December 1 Takeover of Nickelodeon Universe to Benefit Children and Families Facing Illness and Crisis 

Get ready for a completely new kind of philanthropic experience. On December 1, 2026, Chai Lifeline is taking its annual year-end benefit to the next level with an exclusive, full-park takeover of Nickelodeon Universe at the American Dream Mall. Dubbed “Dream Big,” this one-of-a-kind event invites donors, corporate partners, and the community to step outside the traditional gala ballroom and directly into the joy and support they are helping to create. 

As the holiest days of the year give way to the joyous anticipation of Sukkos, most of us are busy building sukkahs, acquiring our arba minim, and preparing for festive yom tov meals. But for families fighting pediatric illness, the calendar brings a different reality: treatments, surgeries, and split homes between the hospital bedside and the children left behind. Instead of a time of rest, preparing for Tom Tov can feel like an insurmountable mountain.

Hundreds of Camp Simcha alumni and their families, current campers and staff, volunteers, and Chai Lifeline supporters gathered on the beautiful grounds of Camp Simcha in Glen Spey, NY, on Sunday, August 9, for Alumni Day — a celebration of the friendships, memories, and lifelong bonds that endure long after summer ends. The highlight was a joyous Hachnasas Sefer Torah, part of Eternal Simcha, an alumni-led initiative to dedicate a Torah at Camp Simcha. The Torah was generously dedicated by Bari and Daniel Erber as a lasting gift to the entire Camp Simcha community.

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Camp Simcha was honored to welcome Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, for a special visit on Tuesday, August 4.

Chai Lifeline welcomed Robert J. Rodriguez, President and CEO of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), to Camp Simcha, its flagship medically supervised overnight camp for children living with serious illness, on Tuesday, July 21. The visit offered President Rodriguez a closer look at how Camp Simcha combines expert medical care with the joy and freedom of summer camp, creating an environment where children facing serious health challenges can experience the childhood moments they deserve.

Chai Lifeline welcomed New York State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, Chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, Assemblyman Sam Berger, and Phil Fields, Secretary of the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee, to Camp Simcha on Monday, July 20, for a visit that gave state leaders an inside look at the positive life-changing impact the camp has on children living with serious illness.

The laughter was nonstop as Chai Lifeline welcomed Camp Simcha alumni and friends to A Night of Simcha, an unforgettable evening of comedy, camaraderie, and reunion.

Over 700 cyclists from around the world are gearing up for the 17th annual Bike4Chai, the premier cycling event benefiting Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health support network.

For 152 Chai Lifeline children and their families from across Chai Lifeline regions in North America, the FIFA World Cup became much more than a soccer match. It became a dream come true.