ECC to benefit from isenberg’s inspiration

The old boilers had to be dismantled, and have been removed. /Jewish AllianceHe started with the playground and moved on to the whole preschool. And David Isenberg couldn’t be prouder.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to do this,” he said of helping the Alliance JCC Early Childhood Center as it moves toward what Isenberg hopes will be a world-class facility. Isenberg has made a gift of $250,000 to help accomplish this. “If people could say ‘Wow, I want my kids to attend the Alliance JCC ECC,’ that’s a real nice gift,” he says.

He believes that the children of our community deserve a good start. And that begins with preschool. His children got that at the JCC, and his grandchildren have benefited, and he wants that to continue.

“There’s a meaningful history here,” he says. Add to that the many recent accomplishments and innovations in curriculum that will only be enhanced by a top-notch facility.

“And there’s the Jewish values.” Sponsoring the Early Childhood Center maintains the good deeds Isenberg says he values most:  “Helping out, giving back, making a difference.”

I have a vision that if the facility could be world-class, everything good could follow.”

“It’s very exciting when good things are going on,” he says. And he sees tremendous possibilities in the preschool.

Isenberg’s interest in helping the preschool started several years ago when his granddaughter mentioned the condition of the playground. In his typical style, he was inspired to act. Pretty soon, he was talking to ECC director Nicole Katzman about exactly what was needed to fix it up.

And since 2012, the kids have been playing on the David C. Isenberg Family Playground. A nice playground, he believes, can make a difference when a family is choosing a school for a preschooler. And it allows the school to continue to innovate its programming as well.

“I like to feel that the playground has made an impact,” he says with a smile.

And Isenberg points out that enrollment has gone up since improvements were made to the playground.

Imagine what will happen when the preschool is renovated.

“It’s a big decision as to where you send your children,” he points out. There’s nothing more important than a child’s developing mind. And he credits Katzman for having a vision that he shares for the preschool. Inspired by his deep roots in the community, he’s giving back in order for the community to have an even better school.

“I want parents to become part of the community; I want them to have a lot of pride in the school. ”

“David believes in what we’re doing here,” says Katzman. “He wants the children to have a place to succeed.”

Isenberg’s interest in the children of Providence isn’t confined just to the Jewish community. He’s been involved with the Providence Children’s Museum for a number of years.

Isenberg grew up in Providence, a wonderful, embracing community, he says. He went into business – Chex Finer Food – with his father 45 years ago. “I worked with my dad till he was 82,” he says. He maintains that most people don’t know what it’s like to start a business unless you have one. And that is a good thing, it seems. Now, sons Jeremy and Michael are in the business. “They’ve done a terrific job,” he says.

“I hope the younger generation takes note of these acts of giving and taking care of things,” says the proud father and grandfather. “I want parents to become part of the community; I want them to have a lot of pride” in the school.

And he looks forward to seeing the David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center take shape.

FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.