Access, the initiative of the Mayerson Foundation for Jewish young adults, is gearing up for their biggest program of the summer, the White Party. The party, hosted Saturday, July 17th at 9 pm at the Peterloon Mansion in Indian Hill, promises to be a lavish affair complete with live music, appetizers, dessert and a fully stocked cash bar. Over 300 people are expected to be in attendance and the anticipation is already palpable.

“Events like the White Party attract people not just from Greater Cincinnati, but also from Louisville, Indianapolis, Columbus and who knows where else, so I’m excited to see what new people will show up,” says Josh Rothstein, a frequent participant at Access events.

Access is also offering a stretch limo ride to the mansion, complete with flat screen TV’s and a complimentary glass of champagne for those that wear white. If you are interested in attending, RSVP to Lisa Hacker at (513) 373-0300 or info@jypaccess.org.

In addition to the White Party, Access puts on a whole slew of events throughout the year that they have developed into distinct Signature Programs. “Whether you’re happy being single, have a significant other or searching for Mr. or Mrs. Right, Access has 4-6 programs a month catering to all different groups,” says Lisa Hacker.

Outside of main events like the White Party and other larger productions, Access’ Signature Programs include No Boyz Allowed (women only), No Ma’am (men only), HeBrew Happy Hour, JSPN (Jewish Sports Network), JCafe (discussion group and book club), JGourmet (cooking classes), ACTout (social action projects, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati), and the Shabbat Dinner Series (hosted in partnership with the Saul Schottenstein Foundation B). No other city in the country, not New York or Chicago, has any type of organization that puts on this many events with such frequency.

While many people may be familiar with Access at this point, what some do not know is that Access was started six years ago in response to focus group findings which reported that Jewish young professionals in Cincinnati felt largely ignored. 

“We wanted to provide a no strings attached way for Jewish young adults to connect with one another on a consistent basis,” says The Mayerson Foundation’s Director of Jewish Giving, Pam Saeks.  “Thanks to the incredible generosity of The Mayerson Foundation, Access is able to provide free, or deeply subsidized, high quality events and programs, helping to make our Jewish community a more vibrant place for this important demographic.”

“Being that I grew up here (in Cincinnati), I had always believed I knew most of the Jewish people here, but Access has introduced me to so many new faces,” says Josh Rothstein. “Not only that, but I’ve seen people who met at Access events go on to do all sorts of things together, whether it’s opening a restaurant, going to the gym, or even dating. Simply put, Access creates opportunities for people to get connected so Cincinnati can be a more welcoming and fulfilling place to live.”
 
In addition to the White Party, Access has several other events this month, including a No Boyz Allowed trip to the Saloon/Spa (7/29), a No Ma’am day of fun with power tools (also 7/29), and a chance to give back at the ACTout Fun in the Sun-Day (7/25). The program will include relay games, prizes, a cookout and the young adults from Starfire, an organization that offers people with disabilities opportunities for social interaction. For a full list of programming, check out www.jypaccess.org.