Fulfilling a Vision: Jewish Federation of Sarasota-ManateeFulfilling a Vision:

By Tom Reese | December 2023

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is the hub of one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in the United States and one of 146 members of The Jewish Federations of North America.

The organization offers programming and events where Jews of all ages can connect and engage with their culture in a safe, secure environment, and it is focused on building the foundation of a strong and vibrant Jewish future in Sarasota-Manatee.

After years of fundraising and careful planning, the Federation recently announced the opening of the Larry Greenspon Campus for Jewish Life and the first summer of Camp Yonnie, a long-awaited day camp for children of all faiths and backgrounds. 

What is Camp Yonnie? 

About 15 years ago, the Jewish Community Center was not able to remain operational had to close its doors, and when it did, its popular summer camp closed along with it. Since then, committed board members have been carefully planning and crafting its return alongside the redevelopment of its 32-acre campus. With the help of very generous donors, the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is poised to host the inaugural summer of Camp Yonnie in 2024. 

“This has been a long-time goal, even before I came along,” says Shepard Englander, CEO. “When the plans for the entire campus were envisioned in 2019, bringing the camp back was a top priority. With a new pavilion and athletic fields, Camp Yonnie will be the proper day camp that the community needs.”

 Ron and Geri Yonover and their family stepped forward with a leadership donation to launch Camp Yonnie.  

“Ron and Geri asked a simple question: ‘What do you need most?’” says Hermione Gilpin, Chief Development Officer. “Shep and I looked at each other and immediately said ‘We need a day camp.’ The community has been asking for this since the Jewish Community Center closed. And that started a series of deep conversations about creating a place where kids of all faiths can get to know and understand each other’s differences, because that leads to a more civil society.” 

Marcy and Michael Klein, as well as the Stone Family Foundation, also made a significant contribution to fund the camp pavilion. 

“The Klein and Stone families knew from their personal histories of having gone to camp themselves, along with their children and grandchildren, that there needed to be a central gathering space,” says Gilpin. “The pavilion will set the tone for the camp and serve as the hub for the start and end of days, for plays and performances, activities for when it’s rainy outside, and so much more.” 

In its inaugural year, Camp Yonnie will be an abbreviated camp, with spaces for up to 100 children. Camp Yonnie 2024 will be open to kindergarten through 3rd-grade students for four weeks, broken down into two two-week sessions from July 8-19 and July 22-August 2, 2024. Camp hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with before and after-care options available, extending the potential camp day from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. In 2025, the plan is to extend Camp Yonnie to eight weeks to create a full-fledged summer camp. 

“In Sarasota, we’re very fortunate to have specialty camps, like theater and arts camps, but there are very few general-purpose camps that welcome kids of any background and are focused on general interests,” says Englander. “Those specialty camps are also often not over the course of a full day. So, our goal is to be a safe and educational solution with early drop-offs and late pickups for all kinds of busy families.”

Attendees can expect traditional recreational day camp activities, such as arts and crafts, sports, outdoor play, and educational lessons, all inspired by traditional Jeiwsh values and Israeli culture while focusing on fostering life-long skills through a different lens.

The specific camp activities will be planned by a staff led by Youth & Family Engagement Coordinator, Shelly DeCesare. Shelly has a long history in youth education as a former principal of a middle school, as well as previous summer camps in the Sarasota area. 

“Because this is a full-range camp, kids will be able to find their passion and try things they’ve never done before,” says Englander. “They will build new lifelong friendships and meet kids from all different cultures and backgrounds.” 

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee will be hiring and training counselors and staff for the camp of all ages, including high school students and adults. Training will focus on areas of safety and the specific programs and activities that will be held throughout the duration of Camp Yonnie. 

Campus Redevelopment 

Beginning in 2019, the expansion to the campus, the Larry Greenspon Campus for Jewish Life, is nearing completion on McIntosh Road. The campus will fulfill a vital community need while aligning with one of the Federation’s primary goals: connecting Jews to Jewish life. The focus of the redevelopment project will be the front 16 acres of the 32-acre property. 

One of the major features of the new campus will be the Morganroth Event Center, featuring The Ora, Sarasota’s newest and most versatile event venue. The facility features state-of-the-art technology, acoustics, and lighting, with flexible spaces to host up to 1,000 people. The multi-use complex will also have nearly 400 well-lit parking spaces for ease of access and on-site security. The venue will welcome all members of the Sarasota community. 

Drs. Joel and Gail Morganroth have made a leadership contribution that ensured the successful completion of the campus.  The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Capital Campaign has now surpassed $27.5 million in total contributions since 2019.

David and Edie Chaifetz also made a leadership gift to establish the Chaifetz Holocaust Education Center and Memorial Path. Through experiential learning and evocative art installations, the memorial promotes awareness of the evils of hatred, antisemitism, and prejudice, and seeks to inspire understanding, compassion, and ethical behavior. Building upon their long-standing relationship with Sarasota and Manatee schools, the center will enhance students’ understanding of the Holocaust and its critical lessons.

“We are so excited to bring this oasis to the Jewish community and our friends and neighbors so people can come together for important conversations, special events, and furthering education,” says Englander. “We can’t wait to show everyone the finished campus and kick off the first rendition of Camp Yonnie.”

Get Involved 

If you are interested in registering your child for Camp Yonnie, or want to connect with a staff member for more information, please visit www.jfedsrq.org/campyonnie. If you are interested in volunteering with the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, you can visit www.jfedsrq.org/take-action/volunteer. General contact information: 941-371-4546, info@jfedsrq.org