From the very onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chad Tessmer, chief marketing officer for the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, led his team to develop the JCC Beyond a Building effort, quickly reassuring stakeholders that the JCC exists wherever the community gathers – even online, according to Mark Shapiro, JCC president and CEO.
Through new and adapted uses of Facebook groups, a video hub and emerging online platforms, Tessmer’s team was able to bring community directly into people’s homes. As the agency looked to return to in-person service, Tessmer introduced JCC Spaces & Places to help members differentiate these in-person programs from continuing Beyond a Building efforts.
Tessmer has also played a key role in the JCC’s culture of philanthropy. In May 2020, he used his background in theater and scriptwriting to quickly convert the JCC’s largest fundraising event, KidShare, into a live-streamed, interactive celebration that happened in homes throughout the community and exceeded expectations for both fundraising and engagement.
In winter 2020, he conceptualized and art-directed the assets needed to support the launch of a successful $1 million sustainability campaign.
