order to receive the assistance.

Who comprises the Financial Assistance Review Committee?

The Financial Assistance Review Committee is comprised of JCC Board members, JCC member volunteers and JCC employees. The applications are always submitted anonymously to the committee.  And any questions the committee might have are relayed to the applicant by the Membership Director.

There are times that someone on the Financial Assistance Review Committee recommends the financial assistance program to an individual or family.  If the recommended person or family decides to apply, the recommending committee member recuses themselves from reviewing that application.

What is the timing of the application review process? How far in advance does an applicant need to apply?

The timing of the application review process depends on the financial assistance cycle and the time sensitivity of the request.  If an applicant’s need is immediate, the committee will convene as soon as practicable to evaluate the application and determine what assistance may be awarded. 

If the need is for a program that is months away, then the Membership Director will wait until there are several applications to review before calling the committee together. Typically the committee meets about every six weeks.

Applications can also be submitted and reviewed in the middle of a program year if a need arises, and the financial assistance can be applied retroactively if that decision is made by the committee (e.g., if a family applies for preschool assistance in November, after the school year has started, the committee would consider applying the financial assistance for the entire year, making the financial assistance for the first two months of the school year retroactive).

How is the amount of financial assistance determined?

The major factor influencing the amount of financial assistance awarded is income versus the amount of expenses reported on the application. The committee also takes into account an applicant’s story and extenuating circumstances.  The amount of financial assistance will reflect the review committee’s determination of an individual’s or family’s ability to pay for the requested program(s)/service(s).

Can an individual or family receive financial assistance for more than one year?

Yes, financial assistance can be awarded for more than one year, but recipients are required to apply for financial assistance on an annual basis.

Does financial assistance need to be paid back?

Financial assistance does not need to be paid back.

If an applicant is not accepted for financial assistance, do they learn why?

Yes, the Membership Director will share the details of the decision with the applicant.

If an applicant is not accepted for financial assistance, can they reapply?

Yes, an applicant may reapply if their circumstances change or if there is additional information to be shared for reconsideration.

Please contact Jodi Hotra, Membership Director, at [email protected] with questions.

The JCC uses FACTS software for all financial assistance applications. If you would like to complete an application, please contact Membership Director, Jodi Hotra, for a direct link to FACTS.