With this year’s theme being “Our Generations,” we take the opportunity to honor current and future generations of Y leadership, while acknowledging a debt of gratitude to previous generations for establishing a tableau of outstanding opportunities for children, adults and senior adults at the YJCC. Spring Soiree Co-Chairs are Susan and Herb Benkel, Jodi and Douglas Cohen, Michelle and Marc Nadel.

Our Honorees

2010 Couple of the Year EVA AND HOWARD JAKOB

Eva and Howard Jakob are proud to call the YJCC their “charity of choice.” Howard is a 20-year member and serves on the YJCC Endowment Committee. The Jakobs established the Eva and Howard Jakob Endowment at the YJCC two years ago. They are scholarship donors to Project Open Hearts, Open Homes, and Eva co-chaired the popular “Play for the Cause” twice.

The Jakobs are particularly delighted by a new project: They are among the local funders for the PJ Library®, the national program that brings Jewish-themed books into the homes of young children. It was Eva who brought the program to the attention of the YJCC.

Howard is a founding partner and executive vice president of Silbo Industries, Inc., a leading international trading company in steel industrial piping components. Eva and Howard have been married for 14 years, each bringing two grown children to the marriage. They have five young grandchildren. Both Howard and Eva were born in Brooklyn; Howard grew up in New York, while Eva became a Jersey girl.

Young Leaders Award TARA AND STEVEN MERSON


Our recipients of the Young Leaders Award, Tara and Steven Merson, have a strong commitment to volunteering at the Y and support its development through philanthropy. Tara is involved in a multitude of Nursery School projects and has been on the YJCC Board for three years, now serving as Vice President for Family Outreach. Steven has co-chaired the Bobbie Berkley YJCC Golf Outing. Hoping to strengthen the YJCC’s program for children with special needs, they established the Merson Family Special Needs Endowment Fund.

Tara is also on the Board of the Women’s Division of UJA. Steven is on the Young Publishing Division of the UJA of New York, and serves on the Whitman Advisory Council of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, the Mersons’ alma mater.

The Mersons met at Syracuse, where they received BS degrees in Business Administration. Steven has assumed responsibility in his family's printing business, Command Web Offset, which has expanded into one of the nation's leading printers. Tara also earned an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business. They have been married for 11 years and have three sons.

2010 Ad Journal
The 2010 Ad Journal is an appropriate way to recognize our honorees and acknowledge this year's theme, "Our Generatons," while supporting the important work of the Bergen County YJCC. Money raised wll help us strengthen our youth, expand services to seniors and help those in need. Please consider participating in our Ad Journal. To download an Ad Journal form, click here.