We are excited to announce the publication of our Annual Report for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Please click here to read the report.

A letter from our Executive Director, Helene Mattera:

Dear Friends,

Thank you for being among thousands of people in our global community at the Louis August Jonas Foundation (LAJF) who believe in our vision of creating a more compassionate world for all.

A more compassionate world can become a reality when we invest in the talent and potential of young leaders across the globe. Through our Camp Rising Sun programs, youth have the opportunity to develop compassionate leadership values, build connections with peers across cultures, foster an appreciation for diversity, and expand their intellectual horizons and worldviews.

After attending our program, our alumni are inspired to step into positions of leadership and in turn, transform their communities for the better.

You are more than just supporters of LAJF and Camp Rising Sun — you are active members in a movement towards lasting social and societal change.

With our community of supporters like you by our side, our organization is able to innovate and evolve. Over the next five years, we will be pursuing a strategic plan to strengthen our core program, Camp Rising Sun, and launch new programs to reach additional populations. We want the unique educational experience that the youth in our program receive to be accessible to as many young people as possible.

For the more than 90 years that we have been in existence, we have seen how our model and approach to leadership development has changed the life trajectories of our campers. Alumni, like Sarah S. have learned invaluable lessons that they will take with them into all aspects of their lives:

“At Camp Rising Sun, I learned that compassionate leadership is personal. It’s sustainable, because it accounts for everyone. It’s important to embrace ourselves and each other, and it opens up possibilities that simply don’t exist within the rigid idea of isolated leadership.” - Sarah S., CRS ‘19 and ‘21

Again, we are so grateful that you have added your voices to our mission of developing compassionate leaders. The longevity and sustainability of our programs, which are focused on identity exploration, empathy-building, and perspective-shifting with youth from across the globe, depends on your continuous support.

Alumni and participants of Camp Rising Sun are working hard to impact the world, and with the skills they gain from our program they are set up to do just that.

In the face of so many pressing global issues, thank you for taking action to help inspire the leaders of tomorrow — to build a world we can all be proud of.

With gratitude,

Helene Mattera

LAJF Executive Director