The Staten Island pickleball community rallied together for the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island earlier this month for a good cause: to support the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp, Staten Island.
Double Last Year’s Numbers
Sponsored by Mei Chi Liquors, the second annual charity pickleball tournament fundraiser surpassed all expectations, with 72 players attending, double the previous year’s attendance. In an atmosphere full of camaraderie and friendly competition, participants of all skill levels took part in matches in recreational, intermediate, and advanced categories.
Click here for more of our articles about pickleball fundraisers.
Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC, spoke enthusiastically to silive.com about Staten Island’s pickleball enthusiasts, noting, “Staten Island’s pickleball community is so passionate about their sport. It’s wonderful to see them transform their enthusiasm for the game into something that makes a powerful impact on the children with cancer that we serve at Sunrise Day Camp.”
Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp
Proceeds from the tournament were earmarked for the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island, a vital haven for children with cancer and their siblings. Under the auspices of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island and aligned with the Sunrise Association, the camp works hard to rekindle the joys of childhood for its young attendees.
Pickleball is often in the news for its cancer charity events. Read more here.
Unique in its offering, Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is the sole day camp of its kind in New York City. Each summer, it welcomes over 140 children from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and neighboring New Jersey to the picturesque setting of Staten Island Academy. There, they spend weeks swimming, playing sports, and cherished camp activities.
Understanding the financial strain imposed by a child’s chronic illness, Sunrise Day Camp extends its services free of charge, providing relief to families facing these distressing circumstances.
Looking ahead, Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island is already preparing for its next fundraiser, an annual walk and carnival scheduled for Sunday, June 9, at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds.
To register or donate, please visit sunrise-walks.org/statenisland.
Pickleball At The JCC
All JCC Pickleball takes place in the gym on the second floor of the Bernikow Building or the Avis Building Gym. Players are asked to bring their own paddle.
Open Play Pickleball is available to JCC WellPro or Wellness members only
Hours of play at the Bernikow building are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7am-9am and 9am-11am
Courts are open in the Avis building on Mondays, 5pm-7pm, 7pm-9pm and Thursdays, 5pm-7pm, 7pm-9pm.
All levels are welcome, and play is free.
You must sign up through the TeamReach App (limited availability).
Contact [email protected] for more information or to access the TeamReach private group/
To attend the group lessons “Skills and Drills” and “Beginner class,” you must sign up using the TeamReach App group code “5317077734b.”
These classes are for beginner to intermediate levels only and take place most Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8pm. Occasional classes also happen on Saturday afternoons.
The cost of classes for JCC WellPro Members is $35/person or $40 for JCC Wellness Members or Non-Members.
Private lessons are available upon request – contact [email protected] to find out more.
Use code 20CHUA for a 20% discount on paddles and equipment at Engage Sporting or discount code CRJCCMR for 5% off your purchases at Pickleball Central.
