Sunrise Magic Makers Podcast

What if camp could come to the kids who can't come to camp? In this episode, we sit down with Deanna Slade, Sunrise's Vice President of Camping Services, and Meredith George, a Child Life Specialist at Monroe Carroll Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, to introduce Sunrise H Camp, the organization's first ever in-hospital summer day camp. The "H" stands for Hope, Heali...

A parent once emailed Athena Levesque after a low-key March Madness game night on Zoom to say it was the first time she'd seen her son smile in a long time. That moment, not the celebrity guests or the Hollywood cameos, is what Athena points to when she explains why SunriseVX matters. As Director of SunriseVX, she runs a virtual camp that reaches kids from their homes, their cars on the way to...

Dr. Carolyn Fein Levy carries a story most pediatric oncologists do not. At age eleven, she was diagnosed with a malignant ovarian tumor. Today, she leads pediatric solid tumor care at Cohen Children's Medical Center, and she has been part of the Sunrise story since the very first summer in 2006. In this conversation, she shares why her mother became her "sunrise" long before a camp...

When Lucy’s younger sister Penny was diagnosed with leukemia at age eight, Lucy’s world shifted overnight. She went from sharing a bedroom with her sister to staring at a perfectly made, empty bed. At school, everyone in their small town seemed to know more about Penny’s diagnosis than Lucy did, and she didn’t have answers for the flood of questions. Then Lucy came to Sunrise Day Camp Long Island,...

Deanna Slade has spent nearly two decades watching Sunrise magic unfold, from the very first summers to today’s full-circle moments when former campers return as staff. She shares what “magic” really means at Sunrise: a place where children are seen as kids first, not patients, and where joy becomes something families carry home long after the camp day ends. Deanna also reflects on the real, measu...

In this deeply moving conversation, Bill Villafranco shares his remarkable journey from personal tragedy to profound impact. As trustee of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, Bill has been a transformative force in Sunrise’s growth, championing initiatives from new camp openings to meaningful scholarship programs. He reflects on the moment that changed his life, how he honors Virginia's legacy...

Steph has been part of Sunrise for 15 unforgettable summers. What began as a place of respite during her brother’s cancer treatment became a second home — filled with laughter, friendship, and healing. In this heartfelt conversation, Steph reflects on the early days of camp, the unique experience of being a sibling, and the moments that made her fall in love with Sunrise all over again — this time...

counselors and leaders, their story is a powerful reflection of what Sunrise is all about: transformation, connection, and purpose. In this episode, they share the magic of brotherhood, the trauma of a diagnosis, and the joy of returning each summer to give back what was once given to them. As they carry forward the legacy of lost friends and the love of a community that never gave up, Elijah and...

In this heartwarming episode, we meet Adriana, a camper at Sunrise Day Camp–Long Island, who opens up about her family’s journey after her younger brother was diagnosed with leukemia. She shares what it was like to watch her brother go through treatment, the loneliness she felt when her parents were often at the hospital, and how Sunrise became the place that brought her joy, confidence, and conne...

In this special episode, Sunrise Association CEO & President Arnie Preminger reunites with Deddy Paz—first camp director of Sunrise Israel and now lead researcher of the 2024 Sunrise Day Camps Impact Study—for a powerful conversation 15 years in the making. Deddy shares personal memories of launching Sunrise Israel and then unpacks the study’s groundbreaking findings: across seven psychosocial...

Welcome to Sunrise Magic Makers, the official podcast of Sunrise Association. In each episode, we sit down with the people who make the magic happen — from dedicated volunteers and visionary leaders to Sunrise alumni, campers, staff, and supporters — to explore the heart, hustle, and hope behind our mission: bringing back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings, always fre...

Guest: Libby – Health and Logistics Coordinator, Horizon Day Camp (Baltimore)  In this inspiring episode, Libby shares her heartfelt journey with the Sunrise Association, beginning as a counselor at Aurora Day Camp in Atlanta and now serving as the Health and Logistics Coordinator at Horizon Day Camp in Baltimore. She opens up about a life-changing connection with a camper that shaped her path tow...

Najma Zanelli never expected her family’s life to be touched by pediatric cancer. When her daughter Nyla was diagnosed, their world turned upside down — but so did everything again when they discovered Sunrise. In this powerful and personal episode, Najma opens up about navigating her daughter’s diagnosis while raising two daughters, Nyla and Samira, through unimaginable challenges. She shares how...

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Sami Tanenbaum, who has led Aurora Day Camp in Atlanta since its very first summer in 2017. Sami shares her emotional introduction to Sunrise, the spark that led her back to hands-on work with campers, and the powerful moments that have defined her journey. From chaotic lunch singalongs to quiet emotional breakthroughs, Sami reminds us what true camp mag...

Episode 2: Banking Time, Spreading Joy: Gary Raisig's Sunrise Story Guest: Gary Raisig, Commercial Banker & Corporate Champion for Sunrise Episode Summary: What started as a simple coffee meeting turned into a six-year journey of heart, hustle, and community for Gary Raisig. In this episode, Gary shares how a chance introduction to Sunrise sparked his passion for giving back — through inno...

Welcome to Magic Makers , the official podcast of Sunrise Association. In each episode, we sit down with the people who make the magic happen — from dedicated volunteers and visionary leaders to Sunrise alumni, campers, staff, and supporters — to explore the heart, hustle, and hope behind our mission: bringing back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings, always free of ch...