JCC South campus (property) sold to Rosen Foundation

Correction

The Heritage headline on the front page of the Oct. 31 issue, ‘JCC South sold to Rosen Foundation,’ is incorrect and misleading. The Federation, understandably, is concerned that it will lead to confusion. The Jack and Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Campus (property), which the Federation owned, was sold to the Harris Rosen Foundation. The JCC that is situated on the property was not sold to the Rosen Foundation.

Showing continued generous support of the Jewish community, the Harris Rosen Foundation has announced its plan to purchase the Jack & Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Campus.

The facility is named for the late parents of Orlando hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen, a major supporter of the local Jewish community. The campus, currently owned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, is a host to a vibrant Jewish Community Center for Southwest Orlando residents. Rosen has been the facility’s most passionate supporter since its conception, donating $5.5 million to help fund construction. He said it’s time to raise the center’s profile with the community and he plans to fund additional space needed to accommodate the center’s ever-growing membership.

“These and future additions will help make the Jack & Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Campus a more integral and permanent part of the Jewish community,” said Rosen. “Education and recreation are vital to the center’s role in the community.”

In addition to purchasing the Jack & Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Campus, the Harris Rosen Foundation is also pledging $1 million in matching funds toward a capital campaign to substantially reduce debt on the Maitland Jewish Community Campus.

“Our hope is to motivate a spirit of giving that will be mutually beneficial to the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando as well as to the people and community it serves,” Rosen said. “I am confident that the Jewish community will realize the importance of this initiative and support this fundraising campaign.”

Spurred by a generous offer of matching funds, the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando will launch a multi-million dollar capital fundraising effort, potentially in association with other Jewish organizations who benefit from the Maitland campus.

If successful, the fundraising campaign would significantly reduce the debt on the Maitland Jewish Community Campus. The JFGO owns the Maitland Community Campus on behalf of the Orlando Jewish Community. The campus is the home to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando, the Jewish Academy of Orlando, the Holocaust Memorial and Education Center, and the Jewish Federation.

“This partnership with the Harris Rosen Foundation, and Rosen’s generosity, ensure the highest communal “return on investment” and broadest impact that can be realized from this asset,” said Michael Soll, JFGO immediate past chairman of the board. “From its inception, the Harris Rosen Foundation, and the diligent work of Frank Santos, who manages such transactions for the Foundation, have been integral to the continued development of the Orlando Jewish community.”

Harris Rosen, who founded Rosen Hotels & Resorts 40 years ago and grew it into the largest independently owned hotel brand in Florida, said he believes his foundation’s $1 million offer will energize the Jewish community’s esprit de corps.