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May 27, 2005
Recognizing time given
JCC Gala will show appreciation to Anita Winestock.
KYLE BERGER
Organizations all over the world host events every year aimed at
honoring individuals who have made significant contributions. Generally,
major financial donors are the focal point of these large fund-raising
events. This is what makes the 2005 Jewish Community Centre (JCC)
of Greater Vancouver Gala such a unique concept, as they prepare
to honor Anita Winestock.
When it comes to the JCC, Winestock's most notable and important
contributions have nothing to do with money. Rather, they comprise
20 years of physical, emotional and personal dedication to an institution
that she has helped raise as if it were her own family.
Since making Vancouver her permanent home in the mid-1980s, Winestock
took on an endless number of responsibilities at the JCC, including
various executive board positions and event chairs. She has played
a vital role in all 12 annual sports dinners and has been either
a chair or co-chair for all 20 gala events the centre has hosted.
This makes being the guest of honor quite an unusual situation for
the wife and mother of three.
"I'm not one to really want to be in the spotlight," said
Winestock of being fêted, "so it has certainly been a
strange feeling just sitting back and getting ready to come to the
gala as a guest."
Winestock's dedication to the JCC and the Jewish community in general
was originally based out of a desire to ensure that her own family
had as much opportunity as they could in Vancouver.
As the JCC was her main focus, Winestock is very proud of the growth
that she has been a part of over the last two decades. The centre
has been completely remodelled and more than doubled in size since
the 1980s, while the programming has seen dramatic improvements.
"This has been like watching your child grow up and then graduate
from high school," she said. "I feel really blessed to
have had the opportunity to be part of this organization."
One of her proudest memories was being a member of the board that
hired Gerry Zipursky, the long-running and current executive director
of the JCC. This is something that isn't lost on Zipursky, as he
looks forward to having the chance to honor one of his biggest supporters.
"It's like a full circle after 20 years," Zipursky said.
"She was there from the beginning for me, she's always been
a major supporter [of] me and I'm happy to have the opportunity
to be a part of this.
"Through the years, the centre has faced many challenges and
it is not often that you find a volunteer who is always there to
help out unconditionally," he continued. "I feel, after
all these years, that the only appropriate thing to do is honor
her."
Winestock's accomplishemtns don't stop at the JCC's doors. She has
also been active on the Vancouver Talmud Torah and Temple Sholom
Synagogue boards, as well as serving the Combined Jewish Appeal
in a variety of posts. She was a board member of the JCC Association
of North America for 10 years and the president of the Canadian
Council of JCC Associations of North America in the early 1990s.
Although she is taking a back seat for this year's gala, organizers
promise that it will offer as much excitement as did last year's.
With the theme based on a train ride, the key fund-raising event
will once again feature the music of Jim Byrnes and the Soul Disco
Dance Room. The entire JCC will be transformed for the event that
boasts sumptuous fare and a virtual cross-country experience.
The gala takes place June 5. Tickets are $135 to $250 and can be
purchased online at www.jccgv.com
or by calling 604-257-5111, ext. 230.
Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer
living in Richmond.
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