Tema Bomback is a full-time mother of her four children and volunteers at their schools. She is also a volunteer at a cottage on JCCA’s Pleasantville Cottage Campus, where she helps young boys who are developmentally delayed. Mark, her husband, is a screenwriter for major Hollywood films such as the upcoming War for the Planet of the Apes, and also volunteers on the Campus.
In addition to being important donors to JCCA, Tema and Mark Bomback, along with two of their four children, have been volunteering on the Pleasantville Cottage Campus for the past eight years.
“It has been a remarkable experience,” says Tema, who goes to the Campus each month to talk and play games with the boys in her cottage. “The children are so glad that we show up. They count on our visits – to talk, have some fun and know that someone is there for them. Many of the children have been abandoned, abused or neglected, and the consistency of regular visits by a friendly volunteer makes a big difference in their lives.
I was so proud when I saw two of the teens I have helped perform in a play. They had grown so much. It made me feel good to see the smiles on their faces. I’ve learned so much from them and our children have, too. Volunteering helps our son and daughter see outside themselves and their own experiences, and understand that there are children in the world who do not have the benefits they have. It inspires them to give back. They have both grown because of their experiences.”
Tema and Mark have also been important financial donors to the Campus programs for many years. Mark says, “We donate because we have worked with these kids and we understand the hardships they have endured. We know how JCCA really helps turn their lives around. It is the least we can do. By supporting JCCA, we are investing in the future of children—all children. It is our responsibility. It’s easy to lay the blame elsewhere, but if you want to change the future, you need to invest in giving kids a chance. The investment will come back tenfold when they grow up to be responsible, contributing members of society.”