Dear LAJF Community,
LAJF and Camp Rising Sun are fortified by strong roots that stretch back 95 years. What began as a summer camp in 1930, is now a global movement that has grown generations of ethical leaders. We’ve seen how leadership often begins as a small seed. It grows from one moment when a young person sees themselves as more capable, compassionate, or confident in what they can offer the world. Our work is devoted to creating environments where these seed moments can sprout and flourish.
It’s because of the steady support of people like you that young leaders experience such profound growth through our Rising Sun programs. By making a gift to LAJF this season, you can ensure this legacy endures.
This past summer, our newest campers showed once again how transformative our programs are. Go to lajf.org/crsimpact95 to read the stories of 2025 alums: Anna-Mariia, Jayden, Jihyun, Kushagra, Malik, and Naysa.
“CRS is a place that quietly and powerfully changes you. It felt like meeting a version of me I hadn’t met before. It pushed me to reflect deeply and to meet a braver, more self-aware version of myself. What amazed me most was that we came from different cultures, beliefs, and stories, yet somehow we moved like one community.”
- Malik, Pakistan, CRS ‘25
What begins at CRS or TELE does not stop there. It grows, shaping how our alumni see themselves, the world, and their place in it.
95 years of inspiring young leaders is an extraordinary milestone, but what inspires me most is imagining what the next 95 will bring. It is incredible that a small camp in Upstate New York has become this far-reaching global network of change-makers. No matter where you go in the world, you’ll find someone whose life was impacted by Rising Sun.
Together, let's tend to the seeds of change, and nurture a strong, vibrant forest of leaders who are rooted in the values of community, connection, and compassion. Your gift this year matters so much to us and the upcoming generations.
Thank you for all that you do and wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season.
With immense gratitude,
Barrington A. Fulton Jr.
Executive Director, LAJF