Harold Grinspoon Visits Camp Ramah New England!
Early this month, we were thrilled to host a visit to Camp Ramah New England by Harold Grinspoon and Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, the President of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. They were accompanied by Sarah Eisinger and Natasha Dresner, the director and a consultant with jcamp180, the Jewish camping arm of the Foundation.
Harold (who turns 94 this week!) is an extraordinarily generous philanthropist who has a real passion for Jewish camping. For over twenty years, he has invested tens of millions of dollars in Jewish non-profit camps, including millions of dollars in Ramah New England (Ramah). We are grateful for Harold’s exceptional generosity, which has been central to strengthening Ramah and inspiring others to make their own investments in Ramah. Harold’s investment in Ramah in the early months of the pandemic was especially notable; he understood the challenges that Ramah and other camps faced and was the first to step up with significant support. In addition, each year, the Foundation provides scholarships to dozens of Ramah campers through its western Massachusetts and PJ Library scholarship programs.
We were delighted to show off all the many ways that camp has improved since Harold first visited Camp Ramah New England about twenty years ago. During their visit, Harold and Winnie talked with younger campers during a visit to their bunk; heard about the Nivonim leadership experience and enjoyed the edah’s performance of the Miriam Dance (danced to Debbie Friedman’s Miriam’s Song); spoke with many of our staff members, including Chef Manager Sean Carey; and visited many of our newest buildings, including the Chadar Ochel (Dining Hall). Harold and Winnie lit up when speaking to our campers about their Ramah experiences.
Todah Rabbah to Harold and Winnie. Ramah has been transformed by their leadership and philanthropy.