JORI opens security building and welcome center, honors 2 longtime volunteers

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WAKEFIELD – Camp JORI dedicated its new Security Building and Welcome Center, which includes meeting rooms for prospective families and staff coordination, office space, winter restrooms and enhanced security for the 72-acre, 28-building JORI campus.

More than 75 visitors attended the July 8 celebration, which marked the latest development on the JORI campus. Cantor Judy Seplowin and rabbinical student Ben Einsidler offered initial prayers.

Camp JORI President Emeritus Michael Schuster spoke about the history of JORI and its purchase of its current location, in the South Kingstown village of Wakefield, in 1999. JORI opened in Wakefield in the summer of 2003 and has continued to build camp facilities and infrastructure.

Schuster noted that while there were skeptics about whether JORI could make the transformation from a small camp on Clarke Road in Narragansett to a full overnight camp on 72 pristine acres, JORI demonstrated how much a small group of dedicated volunteers can accomplish.

Samuel Zurier, trustee of the Helene and Bertram Bernhardt Trust, spoke of the Bernhardts’ commitment to JORI and the importance of the summer camping experience. Zurier noted how children thrive and develop during summer camp.

The Bernhardt Foundation made the lead gift for the new facility, which was also supported by The Champlin Foundation, JORI board members and other longtime donors to the camp.

Current JORI President Rich Blank spoke of the late Mel Blake’s great dedication to JORI as a board member and long-time facilities committee chair. In this role, Blake oversaw many key building and maintenance projects at the camp.

The Security Building and Welcome Center, in particular, was Blake’s pride and joy, Blank said, adding that Blake worked with his close friend and JORI supporter Don Swanson, the architects and the tradesmen to ensure its successful completion. JORI has honored Blake’s contributions by dedicating a memorial garden at the welcome center to him.

Robert Stolzman, past JORI president, spoke of longtime volunteer Paul Segal’s contribution to Camp JORI. For decades, Segal nearly single-handedly ran JORI’s financial-aid program, reviewing every application for camperships, meeting with families and recommending financial aid. To recognize this, the JORI board has created the Paul Segal Scholarship Fund.

For more information about Camp JORI, go to www.campjori.com or contact Kara Liberman at kara@campjori.com or
732-690-0034.

 

Submitted by Camp JORI