Michele Vernon - Executive Director of Sunrise Day Camp
for Children With Cancer
We are delighted that Michele Vernon has joined the JCC as Director of
Sunrise Day Camp. Most recently serving as Assistant Director of the JCC
of Central New Jersey, Michele comes to us as a seasoned professional
with over 25 years of experience in the JCC and camping fields.
 "This
position utilizes all of the skills I have honed during my professional
career," says Michele. As a camp director of two overnight camps,
(Cleveland JCC's Camp Wise and Young Judaea's Camp Tel Yehudah),
and as a supervisor of three JCC day camps, Michele brings a solid understanding
of the important role that camp plays in a child's life. "I
have a strong desire to bring the excitement and joy of a camp experience
to children with cancer. They deserve to have a summer of fun in a safe
and well planned camp environment where they won't feel different."
As the Assistant Director of three different JCCs, Michele has been responsible
for event fundraising, solicitations and grant writing, all core skills
essential to creating a camp that children can attend free of charge.
"I have always wanted to be in a position to make new and exciting
programs come to fruition. I think of myself as a creator, not a presider."
This is evident by her receiving a JCCA Program of the Year Award for
developing a Baby Fair for the Houston JCC and in her being a founder
of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Cleveland amongst a myriad of other
programs and projects over the years.
Michele earned her undergraduate degree at Lehman College, followed by
her master's degree at Yeshiva University, Wurzweiler School of
Social Work. She recently moved to West Hempstead where her husband is
the Rabbi at the JCC of West Hempstead. They have four children, two of
whom are married.
"I have a strong belief in JCC's, summer camp and kids. I
am thrilled to be able to combine my passion and profession in working
to create an outstanding summercamp experience at Sunrise Day Camp."
You can contact Michele at mvernon@friedbergjcc.org
Bonnie Flatow - Director of Hospital and Community Relations
 Bonnie Flatow has been an integral part of the development and growth of Sunrise Day Camp even before a single child was registered. A medical technologist at the renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and mother of three, Bonnie began her work with Sunrise as a volunteer helping to guide us through the maze of hospitals and medical issues. Bonnie served for two years as chairperson of Sunrise Day Camp, constructing the advisory board, implementing innovative programming such as Sunshine from Sunrise (and personally visiting many of our children when they were hospitalized), and is now pioneering the brand new position of Director of Hospital and Community Relations. Bonnie serves as liaison to all 11 hospitals involved with Sunrise, reaches out to new medical and respite institutions to form new affiliations, coordinates hospital visits to children and works directly with parents. She is now coordinating the new Sunrise on Wheels project, which brings Sunrise Day Camp directly into outpatient clinics. Bonnie has twice visited Israel as part of the team working to build a Sunrise-Israel Day Camp, and coordinates communication with so many in our Sunrise community, including overseeing and publishing this newsletter. But of all of these accomplishments, perhaps Bonnie is best known for her warm smile, her engaging personality, and the genuine love and caring that she brings to each and every child whom
she meets.
You can contact Bonnie at bflatow@friedbergjcc.org
Amy Pilott - Assistant Camp Director, Walkathon and Team Sunrise Coordinator
 Sunrise Day Camp is so pleased to welcome Amy Pilott as our new Assistant Camp Director and coordinator for Team Sunrise and the Walk To Help The Sun Rise.
Amy began her camping career at Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village at the young age of 10, and has attended summer camp every year since. Amy is extremely dedicated to camping, and believes it is an experience that every child should have and one that every child should be entitled to, no matter their situation in life.
Beginning in high school and continuing throughout college, Amy worked for a variety of Friedberg JCC youth programs, both in Oceanside and in Merrick. After graduating from Hofstra University in 2005, she began working full time at Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village as the Recruitment & Development Director. After four-plus years working at both the camp and the Samuel Field Y in Queens, Amy now rejoins the Friedberg JCC full-time in her new capacity with Sunrise Day Camp.
You will recognize Amy by her warm smile and her enthusiasm for everything she does! Feel free to contact her at apilott@friedbergjcc.org
Lindsay Mauer - Coordinator of Year-Round Programs and Transportation Services
 Ready with open arms and a warm smile, Lindsay Mauer is the first person campers look for as they arrive daily at our programs. Camp parents know her as the Transportation Coordinator. Lindsday makes it possible for children, no matter where they live, to attend camp and year-round programs.
Seeking and coordinating programs that will be exciting and engaging for our campers, Lindsay coordinates year-round programs, monthly Sunrise Sundays, and Sunrise Fun-days during school vacations.
Lindsay's compassion and love of children is evident when she is in the hospitals as a coordinator of Sunrise on Wheels. Through this hospital-based program, she oversees a year-round volunteer corps that plays with children awaiting treatment in the outpatient clinics, helping to ease their anxiety and concerns.
A graduate of Towson University with a BS in Family Studies and Community Development, she has worked with children with varied backgrounds including those with behavior and learning issues.
As a staff member of summer camps for the past nine years, she brings her love of camp and its potential to the children of Sunrise Day Camp. As a former staff person at the Mid Island Y JCC, she understands the important role a JCC can play in the life of a family. No matter what role she is filling, her innate skills, compassion and warmth shine thru as she recognizes and responds to each child's individual needs and makes them feel special.
You can contact Lindsay at lmauer@friedbergjcc.org
 Dr. Mark Atlas - Medical Director
An old friend in a new role, Dr. Mark Atlas joins the Sunrise team as our Medical Director. A pediatric oncologist at Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York (formerly Schneider Children's Hospital), he is a graduate of Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Dr. Atlas has been at camp for the last two years volunteering his time working with our medical staff and children. Campers and staff alike remember him this past summer during our Luau week where he got right into the spirit of camp, sporting his colorful Hawaiian shirt. His warm and engaging personality, combined with his acute medical knowledge and concern for our campers, makes all who work with him feel secure and comfortable. His philosophy is "When my patients run to hug me at camp, it's an amazing feeling. It's what we do is all about."
More Staff Information Coming Soon! |
