The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will host a bocce tournament on Thursday, September 22 to benefit the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island.
 
Now in its second year, the tournament promises a day of friendly competition in one of Staten Island's fastest growing sports. New and returning players will also have the opportunity to participate in a golf chipping contest. The event will feature a beer tasting by Flagship Brewery, a "Taste of the Mediterranean" cuisine, music, and raffles.
 
All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, the JCC's free day camp for children with cancer and their siblings. A proud member of the Sunrise Association, Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is the only camp of its kind in New York City and gives back the joys of summer to children who need it most. The camp proudly serves families from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and nearby New Jersey on a non-sectarian basis.
 
Recognizing the extraordinary financial demands that a child's chronic illness can have on a family, up to seven weeks of summer fun are provided completely free of charge, thanks to the generosity of community donors. 
 
This year, the JCC is proud to honor Brandon Sturman, Executive Vice President of Home Team Mortgage, and Vincent Malerba, President of Angelina's Group, for their continued support for Sunrise Day Camp.
 
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC, said, "Brandon and Vincent reflect the strong community spirit that allows us to make Sunrise Day Camp a memorable experience for our campers. We just finished another amazing summer season and you could see the joy on their faces every single day of camp."
 
She added, "We're excited to see everyone out on the bocce courts, having a great time while we support these deserving kids."
 
The event is co-chaired by Solomon Chemo, Cory Schifter, Bob Cutrona, and Brian Lincer. 
 
The tournament will take place on the lawn at the Bernikow JCC, located at 1466 Manor Road. Players are asked to check in at 11am, before the tournament begins at noon.
 
To purchase tickets, click here.

The Dr. Esther Grushkin Center for Arts + Culture, housed at the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, will host a special program, Dance Like No One Is Watching: An Afternoon with Alison Cook Beatty Dance, on Sunday, August 14.
 
Alison Cook Beatty Dance is a non-profit, classically-based modern dance company, whose mission is “to create and share accessible, emotionally engaging dance for all.” The company’s performances are grounded in emotional honesty and vulnerability, and highlight the transformational power of art.
 
In addition to creating dances, Alison Cook Beatty Dance prides itself on community outreach. The company visits community centers, schools, and other venues to share its unique vision and artistic approach through special programs that combine performances and lectures.
 
This Sunday, the Bernikow JCC will host Alison Cook Beatty Dance for a program featuring performances of works such as “Central Park Field #4,” “Lifeline,” and more. Throughout the program, Artistic Director Alison Cook-Beatty will discuss the concepts and inspiration behind each piece. Following the performance, audience members will have the opportunity to learn more during a question-and-answer session with the full company.
 
Sunday’s performance is just one of the many world-class programs offered by the JCC’s Dr. Esther Grushkin Center for Arts + Culture. Since the Grushkin Center’s launch last fall, the JCC has hosted a wide array of performances, lectures, and seminars—both in-person and virtual—to bring enriching cultural experiences to the Staten Island community and beyond. Live performances like this one are a particular favorite of audiences.
 
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC, said, “We’ve been so happy to bring community members back into our building over the past year for live productions by talented artists and performers. Art connects us all, and it’s really special to be able to experience it together.”
 
Dance Like No One Is Watching will take place at 4pm in the Bernikow JCC’s Lewis Stolzenberg Social Hall, located at 1466 Manor Road. Tickets are available online here.