Inspiring program features Chef Wolfgang Puck and Musical Performance by Yishai Ribo
Providing further hope that the social world we once knew is returning to a degree of normalcy, one of the Jewish fundraising calendar’s most sought-after events took place this week as over 800 people gathered in support of the work of Chai Lifeline.
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Chai Lifeline ends off the year with a series of weekend retreats for families impacted by pediatric illness and volunteers of Chai Lifeline. Hosted on Chai Lifeline’s beautiful Camp Simcha campus in Glen Spey, NY, the retreats help recharge participants for the year ahead.
“Connection is vital during illness, no person or family should go through sickness alone,” said Chai Lifeline Director of Volunteer Services Faige Yudkofsky. “Our retreats allow parents and kids to connect with people just like them to form a vibrant community of support.”
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Among the thousands of runners in the New York Marathon, there are countless stories of courage and motivation that bring them to the starting line. But for 24-year-old Yitzi Teichman, the path to this moment has been nothing short of miraculous and motivated his run with the Chai Lifeline team, the organization that he says helped him get through his personal ordeal.
More than 500 former Camp Simcha campers, counselors and staff, along with their families, celebrated Alumni Day on Sunday, July 29 at Camp Simcha’s Glen Spey, New York campus. Participants enjoyed an array of interactive activities and programming with current campers and staff, as well as the opportunity to catch up with old friends and familiar faces.
As a family-oriented organization, we recognize the importance of forging strong connections with like-minded families. Two of our most valued relationships are with others fighting the same battle against illness in our community: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. read full story
Our 2017 Annual Report is more than a summary of numbers. In language and design, the Report clearly and succinctly describes the impact that our programs and services have on more than 5,400 children and families around the world.
Camp Simcha gets ready for its biggest season ever.
In the words of a well-known politician, “It’s going to be HUGE!”
That’s the advance word on this summer at Camp Simcha/Camp Simcha Special, the overnight summer camp designed to meet the medical and social needs of children and teens with a wide variety of serious illnesses. read full story
The impact of Camp Simcha lasts way beyond the summer.
Rivky Schwartz, girls head counselor at Camp Simcha/Camp Simcha Special, received this text from a longtime camper. (We’ve changed a few of the details to protect our camper’s privacy.)
When Nechama Greenberg* was 13 years old, she began taking care of a young cousin who had recently been diagnosed with leukemia. He lived in her area and Nechama quickly learned all aspects of his medical situation, sometimes sleeping in his room in case of an emergency. It was through him that she first became introduced to Chai Lifeline. She would often shadow him at their events, and constantly met volunteers who would visit while he was in the hospital. Eventually, the summer after seminary, Nechama spent her first of three summers as a Camp Simcha counselor and she became involved through-out the year as well. read full story
Parents of teens with chronic medical or physical challenges can help ease the shift to young adulthood through careful and early planning, according to educational and financial consultants who specialize in helping families through this transition. read full story
