Sunrise Scoop - October 2021

Sunrise Highlights

We are so grateful to all of our donors who make our mission possible.

Dinner speaker and Camp parent Stephanie Lipsky; Tyler Lipsky with his counselor at the Long Island Camp this summer; and in the bottom photo (L to R) Arnie Preminger, Sunrise Association President & CEO; Honoree Jeffrey B. Mulhall of McHugh Furnishings; Honoree Andrew Quentzel, of Henry Quentzel Plumbing Supply Co., Inc.; Honoree Richard Gurvitz, of HJ Kalikow & Co., LLC; event Chair Larry Levine; and event Co-chair Michael Faltischek.

Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island: The 15th Annual Mildred & Samuel Levine Memorial Golf Classic 

The 15th Annual Mildred & Samuel Levine Memorial Golf Classic took place on September 27th  at The Seawane Club, Rockaway Hunting Club, and Hempstead Golf & Country Club. Thank you to everyone who supported the Outing and helped us raise more than $930,000 for the children of the Sunrise Association. More than 350 golfers, 125 cards players and 470 dinner guests enjoyed a picture-perfect, fun day and night!  

A big thank you to:  

Honorees —  Richard Gurvitz of HJ Kalikow & Co, LLC; Jeffrey B. Mulhall of McHugh Furnishings; and  Andrew Quentzel of Henry Quentzel Plumbing Supply Co., Inc. 

Recipients of the Community Partner Award –Dime Community Bank and Kevin Santacroce, Deputy Chief Lending Officer 

Lunch Speaker – Deanna Slade, Sunrise Association’s Regional Director of New York Camps 

Dinner Speaker – Stephanie Lipsky, a parent of two children who attended the Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island this summer 

And an extra special thank you to: 

Event Chairman Larry Levine and Event Co-Chairman Michael Faltischek 

We look forward to another fantastic outing in 2022, date to follow soon!

Sunrise Association: Eighth Annual Dare to Dream to be Hosted by Ken Jeong on November 3, 2021 

Ken Jeong  (The Masked Singer, Dr. Ken & Crazy, Rich Asians) will host the Eighth Annual Dare to Dream Benefit on November 3rd , 2021. Dare to Dream is a virtual evening of fun with fantastic entertainment, an exciting silent auction, inspiring camper stories, and special surprise guests as we Dare to Dream bigger than ever before!  Harriet and Jimmy Berg will be honored for their generous gifts of time and resources, and their deep commitment to the thousands of children and families served by the Sunrise Association. The Bergs were first introduced to the Sunrise Association as it prepared to launch Horizon Day Camp in Baltimore. As an owner of the aptly named Sunrise Toyota dealerships in New York, Jimmy introduced Toyota to the Sunrise Association in 2014, creating a unique giving opportunity both for his dealership and his customers.  Jimmy joined the Sunrise Association Board in 2015 and successfully chaired the organization’s capital campaign to build the Louis & Gertrude Feil Sunrise Association Headquarters.  

Registration is free and numerous sponsorship opportunities are available.  Invite your friends, family and colleagues to Join you and watch Dare to Dream, streaming at 7:30 PM EST on  www.daretodreamforsunrise.org and the Sunrise Association Facebook and YouTube channels.  

Dare to Dream Honorees: Harriet and Jimmy Berg
Dare to Dream Host: Ken Jeong

2021 SunriseWALKS–Pearl River Event Is BACK & IN-PERSON 

We are thrilled to hold our SunriseWALKS – Pearl River event in-person this year after being virtual in 2020, and even more delighted it will be hosted on the spectacular grounds of Camp Ramaquois in Pomona (30 Mountain Road) on Sunday, October 17th.  Pre-event activities start at 9am; walk and opening ceremonies at 10am with the fall foliage serving as nature’s beautiful backdrop. Like all of our amazing walk events, it is open to the public and we encourage families to come walk with us and meet some of our incredible campers.  

The summer of 2022 will mark our 10th year in Pearl River bringing back the joys of childhood to area children with cancer and their siblings. This year’s SunriseWALKS event is our sixth annual and our most ambitious walk ever! With the support of community partners such as Camp Ramaquois and national/local businesses, we have a fantastic celebration planned. Lace up your sneakers, bring a blanket (for our bagged-breakfast picnic) and join our campers for an incredible morning. 

It is not too late to register, donate or volunteer your time! 

The health and safety of our participants is our top priority, and we will be following all local, state and CDC guidelines. To learn more about this magical day, please visit www.sunrise-walks.org/pearlriver

As Always…Nothing is going to stop us…WE WALK SO THEY CAN SOAR!

Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island: Long Time Supporter, Long Island Real Estate Group (LIREG), Gives Gift for Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island’s Music Garden 

The Sunrise Association is very grateful for the long-time support of the Long Island Real Estate Group (LIREG). In 2015, their gift led to the construction of the Music Garden at the Long Island camp. The oversized instruments in the Music Garden offer campers a lot of fun as well as the ability to express themselves through music. In 2021, LIREG has once again given Sunrise a generous donation. This $30,000 gift will be used to add pour and play flooring on the path to the Music Garden, add a new musical element and update the garden surrounding the space. We look forward to continuing to partner with LIREG on other projects in the future! 

Sunrise Association:  The Dorothy and Irving Ross Sunrise Studios 

Thanks to The Dorothy and Irving Ross Sunrise Studios, the Sunrise on Wheels team has added an exciting virtual component to its hospital outreach services.  

Sunrise on Screens is a fun and quick entertainment series offering music, dance, crafts, S.T.E.A.M., and lots of fun entertainment, hosted by our staff, counselors, volunteers, donors, families and the community.  

Wheels Up!  is an entertaining show where travel, arts and games come together in an entertaining video program for patients in hospitals and at home. Partnering with American Airlines, Wheels Up! takes children on a weekly flight to exotic and interesting destinations. After their flight lands, they continue on their thematic adventure by creating do-it-yourself crafts with our young craft “specialists”. Each program ends with a fun and fast trivia game: 10 questions/4 answers.  This amazing program is airing in 25 hospital and medical facilities across the country… with more hospitals coming on board each week.  And, to round out the travel experience, kids are enjoying our special Passport kits, which are shipped directly to hospitals. This enables children to journal their travels around the world with Wheels Up!/Sunrise Association/American Airlines. What fun!  
 
Both programs can be found on our Sunrise Studios app (iOS: https://apple.co/3r9tGvL Android: https://bit.ly/39svhGU) as well as on our YouTube Sunrise Association channel.

Back row l to r: Jordan Wynn, Ashton Kluttz, Tristan Travitz, Brett Hallerman, Front row l to r: Maddox Kelly, Allison Lavelle

Aurora Day Camp and Atlanta United FC Team Up to Kick Childhood Cancer 

Prior to the Atlanta United FC soccer match on September 15thAurora Day Camp campers Gabi and Maddox participated in the annual Conquer Kids program, interviewing celebrity goalkeeper Brad Guzan on broadcast television! Gabi and Maddox learned lots of cool things about the goalkeeper, such as his favorite toy is a soccer ball, and Maddox even got some professional advice for his soccer-playing older brother, who is currently rehabbing an ACL injury. You can watch the full interview here: https://fb.watch/8iWHhXbb-m/.

Gabi and Maddox’s match day experience follows Atlanta United FC’s announcement that, in honor of the life and legacy of one of Aurora’s own campers, the Conquer Kid program has been renamed the Owen Klemme Conquer Kids (OKCK). Aurora is honored to be chosen as the official OKCK partner in Owen’s memory, and staff members enjoyed attending the match in support of Gabi, Maddox, and OKCK. Thank you Atlanta United FC, and Vamos ATL! 

Maddox Kelly, Gabi Castellanos, Brad Guzan
L to R: Dori Bishop and Tom Kelso

Horizon Day Camp-Baltimore: Summer Dreams Concert Series 
 
Dori Bishop and Tom Kelso hosted a lovely reception to benefit Horizon Day Camp as part of the Summer Dreams Concert Series. Dori and Tom’s beautiful home was a spectacular backdrop for an evening of hospitality and inspiration. Event attendees collectively fulfilled a $25,000 matching gift challenge that The Kahlert Foundation initiated surrounding the Summer Dreams campaign. Dori and Tom welcomed guests with remarks along with messaging from Horizon Day Camp’s Executive Director, Mark McElrath, and Horizon’s Medical Director, Yoram Unguru, M.D., but the Ellwood family arguably delivered the most moving messages – sharing how much of a blessing Horizon Day Camp and Sunrise Association continues to be for their family. Horizon extends special thanks to Dori and Tom for hosting and all attendees for learning more about Horizon Day Camp, while supporting our work so generously. 

L to R: Horizon campers Stella and Nora Ellwood

Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island: The 2021 Glen Head Fall Boutique, Cards & Luncheon  

The Glen Head Fall Boutique, Cards & Luncheon took place in-person on Tuesday, September 21st at the Glen Head Country Club. The day included cards and games, boutique shopping, lunch, and even a kickboxing class. The place was abuzz with women enjoying the day in support of Sunrise, and everyone was clearly happy to be together.  

Led by Chairs Allison Fine, Elyssa Harris, Bonnie Katz, Friends of Sunrise Event Co-Chair Michelle Morgenstern, and a committee of Glen Head members, the event was a wonderful success – we surpassed our event goal and set an event record! We raised a GRAND TOTAL of over $50,000!  This event has raised a nine-year cumulative total of over $325,000! We are so proud of the ongoing success and support for the children of Sunrise year after year. We are grateful to all who played an important role in making this event so successful. A special thank you to our guest speaker Kathy Gallardo who shared her family’s beautiful Sunrise story.   

Next year we will be marking the 10-year anniversary of The Glen Head Fall Boutique and we look forward to a special celebration!