A personal year-end note from Evan Schwartz, CRS Alum and LAJF Board Member:
Dear LAJF Community,
I wanted to take a moment before year's end to share why Camp Rising Sun has remained such a meaningful part of my life, and why I continue to give back, year after year.
When I arrived at CRS as a teenager, I was used to environments where adults told you what to do and success meant running as fast as you could toward the next goal, usually without pausing to ask why.
Camp Rising Sun was the opposite of that.
CRS was the first place where adults weren’t there to direct us, they were there to encourage us to take responsibility for our own community, to think outside of the box, and to figure out how we could leave the place better than we found it. That shift was transformational for me.
It helped me start thinking like a leader, not just a student checking boxes.
And that’s why CRS is so hard to describe to outsiders. How do you explain a program that’s been going strong for 95 years, or the fact that adults who attended for one summer decades ago still come back to visit and volunteer? It’s because Camp doesn’t leave you. Every time I return, whether on the Visit Team or as a volunteer counselor, I’m reminded of the spirit that shaped me.
Two years ago, when I moved back to New York, one of the things I was most excited about was getting more involved with CRS and LAJF again. This fall, running the NYC Marathon while raising money for LAJF felt like a real homecoming. It brought everything full circle.
I’ve also been a monthly Sustainer donor since 2013. I took a philanthropy class in college, and one thing stuck with me: the number of donors is often just as important as the size of the donations. It shows belief in the mission. At the time, I signed up for a small recurring donation because I wanted CRS to count on me. That’s still true today, and I’d love to encourage more alumni and friends to think this way. When many of us give a little, our collective impact becomes huge.
Today, I’m excited to share that thanks to a few generous donors, all year-end gifts will be matched up to $10,000! If you’ve ever thought about giving back, this is the time to do it. Your gift of $5, $50, or whatever feels right, will be doubled. Donate now and double your impact:
CRS shaped the leader and person I’ve become. If it shaped you, or someone you care about, I hope you’ll join me in supporting the next generation of campers by making a gift before December 31.
Thank you for being part of the community that has meant so much to me, and continues to inspire thousands of young people around the world.
With gratitude and Rising Sun spirit,
Evan Schwartz (CRS '05-'07)
Board Member, LAJF