STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Island bocce and pickleball enthusiasts gathered for a tournament this week to support the borough’s Sunrise Day Camp, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings.
The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island hosted its annual Bocce & Pickleball Tournament on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Funds raised during the tournament benefit the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island.
The event began with open-play pickleball, which allowed players across various levels to enjoy friendly matches throughout the day.
In the afternoon, bocce players took to the outdoor courts for a fun yet competitive tournament. The winning team consisted of Paul M. Hamel, Solomon Chemo, and Russell Derector.
The event was co-chaired by Solomon Chemo, Cory Schifter, Brian Lincer and Lina Fang.
“We just finished up another amazing summer at Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, where we welcomed a record number of campers,” said Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC. “We are grateful to our chairs, sponsors, players and honorees for making this year’s tournament our most successful to date, and for helping to fund this incredible program for children with cancer and their siblings.”
Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is a member of the Sunrise Association, whose mission is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide.
Staten Island’s camp is the only day camp of its kind in New York City.
It welcomes more than 170 children from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan and New Jersey to its location on the campus of Staten Island Academy in Todt Hill each summer. The camp offers several weeks of swimming, sports, games and other camp activities.
The camp is offered free of charge.
During the event, the JCC honored Paul M. Hamel, Rhonda Ruggiero and the Staten Island Chamber of Business Guild III for their continued support of Sunrise Day Camp.
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