By Michael J. Lewis

So many companies and businesses suffered mightily during the last two years of COVID-19.

But for Wheatley Heights-based Sunrise Day Camp, now in its second decade of giving childhood cancer patients the joy and normalcy of summer camp, the Covid scourge offered an opportunity to branch out and even expand its already-impressive offerings.

Sunrise closed all of its camps in March 2020 and pivoted, like so many organizations did, to offering as much video and Zoom programs as it could.

Sunrise developed programs like Sunrise on Screen, which were videos that connected Sunrise counselors to campers and were sent to directly to them, and Sunrise also created, thanks to a $1 million grant, Sunrise Studios, which allowed the camp to create an in-house production team that developed an app and creates other specialized programming, including Wheels Up, a travel program campers could watch.

“All of a sudden we’re reaching areas that we’ve never been in before,” said Senior development director Bonni Gould. “We have 24 hospitals around the world that are affiliated with Sunrise Day Camp, but now with our videos we were in 50 hospitals. We’re entertaining them and giving them a piece of Sunrise, and learning about us.”

Sunrise also has expanded its camps during Covid; once camp resumed last summer they were at eight locations, and in 2022 expect to have a total of 10, with new camps opening in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

“We thought we might have a large dropoff of numbers last year, but we did not,” Gould said. “Kids came with masks and we were very careful with our activities and it was so great to have them back.”

A child never ages out of Sunrise Camps; if they eventually outgrow many of the camp activities, they can become counselors. All Sunrise camps have wellness centers staffed by pediatric oncologists, and all medical needs are taken care of.

“A lot of our campers come to camp straight from chemo treatments, so some of them are tired and need some rest,” Gould said. “But for these kids, who have been told “no” they can’t do things for so long while they’ve been sick, to be able to be outside and do so many activities, is just very rewarding.”

Next month, on May 12, Sunrise is holding its annual fundraising dinner, a cocktail party and auction. It’s the first one in person since 2019 and will honor three outstanding volunteers who have tirelessly worked to help publicize and support the organization, which has raised $10 million since its founding in 2007.

Kenny and Denise Faltischek have been involved in Sunrise since its founding in 2007, with Kenny currently serving as a vice chair of the Sunrise Association Board of Directors. He and Denise have raised more than $1.6 million for Sunrise through their Sunrise in the City event.

“From Day 1 we were blown away by Sunrise, and their ability to touch such an unmet need among these kids and families,” Kenny said. “What we’ve seen consistently is when a kid is diagnosed with cancer, so much attention is focused on the medical side, and not as much on the emotional side. And Sunrise does such a wonderful job helping with the children’s emotions, and those of the family as well.”

Added Denise: “To see how Sunrise has grown and expanded to other cities and communities, while keeping the quality of service and care exactly the same, has been wonderful. To see them be able to help so many more children is very rewarding.”

The May 12 Sunrise fundraising event will be held at Glen Head Country Club. Tickets are $250 per person, and tickets can be bought at the event website: https://one.bidpal.net/friends22/welcome