The Wilf family represents three generations of renowned philanthropists who have championed the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey (JCHC) for many decades. Their generous contribution includes a multi-year gift to support JCHC in creating and managing senior living communities where older adults can thrive. The Wilfs, through the Wilf Family Foundations, are deeply committed to JCHC’s mission to ensure that growing older is accompanied by dignity, opportunity and joy.
Since 1964, the Wilf Family Foundations has embodied the Jewish values of tzedakah and tikkun olam, continuing the philanthropic vision initiated by its founders Harry and Joseph Wilf z’’l, who were brothers and survivors of the Holocaust. For over 60 years, the Wilf Family Foundations have supported charitable organizations in the United States, Israel and elsewhere in the world, including Jewish causes, education, health, housing, arts and culture, emergency relief, military veterans, social justice and more. The Wilf Family Foundations’ deep commitment to ensuring everyone has the resources they need to live with dignity and thrive has guided their support for senior living communities rooted in Jewish tradition like those created by JCHC. Today, second and third generation members of the Wilf family lead continued grantmaking to support Jewish life and people with essential and life-saving services.
The Wilfs are guided by the philanthropic visions initiated by their founders, and continue to honor their legacies through advocacy for the ever-changing needs of the Jewish people, wherever they may be.
Assemblywoman Dr. Rosaura “Rosy” Bagolie (D – Essex, Passaic) represents New Jersey’s 27th Legislative District and has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2024. She is the Vice Chair of the Assembly Education Committee and a member of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. She currently serves as the Principal and Superintendent of the East Newark School District and has dedicated her career to public education.
Her legislative agenda reflects her diverse background as a Jewish Latina immigrant whose family came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in pursuit of the American Dream. She brings a deeply informed perspective to public service, rooted in opportunity, safety, and strong community partnerships. She is committed to advocating for the most vulnerable populations, ensuring that seniors can continue to call New Jersey home, individuals with disabilities receive the services they need, and all communities are treated with dignity and respect. Assemblywoman Bagolie has led the conversation on legislation addressing educational barriers, combating antisemitism and other forms of bias, and advancing workers’ rights.
In 2024, she secured a $250,000 budget appropriation for the Jewish Community Housing Corporation’s Assisted Living program and has hosted tax assistance programs at the Jewish Federation Plaza complex in West Orange.
Prior to her election to the Assembly, Dr. Bagolie served on the Livingston Township Council, where she worked on initiatives related to emergency preparedness, planning, disability advocacy, and services for seniors and youth.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences, a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University, as well as a Master’s degree in Special Education from Rutgers University. She holds numerous teaching certifications and is also a certified School Business Administrator.
Assemblywoman Bagolie lives in Livingston with her husband, Ricky, and their three sons. The family is active in their faith community at Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills. Assemblywoman Bagolie’s life and work reflect a deep commitment to public service, educational excellence, and ensuring that all voices are heard in the halls of power.
Vincent “Vince” Myers is President, Co-Founder, and Director of the Senior Living Studio at DIGroup Architecture (DIG), where he leads the firm’s mission-driven philosophy of “Architecture for Change.” Under Myers’ leadership, DIG prioritizes community impact, equity, and social responsibility across the public and private sectors—particularly in government, education, healthcare, senior living, and civic infrastructure. His work is deeply rooted in the belief that architecture is a civic responsibility and a powerful tool for neighborhood transformation.
A hands-on principal, Myers is known for his strategic, collaborative approach with clients, guiding discussions that result in smart, functional, and sustainable design solutions. He has made extensive contributions to public-sector projects, many located in underserved communities, where his leadership helps ensure that design outcomes are both impactful and equitable.
Since Myers’ promotion to President in 2016, DIG has grown into the largest majority Black-owned architectural, interiors, and graphic design firm in New Jersey, holding MBE and SBE certifications. Today, the firm operates from offices in Philadelphia’s Tioga/Allegheny West neighborhood, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Queens, New York, with projects extending across New Jersey, Greater Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, and New York City.
Since 2022, Myers has overseen the delivery and advancement of several major public-sector projects, including the reconstruction of a historic public library in Southwest Philadelphia, redevelopment work within North Philadelphia’s Budd BioWorks Campus, and a large-scale infrastructure, renovation, and security upgrade for a Central New Jersey public school district. The firm continues its long-standing work with the New York City School Construction Authority and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, reinforcing DIG’s role as a trusted partner for complex civic assignments.
As Director of DIG’s Senior Living Studio, Myers brings a forward-looking perspective to environments designed for aging populations. He is a strong advocate for spaces that promote dignity, wellness, connection, and independence—anticipating the physical, emotional, and social needs of a new generation of older adults, from independent living through memory care. Extending this commitment beyond practice, Myers previously served as Board President of Springpoint Senior Living, a mission-driven nonprofit organization whose Life Plan Communities and programs support aging in place, affordability, and holistic well-being. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors of the Borden Foundation.
Equally central to Myers’ leadership is a sustained commitment to diversity, mentorship, and representation within the architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) professions. Under his tenure, DIG appointed its first minority female Principal, reflecting a broader philosophy of inclusive leadership development and sustainable advancement. The firm remains actively engaged with AIA Philadelphia and AIA New Jersey, aligning professional advocacy with its internal values.
Myers is also deeply involved in expanding access to ACE and STEM careers for young people, particularly students of color and young women. DIG supports initiatives such the ACE Mentor Program, and numerous speaking engagements, panels, and educational outreach efforts. Myers believes that repeated exposure to visible leadership and representation is essential to changing the trajectory of underrepresentation in ACE and STEM fields.
Beyond professional practice, Myers ensures that DIG remains connected to the communities it serves through hands-on philanthropy and civic engagement. The firm has supported charitable initiatives ranging from playground construction to food pantry partnerships.
A second-generation architect, Myers credits his father, Harvey Myers—among the first African-American architects licensed in New Jersey —as his earliest and most influential role model. Watching his father work at a drafting table instilled an appreciation not only for design, but for discipline, entrepreneurship, and service. Myers earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University in 1984 and studied for a semester abroad in Florence Italy. He spent two decades working alongside his father, gaining invaluable experience rooted in discipline, resilience, and service.
In 2006, Myers helped form DIG Architecture following an unprecedented collaboration and merger of several like-minded firms united to support New Jersey’s mission to transform urban schools and neighborhoods into communities of hope and opportunity.
Under his leadership, DIG has earned numerous honors, including the prestigious AIA New Jersey “Firm of the Year” Award, along with multiple design, preservation, sustainability, and business accolades across the Mid-Atlantic region. Individually, Myers has been recognized with distinctions such as ENR MidAtlantic’s 2025 Legacy Award, Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2025 Diversity in Business Leader, the NJBIZ ICON Award (2024), and DBE Power Player honors. He is frequently featured and sought after as a national voice on minority-owned businesses, DEI in the built environment, senior housing, and equitable development.
At his core, Vince Myers is a creator, changemaker, and “social architect.” He believes that the firms shaping our public spaces must reflect the diversity of the communities they serve—and that representation in architecture is not optional, but essential. Through visionary leadership, mentorship, and design excellence, Myers continues to build a legacy that strengthens institutions, uplifts neighborhoods, and expands opportunity for generations to come.