Sid Jacobson JCC is thrilled to announce that Taylor Graf, Associate Executive Director, Support Services, has been named a 2025 recipient of the prestigious Long Island Business News (LIBN) Impact and Inclusion Award.
Taylor will be honored at the 2025 Impact and Inclusion Awards & Summit, hosted by Long Island Business News, on Tuesday, March 18, 8:30-11am, at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. She will be recognized alongside nearly thirty other influential leaders on Long Island who are making a significant difference in their communities.
Since joining Sid Jacobson JCC in 2007, Taylor has been at the forefront of creating and enhancing innovative programs that promote inclusivity, independence, and empowerment for individuals across all life stages. Her work has positively impacted those facing cancer, developmental disabilities, neurodegenerative conditions, and other life challenges.
Taylor oversees five Centers at Sid Jacobson JCC, including our Fay J. Lindner Foundation Senior Services Center—Adult Day Program, which provides specialized care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative disorders. She played a crucial role in expanding the nation’s first Young Onset Adult Day program, serving those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s with frontotemporal degeneration and related dementias.
Taylor has also supported the continued growth of our Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center, offering free holistic wellness services to help individuals cope with the physical, emotional, and social challenges of cancer.
“Taylor’s work is transformative,” said David Black, Executive Director at Sid Jacobson JCC. “Her ability to lead with compassion, vision, and drive has made a lasting impact not only on our community, but also in the lives of the individuals and families she serves. We are so proud of her and this well-deserved recognition.”
Taylor’s leadership extends to several other key programs at Sid Jacobson JCC. Our Irene & Ronald Cohen Life Skills Training Center equips neurodivergent young adults 21+ with essential job skills and career readiness.
This initiative, closely integrated with our Social Enterprise Café, provides participants with hands-on job training in customer service and financial management, preparing them for future employment opportunities.
Through our Sandler Family Kehilla Center, Taylor empowers neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults, ages 5-21, by offering adaptive programs that foster socialization, skill building, and recreation in a nurturing and inclusive environment.
Additionally, Taylor’s vision has transformed Camp Kehilla, Sid Jacobson JCC’s dedicated summer camp for neurodivergent campers, ages 5-21. By integrating sensory experiences throughout the camp, Taylor has made it more accessible, cultivating a safe space where participants can build social skills, self-esteem, and independence.
“I am honored to represent these groundbreaking initiatives at Sid Jacobson JCC. This recognition reaffirms the importance of the work we’re doing and motivates us to keep breaking barriers in the field of community support,” Taylor affirmed.
Through her commitment to inclusivity, Taylor has helped establish Sid Jacobson JCC as a leader in community care. Her efforts ensure that individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds have access to the resources, support, and care they need to thrive.
“While I am receiving this award, it is truly on behalf of my incredible team who makes all of this possible,” Taylor concluded. “My greatest achievement—and what I’m most proud of—is building and supporting a team that brings these programs to life every day with passion, dedication and heart.”
About Sid Jacobson JCC
Sid Jacobson JCC (sjjcc.org) in East Hills provides a full range of cutting-edge recreational, health, fitness, educational, cultural arts, and social service programs. SJJCC promotes Jewish identity and provides a comprehensive program based on Jewish values, traditions, heritage, and culture, and is committed to enriching the lives of all individuals and families in its community. Where life flourishes.
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Sid Jacobson JCC is a beneficiary agency of the UJA Federation of New York.