Chai Lifeline’s annual Friends and Fun Shabbaton took place on May 17-18, bringing together 63 girls impacted by pediatric illness, over 150 dedicated volunteers, and the wonderful women of the Englewood community. The committee included Rivka Gordon, Deborah Berger, Jodi Cohen and Lori Schlackman, a group that has worked together on this Shabbaton for the past 12 years. This powerful weekend not only provided joy but also fostered a deep sense of unity and support among all participants. 

As the school year winds down, one particular group of students is looking back with a distinct sense of accomplishment and satisfaction knowing they have made a real difference in the lives of others. Through Chai Lifeline’s Goodman Family i-Shine afterschool program, more than 800 teen volunteers have served as mentors to children affected by serious illness or loss. The program takes place in communities across the country for weekly sessions that include dinner, homework help, and various recreational activities, providing essential support to these often-overlooked ‘shadow children.’

For 25 years, Chai Lifeline New Jersey has been there to help more than 1,000 families in their community, transforming a journey filled with uncertainty into one marked by hope and compassion. It has made Chai Lifeline a family, not just an organization. Chai Lifeline New Jersey will turn to their extended New Jersey family through an online crowdfunding campaign, starting Tuesday, May 21 at 12 PM and concluding at 12pm on Thursday, May 23, aimed at raising $1.8 million to help support local children and families facing illness, crisis, and loss. 

Getting ready for Pesach is hard enough, but for families facing pediatric illness and medical crisis, Yom Tov preparations can feel impossible. Chai Lifeline, the Jewish community’s leading health support network, is there to help families every step of the way so they can focus on what truly matters most—the health and wellbeing of their loved ones. 

As Adar arrived and Purim joy filled the air, preparations for Chai Lifeline families brought both excitement and unexpected stress. While our families navigate pediatric illness, the challenges of this season are magnified. In response, Chai Lifeline supported nearly 6,000 families, ensuring they could embrace the spirit of Purim while addressing their everyday needs. There were a variety of impactful programs and services available to Chai Lifeline families in the New Jersey/Pennsylvania, Greater New York, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and West Coast regions. 

In the NJ/PA region, dedicated volunteers took children to buy the items necessary to build mishloach manot. After an uplifting shopping trip, the children returned to the Art Spot in Lakewood, NJ to assemble packages and enjoy a delicious supper with their peers. 

Chai Lifeline is pleased to announce the recent hires of Atara Garbacz and Jen Lax as co-directors of the Alumni Initiative. Together, they bring a wealth of passion and dedication to Chai Lifeline, with a clear vision to grow and engage the Camp Simcha alumni community.