Welcoming Harold Grinspoon Back to Camp Ramah!
Our Development Director Seth Finkle reports:
On a beautiful day at camp last week, we had the distinct honor of welcoming Harold Grinspoon and members of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation back to Ramah. Harold was joined by his wife Diane Troderman; Sarah Eisinger, director of JCamp 180; and Natasha Dresner, our JCamp 180 consultant.
Visits like this are always meaningful, but this one felt especially powerful: it gave us the opportunity to pause, look around, and recognize how much our camp community has grown, flourished, and deepened over time.
Harold’s generosity has been transformative for Ramah. Through his vision and deep belief in the power of Jewish camp, he has helped strengthen our facilities, broaden our sense of possibility, and inspire others to make their own meaningful investments in the future of camp. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s JCamp 180 has supported Jewish camps through matching grants, consulting, training, and resources, and has invested significantly in the long-term sustainability of Jewish camping across North America.
That support was especially vital during the early months of the pandemic. At a time when Ramah and so many other camps were facing profound uncertainty, Harold understood both the urgency of the moment and the enduring importance of Jewish camp. He was among the first to step forward with significant support, helping ensure that camp would not only survive that season of challenge, but emerge ready to continue shaping lives for years to come.
As Harold walked through camp during this visit, the impact of that partnership was visible everywhere. Every capital matching grant, every inspired gift, and every act of confidence in Ramah’s future has become part of the daily life of camp: in the spaces where campers gather, learn, play, pray, sing, and build friendships that last well beyond the summer.
What moved us most was hearing Harold reflect on the journey. He spoke about how pleased he was by what he saw, how far camp has come since his first visit, and how clearly he could see the results of years of shared commitment. His visit reminded us that philanthropy at its best is not only about buildings or grants; it is about relationships, trust, and the patient work of building something meaningful together over time. Harold told us:
“You’ve come a long way and should be very proud of what you have accomplished.”
We are proud and we are grateful. Grateful for Harold’s extraordinary generosity, grateful for the leadership and partnership of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and grateful for every person whose belief in Ramah has helped make this growth possible.
Most of all, we are inspired. Harold’s visit was a reminder that the story of Ramah is a shared journey, one built summer by summer, relationship by relationship, and gift by gift. Because of partners like Harold, our camp is stronger today—and better prepared to continue nurturing joyful, vibrant Jewish life for generations to come.
