On Sunday, June 2, members, staff, and supporters of Sid Jacobson JCC raised more than $40,000 for Camp Kehilla, SJJCC’s camp for children with special needs, during a fun afternoon of community flag football—just in time for the camp’s start on June 27.
Now in its third year, “Game on for Autism” was created by Jocelyn Wasserman (an SJJCC board member) and her husband, Jared, in response to their own family’s need to help others.
More than 300 people showed up to the Park At East Hills on a sunny Sunday afternoon to play tag football and support the Wassermans and other SJJCC families who want their children to have the camp experience of a lifetime by helping Camp Kehilla.
Some event partners included local businesses and groups such as Roslyn High School Autism Awareness Club, Long Island Flag Football League, Gino’s Pizza of Roslyn, Hal’s Ice Cream, and more.
The event began in 2022 as a creation of the Wassermans’ son, Justin, who was unable to complete a bar mitzvah project due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but wanted to give back to kids with special needs like his younger brother, who is on the autism spectrum.
Camp Kehilla is designed to make the typical camp experience accessible to those with various special needs. The camp, which operates on the grounds of the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds in Wheatley Heights, allows for a customized summer for children ages 5-21 years with developmental disabilities, Autism spectrum disorder, and/or other neurodevelopmental conditions.
