OAR News

At its 40th annual meeting on May 30, the officers and Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Northern Virginia awarded the Eleanor Sue Finkelstein Award for Special Needs to Naina Chernoff, a Hire Autism associate as well as long-time OAR supporter and volunteer.

The Eleanor Sue Finkelstein Award for Special Needs is named after one of the JCC’s founding members. As Chernoff explains, “Before she died in 2010, Elly served on many committees at the center (known by its members as the “J”). In her later years, she fundraised mightily for the development of a special needs program, which thrives today. The award was established in her honor to recognize a lay leader or professional who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the special needs community in Northern Virginia through service, leadership, and/or program development.”

Chernoff was chosen as the recipient based on her contributions through 18 years of work as an autism advocate. In 2000, she was the editor of “The Advocate,” a member magazine for the Autism Society of America. She began working for OAR in 2002 as the creator and first editor of its monthly newsletter, “The OARacle.” After leaving that position in 2005, she and her family continued their support by raising funds for OAR through the RUN program. When OAR/Hire Autism advanced to the semi-finals of the Encore Prize Contest last August, OAR executive director, Mike Maloney, called on Chernoff to make OAR’s case. She did, earning OAR the People’s Choice Prize and a cash award of $50,000 for the Hire Autism program.

Chernoff says she deeply appreciates the many ways the JCC staff has supported her family over the years, particularly Dhillon, her son who has autism. “The J is like a second home to Dhillon. My family is so grateful to the J for its welcoming atmosphere where individuals are recognized for their abilities, not their disabilities. The J has truly given Dhillon opportunities for growth that we have not found before. I feel so fortunate to be recognized for my small contributions by an organization I hold in such high esteem.”