On Sunday, June 27th, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island hosted its Virtual SunriseWALKS celebration, presented by Freedom Mortgage. SunriseWALKS raises money for Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings. As part of the event, participants were encouraged to watch the virtual celebration and then walk with friends and family in their own communities.
 
Sunrise Day Camp brings back the joys of childhood to children struggling with cancer, transforming months of loneliness and isolation into summers filled with friendship, laughter, and happiness. After a year of virtual experiences, in-person camp will resume this Thursday, July 1st, at Sunrise’s new home on the campus of Staten Island Academy.
 
“For children with cancer and their siblings, the isolation we’ve been facing during the pandemic is now new,” noted Orit Lender, JCC CEO. “That’s why we are incredibly excited to bring back Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp in person this year.”
 
SunriseWALKS followed several smaller in-person events, including a socially-distanced, tailgate-style Pep Rally in the JCC parking lot. Local families enjoyed an afternoon of music, food, and photo opportunities with the Humble Heroes of FDNY.
 
Lender added, “We are grateful to our community partners for all of their support. So far, we have raised over $275,000 for Sunrise this year, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of so many in our community. Thank you to all the donors and sponsors who made camp a reality for these children.”
 
David Roberts of Freedom Mortgage said, “We are so proud to be sponsoring SunriseWALKS again this year. Day camp is a paramount place for kids to develop all of different types of social skills, and the bonds and relationships that form over a summer with different friends are so important. Sunrise is a great place, and we love to help the kids!”
 
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, Sunrise Sundays and Sunrise on Wheels, are provided completely free of charge to campers’ families. Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island proudly serves children with cancer and their siblings from Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and nearby New Jersey on a non-sectarian basis.
 
The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC, which operates Sunrise Day Camp, raises funds for the camp through donations and community events. The Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is a proud member of the Sunrise Association, whose mission is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide.
 
To watch the Virtual SunriseWALKS celebration and learn more, click here.

On Sunday, June 6th, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island hosted its SunriseWALKS Pep Rally in the JCC parking lot. The event was a socially distanced, tailgate-style Pep Rally leading up to SunriseWALKS, which will take place virtually on Sunday, June 27th.
 
Local families enjoyed an afternoon of music, food, and photo opportunities with the Humble Heroes of FDNY.
 
“We were so happy to see many of our generous donors, supporters, and Sunrise families at the Pep Rally,” noted Orit Lender, JCC CEO. “This was our first major in-person event this year, and it was a wonderful day to benefit a truly special cause.”
 
SunriseWALKS raises money for Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings. Sunrise Day Camp brings back the joys of childhood to children struggling with cancer, transforming months of loneliness and isolation into summers filled with friendship, laughter, and happiness. After a year of virtual experiences, in-person camp will resume this summer at Sunrise’s new home on the campus of Staten Island Academy.
 
In addition to the Virtual Walk at the end of the month, there are several upcoming events to support the camp. On Wednesday June 9th at 7:30pm, friends of Sunrise will be raffling off baskets at Joyce’s Tavern. Those who wish to purchase raffles or attend can contact Andria at AndriaO@aol.com or call/text 646.372.7574. Ticket holders need not be present to win.
 
On Thursday, June 10th, Applebee’s will host a fundraiser for the camp at all three of its Staten Island locations. Applebee’s will donate 20% of all purchases by anyone who dines out or orders a carry-out meal in-person and presents the following flyer: https://www.sijcc.org/sunrise.html   
 
Lender added, “We are grateful to our community partners for all of their support. So far, we have raised over $250,000 for Sunrise this year, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of so many in our community. We hope these last few weeks before the Virtual Walk helps us raise even more to give our Sunrise campers a summer to remember!”
 
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, Sunrise Sundays and Sunrise on Wheels, are provided completely free of charge to campers’ families. Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island proudly serves children with cancer and their siblings from Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and nearby New Jersey on a non-sectarian basis.
 
The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC, which operates Sunrise Day Camp, raises funds for the camp through donations and community events. The Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is a proud member of the Sunrise Association, whose mission is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide.
 
For more information on SunriseWALKS, visit sunrise-walks.org/statenisland

​Summer is right around the corner, and we want to share some great news about Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings.
 
After a virtual camp experience last summer, we are happy to announce that Sunrise will resume in-person camp on July 1st. We are also excited to announce that we have found a new home for Sunrise on the campus of Staten Island Academy.
 
Staten Island Academy boasts a 12-acre campus, offering ample space for Sunrise campers to take part in activities both indoors and outdoors. In addition to previous summers’ activities, campers will also now have access to two swimming pools and larger field space. To ensure the health and safety of all its campers, Sunrise will have exclusive use of their own program areas separate from the Staten Island Academy’s summer programs.
 
Unfortunately, over the past year, we have all experienced firsthand what it feels like for a family of a child with cancer. The fear and uncertainty that we have been feeling is what our campers and their families have felt every day since their diagnoses. That’s why we’re thrilled to be able to bring back a safe, in-person experience for these children to allow them to socialize and enjoy themselves. Sunrise Day Camp brings back the joys of childhood to children struggling with cancer, transforming months of loneliness and isolation into summers filled with friendship, laughter, and happiness.
 
Sunrise will operate this summer from July 1 - August 5, with enhanced safety protocols in place to minimize the potential of any COVID-19 transmission at camp. A virtual camp option will also be available for those families who may prefer or need distance-camping.
 
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, Sunrise Sundays and Sunrise on Wheels, are provided completely free of charge to campers’ families. Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island proudly serves children with cancer and their siblings from Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and nearby New Jersey on a non-sectarian basis. We are a proud member of the Sunrise Association, whose mission is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide.
 
Funds for Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island are raised through donations and community events, including our annual SunriseWALKS in June. We hope you will join us for this year’s event, SunriseWALKS YOUR WAY, which will take place on Sunday, June 27th. You can participate in the walk from anywhere that is fun, meaningful, and safe! You can learn more and register here.
 
We are eagerly counting down the days until summer is here, and we can’t wait for our Sunrise campers to get to explore their new summer home!

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.

The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island is pleased to announce that, thanks to the generosity of the Emergency Children’s Help Organization (ECHO), campers at the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp Staten Island will receive a special weekly package as part of the “Camp in a Box” program.
 
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. Each “Camp in a Box” package contains activities and crafts that correspond with the weekly camp theme, so that children can participate in activities from home. Boxes also contain as a special edition Sunrise Day Camp t-shirt.
 
“Our campers are so excited to open these boxes each week,” said Sandy Haft, Camp Director. “It’s like getting a holiday gift every week for two months! We are incredibly grateful to ECHO for supporting this program during these difficult times.”
 
"On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of ECHO, it is a privilege to partner with Sunrise Day Camp and the JCC in order to accommodate the children under these unprecedented circumstances," said Pasquale Loporcaro, ECHO’s Executive Director.
 
ECHO is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to children experiencing challenging medical or life emergencies. ECHO’s goal is to help ease the burden financially, along with brightening children’s lives during times of crisis.
 
"The JCC and Sunrise Day Camp have always been wonderful partners with ECHO.  Their community work has always been an asset to those in need. We are honored to be part the ‘Camp in a Box’ program,” noted the organization’s Chairman and Founder, Sebastian Angelico. 
 
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. 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.

We are excited to announce that our 5th Annual SunriseWALKS, which was scheduled to take place early next month, has transitioned to an online event due to the COVID-19 crisis. The Virtual WALK will take place on Sunday, June 28th at 10am.
 
The walk supports the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, which is celebrating its fifth year of service to children with cancer and their siblings. The event will bring together the Sunrise community for an interactive celebration that will feature special guests and performances while highlighting Sunrise campers.
 
Recognizing the extraordinary financial demands that a child’s chronic illness can have on a family, Sunrise Day Camps 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 JCC raises funds for the camp through community events, including the annual SunriseWALKS.
 
“Unfortunately, we are all now experiencing firsthand what it feels like for a family of a child with cancer. The fear and uncertainty that we are feeling now is what our campers and their families have felt every day since their diagnoses,” said Orit Lender, JCC Deputy Executive Director and Incoming CEO. “That’s why, now more than ever, it is important for us to continue to support our Sunrise families. We ask you to join us in supporting our Virtual WALK and hope to see you on June 28th!”
 
The JCC of Staten Island operates the camp through a partnership with Catholic Charities of Staten Island. It is the only day camp for children with cancer in New York City and serves families from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey. This year, to safeguard the children, many of whom have compromised immune systems, camp will take place virtually.
“Sunrise Day Camp plays a very important role in the lives of children with cancer and their siblings. Although our campers and staff will not have the opportunity to enjoy camp face-to-face, the program will be designed to maximize fun at home for the children,” said Sunrise Day Camp Director Sandy Haft.
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.
 
To register for the Virtual WALK or donate to the cause, please visit sunrise-walks.org/StatenIsland.

On March 14th, my birthday, two weeks after the fundraiser began, we had hit my goal. To me, this was incredible, and I was ecstatic that it happened so quickly. Once I hit the goal, I announced that I would be dying my hair purple right before the camp season.

I encourage everybody to create a fundraiser like this for Sunrise Day Camp, and there are a few reasons as to why the fundraiser was as successful as it was. First, my friends and family are the reason that it was so successful. I give full credit to my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, cousins, and friends for not only donating, but sharing the fundraiser and getting people that I do not know to donate. Secondly, there is incentive for someone to donate as the money is going towards a cause mixed with the intent for me to do something beyond a normal fundraiser.

The people that see these fundraisers saw my passion for Sunrise through my short video and how much I was sharing this video and promoting the fundraiser. Also, the idea of giving people a choice as to what color is a major reason why people donated. People that donate feel incentivized when they spend their money and then get to make a decision on what you get to do. This really helps with people that only have a small amount of money to donate because there is a little more personal incentive for people to donate. ​

Finally, I made sure to offer colors. While some people believe it is because I was willing to do those four colors, which is true, there is actually a different reason. I chose to do this because I wanted people to physically see the color, to visualize me with that color hair, and, most importantly, to have something to resonate with. If I said pick a color, it would leave people to think about a color they may want. But by having four of the most popular colors, it allows people that love that particular color to donate. I had a donor tell me that they love the cause, but the reason they donated was because they saw purple. One other donor told me that they donated twice as much as they planned because they wanted to see me with green hair.

This year, I have a different plan, that I will be announcing on March 14th, but I’m not the only one that can do this. Everybody can because Facebook allows you to easily create a fundraiser for Sunrise Day Camp Staten Island, and anybody can set a goal and raise money for our camp. 

To start your own team or donate to Nick's team (Sunrise Staff) click here.

On January 26, we enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at the 4th Annual Sunshine Sunday Gala benefiting the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island.

At the event, we honored Marie DiTommaso; Rosemarie Stazzone, RN, MS, CNE; and the Sunrise Walk Basket & Event Committee: Dawn Petermann, Debbie Monello, Andria O’Leary, and Joanne Vitale. We are grateful to all six of these women for their devotion to Sunrise Day Camp and the children we serve. We also heard from Mercedes Rivera-Habib, the mother of two of our Sunrise campers, who spoke about what our camp has meant to her family. It was a moving reminder of why we work so hard to ensure that children with cancer and their siblings have a place to experience the joys of childhood each summer.
​
Throughout the afternoon, we enjoyed musical entertainment by local favorite Cause and the Effects, who made sure everyone had a great time out on the dance floor. The event concluded with a live auction and over 30 raffles, donated by generous members of the community.

Thank you to all who attended and worked hard to make this event a wonderful success—thanks to your generosity, we can give our amazing campers a summer full of sunshine and laughter! 

​To see pictures from the gala, click here 

​On Sunday, December 29, our Lucille and Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp families celebrated the holidays together at a special Sunrise Sunday event.

Sunrise families were led in a series of fun games and challenges such as a tug of war, a dance contest, and a tough round of Simon Says. Everyone loved playing the “Brain Challenge” trivia game show, which pitted kids, parents, and counselors against each other in the ultimate test of wits. The kids really wowed everyone with their knowledge!

Later, the campers headed off to the gym for other fun activities. Some played gaga, one of their favorite camp games, while others played ball and played with a parachute. Our CEO David Sorkin even got in on all the fun—check out the video below!

The highlight of the afternoon was when all of our campers received holiday gifts. Parents and staffers loved seeing the kids’ faces light up as they unwrapped their presents. We are thankful for all of our generous donors who make Sunrise Day Camp and year-round events like this possible. We are especially grateful to IAmEmpowering and the David Harris Collection for donating the gifts that brought so much joy to our campers and their families.
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To conclude the event, Sunrise Day Camp Director Sandy Haft announced this year’s camp dates—July 6-August 13. We can’t wait to see all of our campers again, but, until then, we’re gearing up for walk season to raise the funds needed to give these kids the best summer ever!