In this heartwarming episode of the Crazy Wealthy Podcast, Jonathan Blau sits down with Arnie Preminger, founder and CEO of the Sunrise Association, the organization behind Sunrise Day Camps, the world’s first full-summer day camps for children with cancer and their siblings.

Arnie shares the unlikely story of how a Paul McCartney concert sparked the idea, the challenges of creating a camp model that keeps kids close to critical medical care, and how the program has grown from one camp on Long Island to a global movement across the U.S. and Israel.

 IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction

02:05 Arnie explains the unique model of Sunrise Day Camps for children with cancer

06:52 How a Paul McCartney concert inspired the creation of Sunrise Organization

12:44 Jonathan shares his personal experience volunteering at Sunrise camps

14:39 What motivates Arnie to keep expanding Sunrise

18:09 Fundraising growth from $750k to $14 million annually

21:55 Impact of visiting the camp on donors

24:21 Closing remarks and how to support Sunrise Association

25:04 Recap of the episode with Jon and Amy

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Sunrise Day Camps provide a unique day camp experience for children with cancer, allowing them to return home each night—crucial for those undergoing treatment.
• Childhood cancer affects families across all economic levels, with about 35% of families in Sunrise programs near the poverty line.
• The organization has grown from raising $750,000 in its first year to needing $14 million annually, expanding to 13 physical camps and one virtual camp across the US and Israel.
• Volunteers and donors play a crucial role in Sunrise's success, with personal connections driving significant fundraising efforts.

RESOURCE LINKS 

Fusion Family Wealth - Website

Johathan Blau - LinkedIn

Arnie Website

Arnie LinkedIn

GUEST BIOGRAPHY: 

Arnie Preminger has been involved in not-for-profit organizations for the past 41 years, having begun his career as a youth worker and camp counselor in the Bronx in 1976. For 29 of those years, Arnie served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Friedberg JCC. During that time, he presided over the expansion of the agency from a $120,000 operating budget to its current incarnation as the only full-service JCC on the south shore of Long Island with annual operations totaling over twelve million dollars. 

Please click below for important disclosure information. https://www.fusionfamilywealth.com/disclosures

ABOUT THE HOST: Jonathan is the President and CEO of Fusion Family Wealth, founded in 2013 to focus on behavioral finance and guide clients toward rational financial decisions. A sought-after speaker in wealth management, Jonathan previously held senior roles in tax and estate planning at Arthur Andersen. He has a BS in Finance, an MS in Taxation, and an MBA in Accounting. Based in Long Island, Jonathan is active in the local business community, supports causes like the Middle Market Alliance and Sunrise Day Camp, and enjoys boating with his family.

A copy of Fusion's current written disclosure brochure discussing our advisory [00:00:15] services and fees is available upon request or at www.fusionfamilywealth.com.

And more to share fresh perspectives on making sound decisions that maximize your wealth. And now here's your host.[00:01:00]

And, uh, the organization was founded to, uh, to support the [00:01:30] family, uh, structure, not just the child, child with cancer. And, uh, I'm not gonna go beyond that. I'm gonna let Arnie, uh. Elaborate on all of that, but Arnie, thanks again for joining us today. Appreciate it. Glad to be here. Yeah, thank you. So, [00:01:45] um, so why don't we start by talking about, uh, a little bit about the, the organization itself and, and its mission and, and then we can after that go into, uh, over more deeply about how it evolved, how you, uh, came up with [00:02:00] the I idea for it and successfully implemented it, uh, to where it is today.

Uh, that have replicated the model that we [00:02:30] created, which was day camping for kids with cancer. So basically the difference is they. Get picked up at home in the morning, they come back home at night. Um, why is that important for children with cancer? Because especially for children who are young, or [00:02:45] children who have been re recently diagnosed, they're not going to go to sleep away camp.

And we'll talk about what that's all about. And you know, w why it's, um, so interesting and so difficult. Um, but. We've expanded over the years to in-hospital programs. So we [00:03:30] have staff that is, um, in 35 hospitals around the country now, uh, working with children as you're sitting in waiting rooms when they're bedside, when they're getting their chemo, et cetera, to distract them and to, to engage them [00:03:45] in ways that they're not thinking about the fact that they're, you know.

Bringing joy and a sense of normalcy back to children with cancer [00:04:15] and also their siblings because their siblings are affected by this, uh, in a significant way as well. And one of the things that we learned when we were first setting up the camp, uh, the first camp back in 2006, was that the siblings go through so much emotional [00:04:30] pain and so much emotional strain that.

Jonathan Blau: Right. And, and I know also it's important, uh, not just for the siblings, but I guess because these are underprivileged families and the, the parents are limited in their resources, not just financially, but time-wise, [00:05:00] so that they can't, I guess, by, by, uh, allowing the siblings to, to become part of the, um, part of the experience free up, I guess, more time for the, uh, for the parents to do what they need to do.

Arnie Preminger: Yeah.

Arnie Preminger: You know, when you deal with, with something like childhood cancer, whatever economic strata you're in, you're going to be impacted financially. Um, and so about 35% of, of, or the families that come [00:05:30] to one of our programs are, you know, sitting at like 200% above the poverty line.

But even on the higher end, um, you know, people who have been comfortable in life, suddenly you're, you're dealing with. [00:06:00] You know, childhood cancer, and again, it's curtailing of work. It's experimental treatments that aren't covered by insurance. It's deductibles, it's copays, it's traveling. You know, it's the impact on the entire family unit.

Jonathan Blau: So Arne, um. In, in terms of the, uh, the catalyst for the birth of this [00:06:30] organization, what, what, what brought the idea to you?

Arnie Preminger: So what had happened was, I mean, you're right, I'm, I'm a huge Beatles fan, you know, grew up in that era. And, um, what, what had [00:07:00] happened was that I'd gotten a notification, uh, back in 2005 that Paul McCartney was gonna be playing at Avery Fisher Hall, and I was able to secure a single ticket for it. Um, you know.

These are [00:07:30] sleepaway camps. Um, they're called Serious Fund Network now, but they used to be called the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. And these, these are sleepaway camps for children with. Serious chronic illnesses. Um, and it had begun with cancer many, many years [00:07:45] ago, and so it kind of had in my head that, you know, this was primarily for children with cancer.

And you could just see the joy on these children's faces. And they were even reading letters from parents, you know, who had written, even parents from children who had passed [00:08:30] and who had spoken about, you know, um, what their child's experiences had been, how much joy it had brought them, you know, um, uh, during the most difficult times.

And so I got interested and I started looking to see, you know, in the rudimentary Google that was available in 2006, I started looking to see who was doing summer day camps for children with cancer. And I only [00:09:15] found two. They were both one week programs, one before the summer and one after the summer because they were basically using campgrounds that were being used for other things.

They'll stay there for a week and then you fly them home. But with [00:09:45] day camps, you have to have, um, a critical mass of children with the same illness in an area where there are enough kids that you can. Pick them up, get them home within an, you know, get them up to camp within an hour's driving time, then get them home at the end of the day.[00:10:00]

But we were pretty scrappy and we thought this sounded like something that we could do. There were 13 hospitals within driving distance of where our campgrounds were. Um, 13 hospitals had pediatric [00:10:30] oncology units and we thought maybe this is something that we could do. And so we set out to do it. Um, we had to raise the money for it, you know, we had to put the IT together.

There are 13 physical camps [00:11:00] and one, uh, virtual camp. Uh, and so we are now, uh, you know, up and down the east coast from New York to Florida. We're in Chicago, we're in, uh, California. Uh, and we have three camps in Israel as well. Uh, that's, and, you know, [00:11:15] all of these camps are just thriving and, and, and they're doing wonderful work.

Well, I,

That I've never connected with, with the recipient of any champion that I've given. And it was just very touching. In fact, last month we went back again and, uh, I think we were, we were, uh, volunteering at the ping pong table, uh, to, to give the game to [00:12:00] those who didn't have a partner. But, uh, the way you guys do it, I mean, everything from the, obviously the, uh, the sanitary cloths everywhere and everybody making sure that the kids' environment is protected, but at the same time, bringing in outsiders too.

And he said it was about 40,000. They raised the first year, and we went a few months ago, a couple months ago, and this year they raised almost 600,000. Phenomenal. [00:12:45] Which, how many, how many kids, uh, get sent to camp from that? Uh, about 80 or so. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's, it's just incredible. Uh, Michael's a very special guy and, um.

And one of the main reasons is, is because, uh, it's a lot of reasons, but the main reasons is that because we, we. We, we use money to buy things, thinking those things are gonna [00:13:30] make us happy. A bigger car, a faster car, a bigger house, uh, whatever it might be. And, and those things never make us happy. 'cause what the brain is craving is not the bigger house or the bigger car.

They, they start a business, it's a rush and they don't wanna do another business [00:14:00] living. But, but from my perspective, that's. That's not likely what motivated you as a CEO and entrepreneur in, in a real sense, um, to, to found this kind of organization. Uh, so I want you to talk a little bit about, I, is there [00:14:15] that kind of a, a dopamine rush, you know, that gets you going every, every day, every week that you're excited to see the good that you're doing for all of these, uh, children and families firsthand?

Arnie Preminger: it. It's a, it's a great question and there are so many parts to an answer on that.

Uh, this is, it's, it's an, it's an incredible, uh, feeling. Uh, to know that you have a hand in putting something like this together and making sure that it [00:15:15] happens every year over and over again. Uh, when we bring doctors out to the camps or nurses out to the camps who have seen these children in the hospitals, they say that they don't recognize them.

They're, they're outdoors. You know, they're eating [00:15:45] ice cream. They're doing all the things that kids are supposed to do during the summer that got disrupted in their lives by something that they had no control over. And so if we have an opportunity to give them back some of that control, or to take some of that control away, if [00:16:00] you will, from the cancer and move it back into the childhood.

I know you talk about, you know, um, uh, you know, what wealth really [00:16:30] means and, and you know, how you invest and, and how you, you know, for us it's like, how do, it's not just how you invest your money. How do you invest your time? How do you invest your thinking? And, um. To be able to make a difference for these people who feel [00:16:45] abandoned by life.

Um, that's the best rush of all, you know, just, just to see the [00:17:15] smiles and this is not what these children live with ordinarily. Um, and it's just an amazing thing.

Uh, we, we just do it, Amy and I just do it out of the love and the evolution of our involvement and, and, and so forth. [00:17:45] It just naturally has been happening, but I'm just curious to know if there's a particular, um. Approach that you guys take, because I know how successful you've been. Uh, what you told me the first year you raised about 750,000 and now, [00:18:00] now, uh, it's about 14 million a year that we have to raise now.

Right. I mean, that's a, that's a huge jump. So how, how do you perpetuate that? Um.

Um, but, you know, the, the best way that we can, you know, continue to [00:18:30] succeed is to keep on, you know, um, connecting to more and more people who have capacity to give and to just give them. You know, let them have an opportunity to learn about us and to see whether or not this would be something that they care about.

You know, so the question is, well, how do you choose a charity? And, and, you know. Um, how do you want to give? For us, there's a, you know, first of all, we're in so many people's backyards. You can come and see exactly what your money is being used [00:19:15] for. And you can see the joy that you're putting on these children's faces.

And it's because of our transparency and it's because of our governance and it's how we, you know, operate and our financials are, you [00:19:45] know, clear and transparent and strong. But. The, the big thing is that we never set out to build just a camp for children with cancer. What we set out to build was the best camp.

Um, and I think that's what people see. It's that commitment to excellence that we have. It's the commitment to the children and the families that we have. It's the way that we, you know, manage our organization, our financials, our board of directors that's highly involved, et cetera. [00:20:30] You know, and we have tens of thousands of people who donate, you know, on different levels.

And I think everybody can relate to that in some way. And, you know, we just want [00:21:00] to, you know, have the opportunity to engage more people. And, uh, and I think that, you know, the, the work that we're doing will speak for itself.

And, uh, you know, it changes. You see how it changes everything. Outlook of uh, uh. Just, just everything in general. Ability tell you. Tired all the time. Ability to work. Ability to, yeah. To stay positive. And so [00:21:30] we can only imagine for, for a child, but thankfully she's, she's fully recovered now and, uh, and doing well.

Uh,

Jonathan Blau: reason I ask is, is if you can get someone with the organizations or the foundations, you know this, I'm sure [00:22:15] intuitively, to come once at some point.

I think that would propel without even asking for anything. It does because it, Charlie does miss most

Well, as

Uh, we, we, you recently, uh, your co honoree was a family that I'm very close with, uh, one of the best families on Long Island that I know, [00:23:00] the Goodman family of Sherwood Lumber and mm-hmm. Um, uh, that, that's also, you're surrounding yourself not only with donors, but good people. Um, but tell me how people can, uh, can, can find out more about the organization and, and if they want to get involved and, uh, [00:23:15] add this to, to some of the legacy that we're helping them create for their family and, and, uh, all their endeavors.

How can they

We'd love to have a conversation with anyone who's interested on any level of [00:23:45] helping us. Um, you know, we rely on, on people from all stratas and all economic stratas. And, uh, there are all, all sorts of opportunities for people to engage with us and we would love it. So www sunrise association.org.

And, uh, and prior to your, uh, initiative, I guess, uh, uh, didn't have the quality of life. Uh, given their misfortune [00:24:15] that they have today. So thanks again.

Arnie Preminger: I appreciate it very much. Good to be with you. Yep,

Jonathan Blau: you too. Take care. Thank you, uh, all for joining us on today's edition of Crazy Wealthy Podcast. Uh, it's one that's, uh, very meaningful to me personally.

Uh, so anyway, till next time, uh, you can find us on all your favorite podcast venues and our, uh, website, crazy wealthy podcast.com, [00:25:00] as well as our fusion family wealth.com website. Stay tuned to hear. Amy's calling for the recap of today's episode.

Amy Blau: Hi honey.

Jonathan Blau: Hello there honey. How are you?

I think we're nearing the end of summer as of today, so another season down.

Jonathan Blau: Well, I had a good summer with you. This was one of the better ones. Right.

Jonathan Blau: You feel exactly the same way the, you had a good summer with me. Right.

Feel summer with me is a great summer. Exactly.

Jonathan Blau: Yeah, Arne Preminger. So it was great to have him on the podcast. He's the founder and the [00:26:00] CEO of Sunrise at day camps and it was a great story 'cause I really didn't know the full story of what led to the founding and why he was motivated to do it and, and all those kinds of things. So that, those are the kinds of things we talk about.

Jonathan Blau: That's [00:26:30] right. So he's a huge Beatles fan, and he saw that Paul McCartney was gonna be appearing at Avery Fisher Hall, which he was really excited about because it's an intimate setting that went to the box office and bought the tickets.

He really somehow in his head got the idea that this would, this would be something great in the form of a day camp for [00:27:15] kids with cancer. And so the whole thing is, is that kids with cancer, right? It's different than some other chronic illnesses. They need to be close to medical care all the time. Right?

It has to be an [00:27:45] hour from the camp, get you home. And so it was a logistical, like he called Perfect Storm, to find a place where you can have all the hospitals, a lot of children with the same illness together. A lot of people who were willing to fund it. Donors, right? Who can afford it. [00:28:00] So they did that.

They weren't daunted by that task and they successfully, fortunately in New York,

Yep. She got very close to her campers and she even served as a general during their color war, so I remember that. And [00:28:30] one of our employees, Jeff. Blick, who a lot of you know, is a very big fundraiser for Sunrise. And he and his family have raised tons of money through Sunrise Walks. And then we have our,

Jonathan Blau: and Abby, Abby, his daughter has worked there for many years.

Jonathan Blau: about that for a second. Yeah, because I, I talk about the podcast

Amy Blau: as always. Yes.

The first year, I think it was about 750,000. You know how much they raised per year. Now

Amy Blau: it's gotta be well over a couple million dollars.

So really remarkable. That's

Jonathan Blau: I, I asked him that question and I told him most, he's an entrepreneur [00:30:00] in a real sense, right? Even though he didn't do this to make money. I said, what is it that motivated you and what motivates you every day? He said, when I look at the, he said, the, the getting more and more money doesn't motivate me, but.

Amy Blau: it's a very special person and he, he's lucky [00:30:30] that he has people like you in his world who try and make more and more money for other people so that they can give back to him as well.

Amy Blau: it's also that you've put them on a [00:31:00] plan where not only they can support themselves and their families and leave a legacy, but they can leave a lasting legacy.

To charities like Sunrise,

Amy Blau: you know what, that'll lead us into a good segue that the, the next podcast could possibly be with the Goodman family and hearing their story.

So I think we can leave it with that. What do you think?

Amy Blau: John, you should know after 30 something years, I don't need your permission. I take my own permission and you know, if you roll with the [00:31:45] punches, then you can stay on my train.

If not, find another train.

Jonathan Blau: You know, if you said something like that to me 30 years ago, I might as find another train, but the fair now is half of what I own. So I'm gonna stay on this train.

A happy beginning of fall and you know, if you can find it in your heart to look up [00:32:15] Sunrise Day Camp and you know, give back. It doesn't have to be money. It could be time, and it, it, it could be anything. So it's a great organization.

Amy Blau: No. I know we, they think we're doing something for them, but we get much more out of it, I think, at

Jonathan Blau: the end of the day. True. It's true. All right. Thank you, honey.

Jonathan Blau: Bye.

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