Rose Community Foundation was delighted to be a part of the unveiling of the beautiful new Strear-Pluss Community Garden at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center (JCC Denver) in early July.
The event was a joyful celebration of a vibrant new space inspired by Jewish values of growth and rebirth that aims to nurture early childhood students and community members across generations.
At the heart of this new garden is a memorial Hawthorne tree honoring the life and contributions of Debra Strear Aleinikoff, a longtime JCC and Rose Community Foundation partner whose philanthropy focused on intergenerational programming. Long committed to honoring donor intent and providing philanthropic “matchmaking” services for donors and community organizations, Rose Community Foundation was honored to connect the Strear and Pluss families with this opportunity at JCC Denver, which includes carefully selected plant species, farm-style spaces for early learning, and a shaded pavilion space for gathering and reflection.
The tree was hand selected by Marci Roper, Aleinikoff’s sister, and one of the project’s donors. Plants for the entryway to the space were selected to reflect species native to both Colorado and Israel, prompted by a springtime trip to Israel by JCC Denver Chief Executive Officer Mike Sophir.
“I had this idea,” Sophir said. “What’s the possibility of creating beds with plants that grow native to Israel and Colorado? The planters now mirror the idea of integration between cultures in our communities. This felt like a fit to represent bringing communities closer together and creating conversation.”
Educational spaces allow students in the JCC’s early childhood programs to see the result of planting seeds, from small seedlings to edible plants.
“It’s like a mini farm,” Sophir adds. “Individual workstations give a sense of different plots of land without stepping on the plants. And some planting areas have removable pots so the seedlings can stay warm during the colder months in the classrooms, he said.
The Strear and Pluss families worked closely with the JCC Denver staff and the project team – including architect Paul Wrona of Elevate by Design, and landscaper Peyton Sweeney of 303 Landscapes.
“This garden is one of the most important projects for our family, because it brings the community together and honors our sister, Debra Aleinikoff,” said Marci Roper, from the Strear Family Foundation.
She added, “We thank Rose Community Foundation and Sarah Indyk for bringing this project to our family, and Doug Pluss and his family for supporting this vision. It’s such a beautiful space now, enhancing the JCC Denver entrance and creating an engaging space for the preschoolers to enjoy outdoor gardening activities. Giving has deep roots in our family, started by our late father, Leonard Strear, and Sidney Strear. Their generosity continues to inspire us, and continuing this work ensures their values and commitment to making a difference continues for years to come.”
Sophir emphasized that this space is available to JCC members and community members alike. “The JCC is for everyone, and we hope people come to engage in this new intergenerational space.”