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M SUNRISE ASSOCIATION DAY SUNRISE ASSOCIATION CAMPS PROVIDE HOPE ALL YEAR DAY CAMPS PROVIDE Interview with Arnie Preminger, HOPE ALL YEAR
President & CEO of President the & Interview with Arnie Preminger, CEO of the Sunrise Association Sunrise Association
by W.A. Mullert by W.A. Muller
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unrise Association Day Camps dreamoffers of Arnie confisays dence and interpersonal enjoyinghospitals. the unrise Association Day began Campsas acamp you will findfriendships, at Sunrise,” Wheels programsskills at while 21 partner Preminger, President & CEO of the Sunrise Association. After simple pleasures of childhood. Recognizing the extraordinary fi nancial began as a dream of Arnie Preminger. “I’ve never been in a situation Sunrise on Wheels is an innovative program attending a benefi t concert for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall demands that a child’s chronic illness can have on a family, Sunrise Preminger, President & CEO of before where something that you do is so that provides a day filled with Sunrise fun to Gang (a sleepaway camp After for children with life-threatenCamps and Year-Round Programs are always theCamp Sunrise Association. appreciated. Children loveDay it. The feedback we children who are either provided awaiting completetreatment ingattending illnesses), the began. Having built andparents operat- is beyond ly free of charge.They in pediatric oncology units of participating a dreaming benefit concert for get from accolades. ed summer day camps for more than 30 years at the Friedberg JCC, Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang are just so grateful that there’s an opportunity hospitals, or who are inpatient. Volunteers Preminger researched the existence of summer-long day camps for There are currently 8 Sunrise Association Day Camps --- 3 in New York Camp (a sleepaway camp for children with for their children to have some normalcy.” wheel a tie-dyed trunk bursting with toys, children with cancer, but to his surprise, found none. (Rockland County, Long Island & Staten Island), 1 in Baltimore, MD; 1 life-threatening illnesses), the dreaming and activities into the hospitals where in Atlanta, GA; and, 3 in games, Israel. Each camp is supported by a medical began. Having built and operated summer Sunrise Day Camp is situated on the the kids are receiving According to Preminger, “In 2006, 96 children, including siblings, redisdirector and on-site pediatric oncology nurses. treatment. We change day camps for more than 30 years at the beautiful and expansive Henry Kaufmann a difficult day into one of camp fun. It’s every covered the magic of friendship and the joy of play at the first Sunrise Friedberg JCC, Preminger researched the Campgrounds in Wheatley Heights on bit as impactful as because changes Day Camp located on Long Island. The sounds of medical monitors “In addition to our 8 summer camps – whichcamp in 2019 ran withitclose to existence of with summer-long daythecamps Long Island.and Free transportation is available weonkeep trying were replaced laughter, and feelingsfor of cold machines 2,000 children - we weretheir alsoexperience. operating 43 That’s weeklywhat Sunrise Wheels children with quickly cancer, but to his surprise, locations inprograms Nassau,at Suffolk, to do. WeSunrise want to away boredom, sharp needles disappeared with warm hugsfrom fromselect counselors 21 partner hospitals. on take Wheels is anthe innovative found none. Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the the isolation, the loneliness, and perhaps and new friends. Unlike similar sleep-away camps that are offered for program that provides a day filled with Sunrise fun to children who are Bronx on staffed, air-conditioned buses. most importantly, the fear. “ just 1-2 weeks, Sunrise allows children in active treatment to continue either awaiting treatment in pediatric oncology units of participating According to doctors Preminger, “In 2006, 96each The core 9:30 am to 3:45 with their home while attending camp day. Thiscamp uniqueday is from hospitals, or who are inpatient. Volunteers wheel a tie-dyed trunk children, including siblings, rediscovered the in their pm own (excluding transportation times). When Covid hit, Preminger quickly went concept allows children the comfort of sleeping beds each bursting with toys,All games and activities into the hospitals where the to night – aofcomfort not only thejoy campers, their parents areevery receiving treatment. We change a diffi cult day intonone one of of their magic friendship andfor the of playbut atfor activities areas modified to kids meet child’s work with his team to make sure well.”first Sunrise Day Camp located on Long needs and abilities. Goals camp fun. It’shelping every bit as impactful asleft camp because changes their the include children were behind. “Thisitwas uncharted experience. That’s whatterritory. we keep We trying to do. We want take away Island. The sounds of medical monitors were children develop friendships, confidence, and had to leave the to hospitals right Premingerwith explains that Sunrise is more than just camp; rather it’s the boredom, the isolation, theWithin loneliness, and perhaps imporreplaced laughter, and the feelings of ainterpersonal skills while enjoying the simple away. 30 days of havingmost closed down a place that allows children cancer quickly and their siblings can just tantly, the fear. “ the our offices, we moved into the virtual world. cold machines and sharpwith needles pleasures of be childhood. Recognizing kids. “There’s with arts &warm crafts, drama, music, S.T.E.A.M -- anything disappeared hugs fromsports, counselors extraordinary financial demands that a child’s We began creating short videos called a traditional day camp offers you will find at Sunrise,” says Preminger. When Covid hit, Preminger quickly to work with his make and new friends. Unlike similar sleep-away chronic illness can have on a family, Sunrise Sunrise onwent Screens where theteam kids to can see “I’ve never been in a situation before where something that you do is sure none of their children were left behind. “This was uncharted camps that are offered for just 1-2 weeks, Day Camps and Year-Round Programs are familiar staff and participate in fun activities. so appreciated. it. The feedback fromprovided parents iscompletely free territory.ofWe had to leave the hospitals right Within 30takes days of Sunrise allows Children childrenlove in active treatmentwe get always charge. Another program -- away. Wheels Up! -kids beyond accolades. They are just so grateful that there’s an opportunity having closed down our offi ces, we moved into the virtual world. We to continue with their home doctors while on travels all over the world including Disney for their children to have some normalcy.” began creating short videos called Sunrise on Screens where the kids attending camp each day. This unique concept There are currently 8 Sunrise Association Day parks, the seven wonders of the world, an can see familiar staff and participate in fun activities. Another program allows children the comfort of sleeping in their Camps --- 3 in New York (Rockland County, African safari, and so many other adventures. Sunrise Day Camp is situated on the beautiful and expansive Henry -- Wheels Up! -- takes kids on travels all over the world including Disney own beds each night – a comfort not only for Long Island & Staten Island), 1 in Baltimore, We just want to take them away from their Kaufmann Campgrounds in Wheatley Heights on Long Island. Free parks, the seven wonders of the world, an African safari and so many the campers, but for their from parents as locations well.” 1 inSuffolk, Atlanta, GA; and, 3 inadventures. Israel. Each reality wherefrom theirtheir imaginations transportation is available select in MD; Nassau, other We just wanttotosomeplace take them away reality to camp is supported by a medical director and can soar. To date, we’ve produced over 100 Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx on staffed, air-condisomeplace where their imaginations can soar. To date, we’ve proPreminger explains that Sunrise more9:30 than on-site pediatric nurses. videos that are beinginviewed in hospitals. tioned buses. The core camp day isisfrom am to 3:45 pm (exclud-oncologyduced over 100 videos that are being viewed hospitals. just a camp; rather it’s a place that allows ing transportation times). All activities are modified to meet every children withand cancer andGoals their include siblingshelping to be children “In addition to our 8 summer – which “Thethat pandemic also meant that wecamps had to child’s needs abilities. develop “Thecamps pandemic also meant we had to close our in-person kids. “There’s arts & crafts, drama, sports, music, S.T.E.A.M -- anything a traditional day
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in 2019 ran with close to 2,000 children - we were also operating 43 weekly Sunrise on
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close our in-person camps in 2020. enormously talented staff jumped
Our into
