COMMUNITY

Simcha Scholar

Executive vice president, Chai Lifeline

Rabbi Simcha Scholar is the head of Chai Lifeline, a charity founded in 1987 to aid children suffering from critical illnesses. A widely acclaimed project is its pilot program Camp Simcha, a summer camp for children battling cancer and other hematological illnesses. Camp Simcha has also opened a second branch, Camp Simcha Special, for children with debilitating chronic conditions. Among Camp Simcha's many achievements is the official Guinness World Records entry for the longest awareness ribbon – a 1,340-foot gold-colored ribbon to generate pediatric cancer awareness. "Chai Lifeline's mission is to alleviate the emotional, social, and financial challenges facing families living with pediatric illness and to help patients, parents, and siblings to live full lives as they fight the devastating impact of pediatric illness," Scholar says. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons.)