​The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island partnered with Borough President James Oddo’s office to vaccinate hundreds of seniors and Holocaust survivors against COVID-19 over the past two weeks.
 
Through this partnership, the JCC hosted a pop-up vaccination clinic at the Bernikow JCC March 2nd & 3rd with VitaCare Pharmacy. During the two-day clinic, VitaCare distributed over 650 vaccines to Staten Island seniors.
 
Additionally, the Borough President’s office helped the JCC get vaccination appointments for 80 Holocaust Survivors and frail seniors at other vaccination sites in the borough.
 
“We are beyond grateful to our friends at the Borough President’s office and VitaCare Pharmacy for all their work on this issue,” noted JCC CEO Orit Lender. “For our seniors and Holocaust survivors, who are the most vulnerable to COVID-19, this vaccine could mean the difference between life and death. We are so thankful to Borough President Oddo, Dr. Ginny Mantello, and Boris Natenzon of VitaCare Pharmacy for recognizing this and helping us meet the needs of our most fragile community members.”
 
"Over the last few days, over 650 people were vaccinated at the JCC. This would not have been possible without the cooperation of the city and state in terms of supply, and without the leadership and goodwill of our friends at the JCC and Boris Natenzon of VitaCare Pharmacy who, with his staff, administered the vaccines. Thank you to all of the good people who made this happen," said Borough President Oddo.
 
The clinic was part of a larger effort on the JCC’s part to help spread awareness about vaccine safety and get vulnerable members of the Staten Island community vaccinated.
 
“Helping our community members in times of crisis is what we do best. It is a privilege for us to play a part in bringing an end to the pandemic,” Lender added.
 
In addition to the clinic, the JCC hosted a COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall with Richmond University Medical Center Thursday night. At the virtual event, Dr. Philip Otterbeck answered questions from the audience about vaccine safety and efficacy.
 
To see the recording of the RUMC Town Hall event or to sign up for more information on upcoming vaccine clinics, click here.

On March 4th at 7pm, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will partner with Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) to present a virtual COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall. Dr. Philip Otterbeck, Chair of Medicine and Endocrinology at RUMC, will talk about vaccine safety, side effects, and efficacy. He will also answer questions submitted from the public.
 
This town hall is part of a larger effort on the JCC’s part to help spread awareness about vaccine safety and get vulnerable members of the Staten Island community vaccinated. The event is free and open to all in the community.
 
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC, said “At the JCC, we have been working hard to both educate and help secure vaccine appointments for Staten Islanders. We feel it is incredibly important to make sure our community is educated about the safety of the vaccine. Thank you to RUMC and our community partners for joining us in this initiative.”
 
Since December, COVID-19 vaccinations have been taking place across the borough for eligible individuals. Vaccines have been distributed at RUMC and during pop-up clinics at JCC facilities.
 
Dr. Otterbeck noted, “I hope the Town Hall will provide the members of our community the opportunity to ask questions they have on their minds related to COVID-19 based on the latest evidence in the medical and scientific literature.”
 
In addition to the JCC and RUMC, the event is presented by the COVID-19 Connect to Recovery initiative. Partner organizations include Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, Congregation Temple Emanu-El, Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island (COJO-SI), The Jewish Board, Jewish Russian Learning Center of South Beach, Met Council, Project Hospitality, Staten Island COAD, and UJA-Federation of New York.
 
To register for the free event, visit sijcc.org/vaccine
To submit questions in advance, email jcc@sijcc.com

On Monday, October 19th, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will hold its 40th Annual Golf & Tennis Classic, presented by IDB Bank. The event, which was pushed back from its original July date, will take place at the Richmond County Country Club and adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols.
 
Funds raised at this event allow the JCC to award scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Some of these scholarships go to children with special needs, offering them a joyous and safe summer led by highly experienced staff at no cost to their families. Scholarship recipients are the children of working mothers and fathers, including single parents, who cannot afford to send their children to camp and other JCC programs due to financial issues.
 
“With everything changing around us, one theme has stayed consistent—the JCC remains committed to helping children in our community,” said Orit Lender, JCC CEO. “Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. We hope you will join us for a fun day out on the course and courts!”
 
Golf and tennis players will receive a continental breakfast and lunch, along with the chance to win contests and prizes. Tennis players will have access to a clinic, hosted by a tennis pro. Following the event, the winner of a $10,000 raffle will be drawn virtually.
 
To learn more or register, click here!

On Friday, September 25th, staff from the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island joined with representatives from the Mayor’s Office and NYCHA to unveil a new mural at the Gerard Carter Center. The mural was created by 30 high school students from the V.I.B.E. and A.G.V.E.P. summer program, which is run through the JCC’s Cornerstone program at the Carter Center.

The students worked on the project for seven weeks and were tasked with creating a mural that represents their “ideal community.”

On Thursday, September 24th through Sunday, September 27th, sixteen local restaurants will participate in a Dine Out For Sunrise fundraiser. The fundraiser will support the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings. Patrons who dine at participating restaurants during this time can add on a donation for Sunrise to their bill.
 
The restaurants that will participate are Brioso, Casa Belvedere, Italianissimo, Jimmy Max Restaurant, Joyce's Tavern, La Fontana, Marina Café, O'Neill’s Irish Pub, Reggiano's (both locations), The Richmond, The Stone House, Sofia’s Taqueria, Violette’s Cellar, W's Bar and Grill, and the West Shore Inn. Dine Out For Sunrise is sponsored by A-List Janitorial Supplies.
 
The event is part of the Sunshine Sunday Series, a four-month long fundraising series that will take the place of the Sunshine Sunday event that is traditionally held in-person every January. Other virtual events in the series include a fall-themed kids party, a Thanksgiving cooking class, and a holiday-themed mixology class and happy hour. The events will culminate with a journal, called the Sunshine Pages, which will allow businesses to highlight their community work, new initiatives launched during the pandemic, and their involvement with Sunrise.
 
“This is a wonderful way to support our local restaurants, which are so important to our community, and Sunrise Day Camp at the same time,” said Orit Lender, CEO of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island. “We hope you will enjoy a delicious meal and add on a donation to help give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings.”
 
Jessica Caracciolo, Event Co-Chair, noted, “I am so excited to kick off the Sunshine Sunday Series with our September Dine Out!  I think our committee did an amazing job pivoting our fundraising efforts to meet the current restrictions in place. I can’t wait for the rest of the series and, as always, am so thankful to be a small part of the fundraising efforts for Sunrise Day Camp.” 
 
Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island recently celebrated its fifth year, concluding its virtual camp season in August. Recognizing the extraordinary financial demands that a child’s chronic illness can have on a family, Sunrise Day Camp and its year-round and in-hospital programs are offered completely free of charge to all children being treated for cancer and their siblings, on a non-sectarian basis.
 
A member of the Sunrise Association, Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is one of several camps in a growing network dedicated to providing safe, fun summer camp experiences for children with cancer and their siblings. Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is the only day camp for children with cancer in New York City and serves families from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey. The JCC raises funds for the camp through donations and community events, including the annual SunriseWALKS.
 
For more information on the Sunshine Sunday Series or to donate to the fundraiser, click here.

We are proud to annouce that we will host Sunrise Circle of Friends, a virtual interactive show for kids, on Wednesday, July 29th from 5-6 pm. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings.
 
The event will feature performances and demonstrations by Brian Wild & His Interactive Animals, Steve the Magician, Tiger Schulmann's Martial Arts, and Music with Patrick. The event is being produced in collaboration with JMT Media and is chaired by Ilana French.
 
As a special treat, the Staten Island Wine Fairies will deliver a wine basket for mom and dad to enjoy during the show for an additional fee. Basket deliveries are open to Staten Island residents only, and sign-ups for the wine deliveries close Wednesday, July 22.
 
“The JCC is thrilled to be able to provide virtual entertainment for families while also raising much needed funds for Sunrise Day Camp,” said Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC. “We are so grateful to our volunteers and performers who are donating their time and talents to put this special afternoon together.”
 
Recognizing the extraordinary financial demands that a child’s chronic illness can have on a family, Sunrise Day Camp and its year-round and in-hospital programs are offered completely free of charge to all children being treated for cancer and their siblings, on a non-sectarian basis. The camp, which is celebrating its fifth year of service to children with cancer and their siblings, has been running virtually this year due to the campers’ health concerns.
 
Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is the only day camp for children with cancer in New York City and serves families from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey. The JCC raises funds for the camp through donations and community events, including the annual SunriseWALKS.
 
A member of the Sunrise Association, Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is one of several camps in a growing network dedicated to providing safe, fun summer camp experiences for children with cancer and their siblings.
 
The virtual event costs $10 per household, with the option to add on a $25 wine delivery. Tickets and wine deliveries can be reserved here. For more information, contact Evett Shulman at eshulman@sijcc.com or 718.475.5256.

On Monday, May 4th and Tuesday, May 5th, Sweetest Smiles Photography will host a porch photography fundraiser benefitting the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC’s Families in Need, a special COVID-19 emergency fund. The fundraiser, which takes place in conjunction with Giving Tuesday Now, a national campaign to raise emergency funds for non-profit organizations, will support the JCC’s social service programs.

Any Staten Islander who signs up and donates to the JCC will receive a brief family photography session on their front porch. Time slots in the afternoons of Monday and Tuesday are available to book here.

Sweetest Smiles Photography has already raised over $1,000 for the JCC over the past few weeks through their front porch photography campaign.

“We are incredibly grateful to Sweetest Smiles Photography and all of the families who participated in this fundraiser so far,” noted JCC CEO David Sorkin. “This is a great way to get a beautiful family photo taken while also helping families in need across our community.”
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Since the coronavirus crisis began, the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island has stepped up to ensure that Staten Islanders in need had resources and support during this difficult time.

The Nancy Avis L’Dor V’Dor Awards, which are held every spring, are taking a different form this year to help those negatively affected by the coronavirus crisis on Staten Island.

This year, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island is turning the event virtual to raise funds for its Families in Need campaign, a COVID-19 emergency fund. Rather than an in-person event, funds will be raised by mail, online, and via text to help those affected by the loss of wages, food insecurity, and isolation. Individuals are encouraged to express their sentiments to the honorees by placing an ad in the digital journal, which will be posted on the JCC website for the duration of 2020.

The event, which is held annually and usually takes the form of a brunch, honors extraordinary women who have worked to improve the Staten Island community. This year, the honorees are:
Marcia Klein – First Generation Award
Yolanda Rudich – First Generation Award
Jennifer Straniere – First Generation Award
Flair Shalem – Next Generation Award
Dr. Gracelyn Santos – Bridge to the Community Award

The event is named in memory of Nancy Avis, the JCC’s first woman President of the Board of Trustees. Avis had a hand in many philanthropic causes that improved the quality of life on Staten Island.

“This is such a fitting tribute to Nancy’s legacy,” said Event Chair Kim Avis. “If she was still here, she would have been leading this campaign.”

“We’re all looking for ways to make a difference in our community. We appreciate that in honor of our five honorees who have done so much for our community, and in honor of our mom, we hope you’ll participate and help Families in Need,” said Dr. Victor Avis.

Families in Need supports the JCC’s social services, which have not stopped running since the crisis began. Staff have been distributing thousands of meals to seniors, as well as helping others who suffer from food insecurity through the JCC’s Kosher Food Pantry. JCC social services have gone completely virtual, with staff members providing access to health insurance navigation, mental health services, legal support resources, and other COVID-19 resources over the phone and email.

“Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number will grow as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Without the help of the JCC, many people would not have food, legal services, health insurance, mental health services, and other critical services. With your support of our virtual L’Dor V’Dor campaign, together we can help Families in Need in our own Staten Island community,” said JCC CEO David Sorkin.

To learn more and support the event, click here. 

Our members and staff recently celebrated Purim at several fun events!

First was the Café Europa Purim Celebration for Holocaust survivors. Children from the JCC’s after school program performed Purim songs and made baskets for the survivors. Everyone also celebrated Rabbi Romi Cohn’s 94th birthday! It was a touching event dedicated to keeping the light glowing.