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 Wednesday, May 20th, the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, in partnership with UJA-Federation of New York, announced the launch of COVID-19 Connect to Recovery. The program will allow Staten Islanders to access social services to help them recover from the effects of the crisis.
 
COVID-19 Connect to Recovery was created in response to the current and growing needs of the Staten Island community precipitated by the coronavirus crisis. All participants in the program will have an initial comprehensive intake and assessment to see what services they are eligible to receive.
 
Orit Lender, Deputy Executive Director and Incoming CEO of the JCC explains, “We know that so many people on Staten Island have been hurt by this crisis. We created COVID-19 Connect to Recovery to provide a one-stop shop experience for people in need. Through our intake process, we can identify people’s needs and refer them to services that they may not know they qualify for. During these difficult times, we want to ease the burden for as many families as we can by making it as simple as possible to access these crucial resources.”
 
Services provided by the program include access to the JCC’s Kosher Food Pantry, health insurance navigation, financial and legal counseling, and ESL and HSE classes. Participants will be screened and enrolled for benefits and entitlements, including SNAP benefits, utility assistance programs, and other services. Individuals in crisis will also be referred to partner organizations for short term loans, cash assistance, and other social services.
 
Mental health services include support groups for people of all ages, remote weekly meditation and mindfulness classes, and additional therapies such as art, music, theater, and dance. There will also be special support provided for essential workers.
Seniors will be able to receive grab-and-go meals and referrals for clinical counseling treatment through Weill Cornell. Specific services for Holocaust survivors, including providing Kosher food, will also be available.
 
The JCC’s COVID-19 Connect to Recovery will be helmed by Neshama Marcus, LMSW, Chief Program Director of Community Based Programs, and Amelia Winter, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, Director of Senior Centers. The JCC has a great deal experience in recovery services for the Staten Island community. Following Hurricane Sandy, the JCC sprang into action, launching a similar service to help people displaced by the storm.
 
JCC CEO David Sorkin noted, “After Sandy, the JCC was here for Staten Islanders, helping long after the storm surge had subsided. We plan to do the same during and following this current crisis. We hope to provide a lifeline to those struggling and help get Staten Islanders back on their feet.”
 
The program is supported by UJA-Federation of New York, the Robin Hood Foundation, Verizon, Con Edison, National Grid Foundation, Mannix Shop Rite Stores, United Way, Food Bank NYC, Met Council, the Brooklyn Home for Aged Men, the Mother Cabrini Foundation, Borough President James Oddo, and DYCD. COVID-19 Connect to Recovery programs will take place in conjunction with Met Council, NYLAG, Hebrew Free Loan Society, Project Hospitality, and Weill Cornell.
 
For more information on COVID-19 Connect to Recovery services, click here or contact Carolyn Magliolo at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264.

On Monday, May 11th, the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC announced the donation of meals, flowers, and candy to program participants and staff from local developers David Berman and Murray Berman. The father and son purchased the items from their tenants, who are struggling due to the crisis. The goal of the donation was to benefit the JCC while also helping small businesses on Staten Island during this difficult economic time.
​
The donation consisted of 60 roast chicken dinners for families who attend JCC programs at the Gerard Carter Center, Todt Hill Community Center, and Richmond Terrace Community Center; 40 flower arrangements to be donated to Holocaust survivors in the JCC’s Café Europa program; and 50 candy baskets for JCC staff who are doing essential work through the crisis.

The donations came from La Rosa Chicken & Grill, 1172 Victory Boulevard, Langdon Florist, 1263 Clove Road, and Rocket Fizz Candy Store, 2955 Veterans Road West.

“We are so thankful for this generous donation to our program participants and staff,” said Orit Lender, JCC’s Deputy Executive Director and Incoming CEO. “We appreciate David and Murray Berman’s commitment to the JCC and to local businesses on Staten Island during this difficult time.”

For more information on JCC social services and the Families in Need fund, click here.

Legendary children's TV personality, Fred "Mr." Rogers, once shared with his listeners how his mother helped him deal with frightening situations when he was a child. Rogers said, “When I was a boy, I would see scary things in the news. My mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

In the Jewish tradition, we call the impulse to help others gemilut chasadim. Acts of loving kindness and helping others is at the heart of our camp program.

We promote values such as caring for the environment, honoring the elderly, and using kind words through activities, storytelling, and in the ways that we interact with one another at camp. Charitable giving, tzedakah, is encouraged throughout the summer and during special events like the Day of Caring and Sharing, a special day on which our campers help raise money for children with cancer, families in financial need, and others.

Moreover, at our weekly Shabbat celebrations, children are selected by camp staff for being the “Mensch of the Week.” A mensch is a person whose thoughts and actions make our world a better and more compassionate place. In the Jewish tradition, it is the highest compliment one can bestow upon another. Week after week, it is inspiring to witness our campers being honored for doing things, large and small, that make a difference in the lives of others such as welcoming a new camper to their group, being a compassionate listener, and offering words of encouragement to a fellow camper.

Written on the back of the Mensch of the Week shirts that the honorees receive is the phrase, “One Good Deed Leads to Another.” These children—with their kind hearts, contagious smiles, and thoughtful compliments—brighten everyone’s day and inspire all of us to do the same.

Similarly, during this pandemic, many members of our camp families are helping the community in a myriad of ways. Whether they are doctors, nurses, health care workers, first responders, caregivers of the vulnerable or other helpers in the community, we are inspired by their acts of selfless kindness. As Mr. Rogers said, we would be wise to focus on their efforts.

​This story, shared with us by Camp Co-Director Stephanie Feldman, has a powerful message that resonates with all of us who know that JCC Day Camp is a very special place.

This story speaks powerfully of the idea that we often need to find a place, situation, or environment for self-transformation to occur within us.

At our summer camp, we strive to create just such an environment. From the moment children arrive at our camp, we want them to feel a sense of warmth and welcome. We seek to foster an environment where children are valued, respected, and included so they feel confident someone will listen. Moreover, we strive to establish and maintain positive interactions between our children and counselors that are characterized by respect, a non-judgmental attitude, and open communication.

Our 100-acre campground nestled in the Greenbelt is also a place where “city” children connect with our natural world. Lush green trees, the presence of animals, hiking trails and ponds are part of our campground’s natural beauty. Additionally, we offer weekly animal appreciation shows from animal lover Brian Wild and ongoing nature activities that connect the children to nature. We know that, especially after these challenging months of staying inside and social distancing, children will be eager to get outside and experience nature with their friends.
​

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.”
​
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.

In memory of Mania Citrinbaum:
​We are so very sorry for the loss of your Mom.
Mania was a very special lady and touched many lives
And she will be greatly missed. Hopefully you can find solace in knowing that she is now resting in peace and out of pain.
All our love,
Lillian & Michael Prisco

We make this donation in Manias name. We know she loved spending her days at the “J” when times were good and she was healthy. We are so sorry for your loss and know that your love for each other was endless and deep. May your beautiful mother Rest In Peace and May her memory be a blessing. 
-Randy and Glen Rosen 

Dear Sheila and Family,
We know how much the JCC meant to your mom's life, and we hope this donation will help others enjoy all they have to offer.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Love,
Gail and Steven Niedelman 

Our sincerest condolences on the loss of Mania Citrinbaum.
From Arleen & Lorin Luchs 

In memory of Mania Citrinbaum 
-Betsy Wise

Many fond memories of joyful family time especially seeing Mania's happiness at grandson, Erik's wedding to our daughter, Annie. In subsequent years, being with her as she met her newborn great-grandchildren for the first time. Stories of her remarkable life and influence on her descendants' lives will go on. Peace and blessings to all family and friends who honor her memory during these and challenging times. 
-Nancy Howland

We loved her and all the Lichter’s and Borowka’s. Keep the memories going through everyone in the family, and she will live on. 
-Diane, Joey, and MB4

We loved Mania, she was one of a kind who raised a beautiful family. We love all of you. Remember the good times. 
-​Diane, Joey, Matt, Marisa, Maddy and Morgan 

We would like to make this donation in memory of Mania Citrinbaum, so that we can contribute to the programs that made such a difference in Mania's life.
Janet & Dana Goodman 

Dear Sheila and Les
Please accept my condolences on the loss of your beautiful and lovely mother. I do remember her and how gracious she was, May your memories give you comfort.
Regards, Dede Epstein 

In the memory of a truly wonderful woman.
Mickey, Jessica, Elliot, Jeremy and Jennifer 

​Dear Sheila and Debbie,
We extend our sympathy to both of you and your entire family in the passing of your beloved mother Mania. Wish we could hug you!
Love,
Janet and Paul Gensler 

We are thinking of you and sending all our love to all.
-Aunt Rita, Sheila and Steve 

Sending lots of love and sympathy!
Mania will be truly missed.
With love,
Susan, Kenny, Nicole, Brian, Ilyssa and Jason 

To the memory of your dear Mother. She was blessed with a long life and a devoted loving family. May she always rest in peace.
Susan & Jerry Cohen 

In honor of Mothers - and daughters who love them with their whole beings- your family is truly blessed.
-Esther Goldstein 

Rest In Peace.
-Marie R. Bayerle

Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.
With deepest condolences,
Nikki and Evan Marx  

Sheila, Les & Family,
We are so sorry for this terrible loss. We have many wonderful memories of your loving, mother/grandmother/great grandmother.
All our love,
Suzette & Joel 

In memory of William A. and Belle G. Rosenthal:
​To honor the memory of Bill Rosenthal, former SIJCC Executive Director, who brought 475 Victory Blvd. up from the basement, became Dean of Wurzweiler School of SW at Yeshiva U. and Belle Rosenthal, board member of JCC Nursery School Scholarship Committee and the JCC. 
-Barbara Schutt

​
Stories are an important part of the human experience. They help us connect with people who are different from us, learn more about ourselves and our place in the world, and unlock our imagination to take us to places we’ve yet to discover! We all love stories and that’s why we’re so excited about this year’s camp theme: The World of Stories.

​Each week at camp, we will delve into a different type of story, including folktales, science fiction, fairy tales, mysteries, comics, and fantasy. Because we pride ourselves on helping our campers grow up to be kind, caring adults, we will connect each type of story with values like responsibility, giving, family, and unity. We all know that reading is FUNdamental, and we hope that our study of stories will spark a love for books in all of our campers!

We can’t wait to explore the World of Stories this summer!