About the Soref JCC
Our Rich History of Over 40 Years
The Soref JCC was incorporated as the Jewish Community Center of Greater Fort Lauderdale, Inc. on January 11, 1977. The JCC initially operated from the first floor of the Jewish Federation of Fort Lauderdale’s building at 2999 NW 33rd Ave. In 1979 the JCC bought the 16-acre Florida Air Academy property in Plantation, Florida that today serves as our main campus for serving the Broward County community. People can check this page for more information on the Jewish community.
On Sunday January 6, 1980 more than 1,000 people attended a ceremony on the front lawn of the campus whereby the 16-acres and 11 buildings were officially dedicated as The Perlman Family Campus, thanks to the incredible generosity of Louis and Anita Perlman. Sam Soref, Executive Committee member of the JCC during Anita Perlman’s term as president, and his wife Helene, later provided a significant contribution to the JCC and the community center was renamed the Samuel M. & Helene Soref Jewish Community Center. Thanks to the wonderful generosity of both families, our campus became a thriving integral part of our community.
Today the Soref JCC operates as a premier non-profit agency in Broward County and The Perlman Family Campus remains the heart of the JCC. There are two satellite locations belonging to the Soref JCC that operate in Coral Springs in the northern section of Broward County. The Alvin S. Gross Activity Center has been located adjacent to the Coral Square Mall since 1992 and specifically provides preschool, afterschool and summer camp activities. The new Heron Lakes Family Center, serving Northwest Coral Springs and Parkland, began operating in June 2006 and provides preschool, summer camp, afterschool and assorted programs for community residents in the multi-purpose room.
Our JCC continues to provide a wide array of services to our Broward County community residing primarily north of I-595. We have a wide array of high quality cultural, educational, recreational, and social programs for children, adults, and seniors. All of our programs are inclusionary for our special needs population and are open to all regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or background. Our JCC offers significant assistance to our neighbors in need by providing children’s scholarships and food from our WECARE Food Pantry.
We are proud to be a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Broward County, United Way of Broward County, and Children’s Services Council of Broward County.
Mission Statement
The Soref JCC is a non-profit organization which contributes to the welfare of the entire community by providing a center for cultural, educational, recreational, and social services, while continuing to preserve Jewish tradition and values.
Welcome to the Soref JCC website. Please take some time to look around at all we have to offer. From preschool to senior programming, the Soref JCC has something for everyone.
Samuel M. & Helene Soref Jewish Community Center
6501 West Sunrise Boulevard
Plantation, FL 33313
(954) 792-6700
