Eddie Esses
The Sephardic Community Center (SCC) is entering an important new chapter in its growth, with New York State Senator Sam Sutton presenting the organization with a $1,000,000 state grant to support its future expansion and development. The funding represents an investment in one of our central institution, helping ensure that the Center can continue growing alongside the rapidly expanding Sephardic community of Brooklyn.
The $1 million check was presented to SCC President Louis Jerome and Chief Executive Officer Michael Rosen, marking another milestone in the longstanding relationship between Senator Sutton and the Center.
For decades, The Center has served as a gathering place for individuals and families of all ages. From early childhood education and youth programming to fitness, recreation, cultural activities, and senior services, the Center has brought generations together, creating an environment rooted in tradition, connection, and community.
As our community continues to grow, so too does the need for the Center to expand its facilities, programming, and ability to serve an ever-increasing number of families. This latest grant will help position the Center to meet those evolving needs while remaining true to the mission that has guided it for generations.
A Beautiful Partnership
The partnership between Senator Sutton and the Center extends back more than two decades, long before Sutton entered elected office. As co-founder and President of the Sephardic Community Federation (SCF), alongside fellow co-founder Ronnie Tawil, Sutton made supporting the Center one of SCF’s longstanding top priorities.
Over approximately 20 years, Sutton and Tawil worked to secure an estimated $200,000 to $300,000 annually in New York City government funding to support the Center’s programs and services. Their efforts also helped bring several $500,000 state grants to the Center for capital improvements, providing resources to strengthen and grow its facilities.
Beyond direct financial assistance, Sutton and Tawil worked closely with Center leadership to strengthen its relationships with government officials and expand opportunities for its programming. Through SCF, they arranged visits to the Center by governors, mayors, and other prominent elected officials, helping introduce government leaders to the institution and the families it serves.
Their work also helped The Center secure its Universal Pre-K license and later increase the number of awarded UPK seats, creating valuable opportunities to expand early childhood education while bringing additional resources to the organization.
More recently, Sutton, Tawil, and the SCF worked closely with the Center in the community’s opposition to the proposed Coney Island casino, coordinating efforts around an issue that generated widespread concern among local families.
“Having been involved with the Sephardic Community Center for so many years, I have seen firsthand the extraordinary role it plays in bringing our community together and providing a home for ten of thousands of community members,” said Senator Sam Sutton. “Our community is growing rapidly, and the Center must have the resources to grow with it. I am proud to secure this $1 million investment to help ensure that future generations of families can continue benefiting from everything this institution provides.”
For the Center, the grant represents not only an important investment in its future, but also a continuation of a relationship that has spanned decades and numerous stages of the organization’s development.
Creating Another Chapter
“Sam Sutton has been a part of the Center’s story for more than 20 years,” said SCC President Louis Jerome. “Long before he became a state senator, Sam and Ronnie Tawil helped The Center tremendously. From securing millions of dollars in city program support and state capital funding over the years to helping us expand our educational programs and building relationships with government leaders, their efforts have made an enormous difference. This latest $1 million grant is another important chapter in that longstanding partnership, and we are deeply grateful.”
As the Center looks toward the future, its mission remains as important as ever: to provide a place where people of every age can come together, grow, play sports, work out, attend classes, and strengthen the bonds that unite the community.
The $1 million investment will help ensure that as our community continues to flourish, the Center will have the opportunity to grow alongside it, serving today’s families while laying the foundation for generations to come.