The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will kick off its new programming season with a free Fall Harvest Festival on Sunday, September 19 from 12pm-3pm. Families are invited to stop by the JCC, located at 1466 Manor Road, for an afternoon of outdoor fall fun.
 
Children will enjoy inflatables, carnival games with prizes, and fall-themed arts and crafts. Families can also pose for festive photo-ops. There will be a live performance by the Honeychild Band at 2pm. Food will be available for purchase. In case of inclement weather, the festival will take place inside.
 
During the festival, families will also have interactive opportunities to learn more about the JCC’s programs. Staff members will hold a sports and fitness sampler to give guests a taste of the recreation activities available to JCC members and participants of all ages.
 
The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute of the JCC will also present free demonstrations to introduce preschool and elementary school-aged children and their parents to upcoming programs. These programs include two parent-child keyboarding classes—Music in Me (ages 3 to 4) and Harmony Road (ages 4 to 6)—as well as Drama Adventures (ages 3 to 5) and Music Adventures with Ms. Bo (ages 3 to 5). The music demonstrations will take place inside. As space is limited, participants should register for the demonstrations by emailing Ela Seeley, Director of the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute, at ESeeley@sijcc.com.
 
Since the pandemic began, the JCC has continually provided active, engaging programs for participants of all ages. The festival signifies a return to the new normal, as the community organization plans to offer a full slate of in-person programs this fall.
 
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC, said, “Our Fall Harvest Festival is a chance for us to get back to doing one of the things we love most, which is creating fun activities for the whole family. We know that many families are ready to get back out there, so we invite them to enjoy a fun afternoon with us and get to know the wonderful programs we have in store for them this season.”
 
There is no registration required for the Fall Harvest Festival. To learn more, click here.

The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island will host a job fair to help connect Staten Islanders with employment opportunities at the JCC as well as professional development resources. The job fair is the JCC’s latest effort to help members of the local community rebound in the aftermath of the pandemic.
 
The fair will take place on Wednesday, August 18 at the JCC’s Bernikow building, located at 1466 Manor Road, between 10am and 2pm. JCC staff members will be available to network with job seekers about opportunities in a variety of areas, including marketing, education, fundraising, HR, administration, sports, fitness, and more.
 
During the fair, individuals can also sign up for free training programs for OSHA, green energy systems, IT support, and Microsoft Office. Other job readiness workshops available include resume writing, interview skills, and application assistance.
 
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC, said, “Throughout the pandemic, we’ve been there every step of the way to help members of our community get back on their feet. As we enter this new phase of recovery, we are committed to connecting Staten Islanders with the resources they need to succeed and find meaningful employment.”
 
The job fair is part of the agency’s broader commitment to pandemic recovery. While networking and learning about job opportunities, visitors can also consult with JCC staff about social services they may need, such as the food pantry, legal and financial counseling, and benefits assistance.
 
The fair is free and open to all. Masks are required and visitors will complete a brief health screening upon arrival. The attire is business casual. Resumes are required. Walk-ins are welcome.
 
For more information about the job fair, please contact Kathi Indelicato at KIndelicato@SIJCC.com

The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island is gearing up for another great season for its Core 24 Basketball Academy.
 
Core 24, the JCC’s new-and-improved basketball academy, offers youth training programs at all skill levels, from beginner recreational players to advanced competitors. Good sportsmanship and character, along with athletic excellence and skill, are at the heart of these programs. 
 
After a soft launch in spring of 2020, Core 24 offered its first program—a summer camp—last year. Building on this success, the academy has continued to offer a wide range of basketball training programs, including camps, clinics, and lessons, ever since.
 
Mike Reape, Director of Core 24, said, “Once we were allowed to open and run our camp last year, we never looked back. Kids really responded to playing basketball and having fun together after spending so much time at home.”
 
Core 24 kicks off its fall programming in September with a series of “tune-up” clinics to help players brush up on their skills before the season starts. The fall training session runs from October 5 through December 23, and is followed by a holiday training clinic.
 
“We have an exciting lineup of programs for the fall. We can’t wait to welcome back our players and see some new faces in the gym,” said Reape.
 
In addition to these seasonal programs, Core 24 also offers year-round training for players at all levels, including CYO training and scrimmages.
 
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC said, “We’ve always been proud to provide excellent sports and recreation programs for island youth, but it takes on special significance after the year and a half we’ve all been through. We know these programs are making a difference in kids’ lives by helping them stay active, make new friends, and be involved with something positive.”
 
Click here to learn more about Core 24 Basketball Academy programs and sign up for the fall season.

In memory of Florence Werb.
​-Steve and Hillary Barth

In honor of Ilene Pfeiffer.
-Jeffrey Pfeiffer

Last week, we hosted a party for our friend Angela Olsen as she celebrated her 60th birthday. But this wasn’t just a gathering to celebrate Angela’s big day—it was the kickoff of a new fund in the Olsen family’s name at Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings.

Angela and her husband Tom, a JCC Board Member, know firsthand what it’s like for our Sunrise families. They are the parents of three boys, TJ, Andrew, and Mark. As a child, TJ was diagnosed with cancer. Now an adult, TJ serves as the inspiration for the family’s efforts to give back to other children with cancer.

As Angela said herself, “Having had a son with pediatric cancer, I knew we had to commit ourselves to this cause and how important this camp is, not only to the kids but their families.”

The family’s generosity and commitment to our campers led to the naming of the Olsen Family Wellness Center Fund for Sunrise Day Camp. The fund will support the Olsen Family Wellness Center, a key component of the Sunrise experience.

While we often focus on the more active aspects of camp, the Olsen Family Wellness Center is crucial for our campers. If they aren’t feeling well or just need a place to decompress, campers can go to the Olsen Family Wellness Center for some quiet time and medical attention. Our camp nurses are trained to care specifically for children with cancer, who have different medical needs than typical campers. This year in particular, the Olsen Family Wellness Center is more important than ever in the face of the pandemic.

The Olsens have long been involved with Sunrise, and this new naming opportunity has brought them even closer to the cause. Tom and Andrew, along with Jessica Caracciolo and Karen Aversa, have chaired our Sunshine Sunday event in the past, and they look forward to bringing the event back early next year. Andrew is also holding his own birthday fundraiser to support the fund later this month.

We are incredibly grateful for their unwavering support throughout the years, as well as their continued commitment to the children of Sunrise. It has been wonderful to see the Olsen family’s love and support of our campers grow throughout the years, and we know there is more to come!

If you are interested in donating to support the fund, you can do so here.

-Orit Lender, CEO

On Monday, July 12, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island hosted its 41st Annual Golf and Tennis Classic at the Richmond County Country Club. Over 170 players participated in the event.
 
The JCC’s Golf and Tennis Classic benefits the Isador Aberlin-Ed Rovner Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund provides scholarships for the JCC’s day care and summer camp programs to families experiencing financial hardship. Some of the scholarships support children in Marvin’s Camp for Children with Special Needs.
 
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC, said, “These past 16 months have been difficult for everyone, but especially for children from families struggling financially. Children have been isolated from each other, making summer camp and day care extremely important. We’ve seen the need for camp and day care scholarships rise, and we are proud to be able to provide childcare options for families in need.”
 
“This was a challenging year for a lot non-profits, including the JCC,” noted Rob Myers, Senior Vice President of IDB Bank. “We’re happy to be by their side and to continue to support them.”
 
The day’s festivities included brunch, lunch, and a $10,000 raffle prize drawing.
 
Lender continued, “Families need us now more than ever to help them navigate and come out of this stronger, and we’re extremely grateful to all of you who’ve helped support us in making that possible. Special thanks to our event co-chairs Alan Poritz and Lenore Schwartz, as well as our presenting sponsor IDB Bank for all of their support.”
 
To see a full list of golf winners and more pictures, click here. 

With the recent uptick in violent incidents, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island has begun offering Krav Maga classes to help Staten Islanders protect themselves from harm.
 
Developed for the Israeli Defense Forces, Krav Maga is a self-defense system that focuses on instincts and practical techniques for hand-to-hand combat. Unlike many other martial arts, which focus on form, Krav Maga emphasizes real-world, situational preparedness.
 
The JCC’s Krav Maga classes will teach participants fighting stances, attacks, and defenses. The program will also equip learners with techniques to defend themselves when confronted with weapons such as knives, bats, and close-range guns, as well as threats from multiple attackers.
 
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC, said, “While the recent rise of violent incidents against Jews is heartbreaking, we know that there is work we can do to help make our community a safer place for all. That includes not only speaking out against hatred, but empowering people to protect themselves.”
 
While the JCC was prompted to offer Krav Maga classes in response to violence against Jews across the city and nation, these classes are open to everyone interested in learning self-defense techniques. Krav Maga also benefits stability, flexibility, coordination, cardiovascular health, and mental well-being.
 
The JCC currently offers 8-week Krav Maga classes, as well as drop-in options, at its Bernikow building on Manor Road. Female-only and male-only classes are also available. The classes are open to learners of all ages. Discounts are available when registering multiple family members.
 
To learn more and register for Krav Maga classes,  click here.

Our newest program is Summer Rising, which we will run for free at various schools in conjunction with DYDC and the DOE. This is an academic enrichment program that aims to help prepare students for school in the fall. Summer Rising will provide opportunities for young people to learn, to get outside, and engage with peers and caring adults in safe, supervised, and enriching robust programs, readying them for a return to school in September.

In our JCC Day Camp programs, we are partnering with Catapult Learning to provide a summer learning program to enrolled JCC campers. The Summer Learning Experience has been funded through the generosity of a grant from UJA-Federation, which allows us to provide this service to campers free of charge. 

In our Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, we also include STEM as part of our programming. Projects are tailored to children’s ages and abilities. This week, campers learned about engineering using pipe cleaners, sticks, and marshmallows! 

These programs are only able to run thanks to the generosity of our donors and funders. This Monday, we will host our 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic. Funds raised at this event will allow us to award camp scholarships to children in need, including kids with special needs. While the golf portion of the event is sold out, we still have a few tennis slots available. By playing or donating to the event, you are helping our children thrive in the face of adversity. You can learn more about the Outing here.
 
We are proud to be able to provide these services, and with your support, we can help even more kids make academic progress before school begins again.

​-Orit Lender, CEO

This weekend, we will celebrate the 4th of July and our nation’s independence. For many of us, this is one of the first times we will be gathering with family and friends since the pandemic began. While we are certainly not yet completely out of the pandemic, this holiday gives us a chance to take a breath and have some much-needed fun.
 
At the JCC, we are also celebrating the successful launch of camp this week, as well as the addition of two new Board Members, Angie Master and Ed Sappin.

In memory of Ilya Tinovsky.
​-Serge Tinovsky

In memory of Dr. Ronald Leventhal. May his memory be a blessing. Jim and I send our love to Susan, Bob, Karen and your families. 
-​Ronnie and Jim Campagna