KleinLife recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala at its home at 10100 Jamison Ave.
The gym was beautifully decorated for the celebration, and the Canada-based band Alter Ego provided musical entertainment.
The facility was built on what was then an empty lot on Jamison Avenue, near Red Lion Road. It opened in June 1975, back when, as a video explained, Gerald Ford was president and the No. 1 song was Love Will Keep Us Together, by the Captain & Tennille.
At first, it was known as Northeast Branch, JYC, a branch of Jewish Ys and Centers of Greater Philadelphia.
The center was later renamed Klein JCC and then became independent in 2009, with Steve Klein – son of founders Raymond and Miriam Klein – as board chairman and Andre Krug as president and CEO. It was renamed KleinLife in 2015.
At KleinLife, the largest senior center in Philadelphia, staff like to say they serve people ages 2 to 102. Over the years, with synagogues closing in the Northeast, KleinLife has offered religious services.
At the Nov. 2 event, Krug described KleinLife as, “Compassion meets commitment,” while board member Jon Levine said it’s “a place where everyone belongs.”
KleinLife welcomes people who speak a variety of languages. More than 2,500 people visit each day, and some 35,000 come annually. The center delivers meals to the needy and offers after-school programming, a summer camp and much more.
“Under one roof,” Krug said.
Krug thanked employees, volunteers, board members and donors.
State Rep. Martina White attended the celebration and presented a citation to Steve Klein.
KleinLife surprised Klein – who’d helped raise $2.8 million since the agency kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration in April – with the unveiling of a portrait, to be placed on the wall next to a portrait of his parents.
And Klein had a surprise for guests in attendance. He announced that, five days earlier, KleinLife signed an agreement of sale to buy the building from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. ••
