Chai Lifeline proudly hosted its inaugural “Leaders Share Smiles with Camp Simcha” event, welcoming members of the New York State Assembly to its Glen Spey, NY campus for an unforgettable afternoon of inspiration, connection, and joy.
The distinguished delegation included Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Member Paula Elaine Kay, who represents Camp Simcha’s 100th district, along with Assembly Members Simcha Eichenstein, Kalman Yeger, David Weprin, Sam Berger, and Aron Weider.
The legislators toured Camp Simcha’s state-of-the-art campus and medical facilities, met with children facing serious illness and their dedicated counselors, and experienced firsthand the transformative power of Camp Simcha, Chai Lifeline’s flagship summer program.
“Camp Simcha is a model of what a camp serving children with serious illness should be – a safe place where kids get a chance to just be kids and laugh and play and enjoy nature,” said Speaker Heastie. “It was a privilege to be able to tour the camp and see firsthand the great work they and the counselors do here. The joy on the campers’ faces is something I will never forget.”
“Visiting Camp Simcha is a life-changing experience,” said Assembly Member Kay. “Seeing the joy on the faces of these beautiful children, who unfortunately have such difficult challenges, is heartwarming. Camp Simcha allows these children to experience something they couldn’t experience anywhere else. I am so proud to have Camp Simcha in my district.”
Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline, expressed deep gratitude to the Assembly Members for taking the time to visit. “Camp Simcha is a place of healing, hope, and pure joy, even in the face of the most challenging circumstances. We are honored to welcome these dedicated public servants and thank them for their continued support of Chai Lifeline’s mission to bring light into the lives of children and families confronting illness.”
Every summer, Camp Simcha provides medically supervised summer programming for hundreds of children and teens with cancer and other life-threatening or chronic illnesses. To learn more about Chai Lifeline’s year-round programs and services, visit www.chailifeline.org.
