The Chai Lifeline Annual Regional Directors Conference was held from January 8-9 in the Ocean Place Resort in Long Branch, NJ, with representation from Greater New York, New Jersey/Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, and West Coast, as well as Toronto, Montreal, Israel, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. The leadership team united to foster collaboration and innovation in enhancing support for children, families, volunteers, and staff involved in the Chai Lifeline community.  

Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic, the leading local support organization for families facing pediatric illness, announces its most critical fundraiser of the year, “Mission Possible.” The online crowdfunding campaign, starting Motzei Shabbos, February 3 at 8 PM and concluding at midnight on February 4, aims to raise $500,000 to expand its vital services in Baltimore, Silver Spring, and the greater Washington DC area. All funds raised will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to generous benefactors, doubling the impact of each donation.

In a show of solidarity and unity between Israel and the Jewish people, a special group of 10 Israeli soldiers will join Team Lifeline at the upcoming Miami Marathon on January 28. Having received special permission to travel to Florida to participate in the run for Chai Lifeline, Team Lifeline participants and donors will not only be showing their support for heroic children dealing with critical illness but also with the people of Israel and the IDF. 

A new year of laughter, friendship, and camaraderie is underway in communities across the country for more than 800 i-Shine participants. As part of Chai Lifeline’s commitment to caring for the entire family, its i-Shine after–school program is tailored to meet the unique needs of elementary and middle school-aged children living with illness of loss in their families. 

Chai Lifeline recently announced the generous dedication of its national i-Shine program at the organization’s December 4 Evening of Unity event in New York City. Designed to meet the unique needs of elementary and middle school-aged children living with illness or loss in their families, i-Shine provides afterschool programming in a supervised, nurturing, and fun environment. The program pairs young participants with local high school-aged mentors and counselors who provide homework assistance and tutoring, play games, and engage in sports and other recreational activities. Dinner, snacks, and transportation are provided. 

Chai Lifeline, the international support network, announces the dedication of the i-Shine Like Esti afterschool program in Boca Raton. This unique initiative is named in loving memory of Esti Markowitz a”h, a remarkable young girl who touched countless lives with her smile and spirit and is a tribute to her legacy of laughter and love. 

Chai Lifeline, the international support network, providing social, emotional, and practical assistance to children, families, and communities impacted by medical crises and trauma hosted an “Evening of Unity” on December 4 at Pier 60 in New York City.  

As Jews around the world face a period of fear and darkness, Chai Lifeline announces the launch of its annual toy drive to bring joy and distribute chanukah gifts to 25,000 children in the US and Israel. The recipients are children impacted by serious illness, crisis and loss in their immediate family. This year, Chai Lifeline will also be making a special effort to support the families in Israel doubly impacted by serious illness and the war against Hamas.  

In the face of the deadliest attack in Israel’s history and the surging increase in antisemitism across the globe, Chai Lifeline’s Crisis and Trauma Services team has risen to the challenge, confronting hate and terror with compassion and healing. The volunteers, comprised of more than 200 paraprofessionals, are providing critical psychosocial support to the worldwide Jewish community—one phone call at a time.