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Camp Wisers Live Wisely!

Boys Town Jerusalem:

Camper Ryan Singer acquired and sold Cleveland Gladiator Arena Football tickets and raised $2500 to bring American Football over to Boys Town Jerusalem, a boys home for 800  7th -12th grade boys in Israel. For Ryan's Bar Mitzvah, the entire Singer family went to Israel to deliver a full set of flag football equipment, including flags, belts, down markers, yard markers and about 20 footballs! Plus – a book of flag football rules! Ryan got to teach the boys himself how to play the game he loves and then they treated us to a wonderful celebration lunch with much songs and ruach! Touchdown for Ryan!

Ryan and the boys from Boys Town Jerusalem pose before heading out to play some football!

Haiti Relief:

Campers Rachel Rothschild and Megan Lebowitz started their very own fundraising drive at their elementary school to raise money to help those affected by the earthquake. They have spent their lunch and recess time working on the project and have so far raised $900! Talk about living wisely, way to go girls!

ABC News 5 recently covered Rachel and Megan's story. Click hereto read it!

Magen David Adom 5K Race:

On Sunday, October 25, Ben Sack led over 30 of his friends in running the Magen David Adom's 5K race. Magen David Adom, Israel's version of the American Red Cross, provides emergency and blood services to Israeli citizens soldiers. Ben and his friends raised over $1,000 for the cause. Ben ran the race with fellow campers Michael Wohl, Ben Weltman, Andrew Levy, Adam Kirsh, and Ian Newman. Awesome boys!

Ben and friends on race day!

Agahozo Shalom Youth Village:

Mara Berde, the 2008 & 2009 Judaics Director at Camp Wise, is currently spending the year in Rwanda volunteering at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. This village was started as a special project of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in response to the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The genocide left thousands of orphaned children and the village has created a place where children can "dry their tears" (Agahozo) and "live in peace" (Shalom). Mara currently works at the high school there and has a great group of girls she mentors! Go Mara!

Mara and the girls she mentors!

Camp Sizanani:

Past camp director Jodi Sperling volunteered in South Africa for two weeks in December of 2009 as a cabin counselor at Camp Sizanani (www.globalcampsafrica.com). Camp Sizanani (Zulu for “help each other”) serves disadvantaged children affected by the HIV/AIDS virus. Her cabin of 12-14 year-old girls loved hearing stories and seeing pictures of Camp Wise, and especially loved the Live Wise bracelets they all now wear (see below).

Jodi and her campers in South Africa!

Live Wise bracelets made it all the way to South Africa!

Summit County Humane Society / Cleveland Animal Protective League:

Chalutzim camper Abigail Berk, a 3rd grader in Twinsburg, held a collection drive at her school over the month of October this past fall to benefit the Humane Society of Summit County and the Animal Protective League of Cleveland.  Abigail collected items that were requested from the wish lists of both shelters including food, cleaning and office supplies, treats, and more. Abigail collected, sorted, and delivered two full van loads of supplies for the animals! 

Abigail and some of the items she collected for the animal shelters

Tell us how YOU are living wisely!

Email jpost@mandeljcc.orgto share your story.