News + Events/September 15, 2026
Wet weather didn’t dampen spirits
It was a soggy week in Rhinebeck, New York, but spirits were high as Camp Rise Up marked its eighth year. The 89 campers, as well as 13 counselors in training, still enjoyed the classroom lessons, videos, and demonstrations, as well as activities such as zip-lining, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and swimming when weather permitted.
The week is designed to foster resilience and confidence at a time when young teens are growing and changing in ways that are strange and mysterious to them. Camp Rise Up provides three progressive tracks:
Year One: basic health information and life skills
Year Two: social and emotional learning
Year Three: leadership and professional development
Once completed, they can apply to be counselors in training, a part-time paid position, and eventually paid counselors.
Please enjoy the photos from this year’s edition, which illustrate the joy and buoyancy possible when kids have a chance to learn and grow while experiencing nature. We are grateful for the support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Citizens Philanthropic Foundation, Good Sports, Soles4Souls, Venable Foundation, the John and Martha Wolf Fund, and all who have donated to this year’s camp, an important turning point in many young people’s lives.
Embracing financial literacy and retirement
Embracing Wellbeing, a program initiated and managed by Alma Cruz in our Community Outreach department, launched a successful series on retirement planning this year. The discussions are in keeping with the overall program theme of developing “a lasting positive attitude toward your physical, mental, and social health.” Financial decisions can have direct impacts on our general wellbeing. Financial wellness promotes responsible money management and a lower-stress relationship with money, which can have many positive effects on our overall health.
The two programs offered so far have focused on financial literacy and financial wellness. Financial literacy is understanding what is involved in managing money and how to do it. Financial wellness is the actual practice of effective money management and applying financial knowledge to produce savings for a stable household and retirement.
The first program, presented by UrbanUpbound, featured “the basics of financial literacy and provided participants with practical information to help them make informed financial decisions,” Cruz said. Issues associated with credit and debt were central to the discussion along with budgeting, expense management, and effective saving strategies.
The second workshop focused more on long-term financial security and retirement planning, including creating a budget with an estimate of anticipated income and expenses, and other topics such as Medicare, life insurance, estate planning, and avoiding financial scams. Foundation Board Chair Joan C. Brancaccio and Emily Shempp, two retired bankers, ran the session, sharing their professional knowledge and experience.
Each program was designed as an interactive and intimate talk for a dozen participants that would build on the other. Cruz said more sessions are planned for next year.
Self-care for sweater weather
It seems like just yesterday that we welcomed female patients to our clinic on a summer Friday for a day of important screenings and self-care. Now, we’re designating October 16 as another Women’s Wellness Day to celebrate fall and observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The event provides breast cancer examinations and mammograms, testing for cervical cancer, HPV, and STIs, as well as other preventive care to busy mothers in temporary housing, who typically cannot prioritize their health. Other options include HPV vaccinations and educational workshops on women’s health topics. Those who attend are invited to pamper themselves with free massages and additional offerings promoting relaxation, two nutritious meals, new lingerie, numerous wellness products to take with them, and other enticements.
It’s a day of true self-care for women with limited resources who rarely take time to de-stress and attend to their well-being. You can help make the day a fully relaxing and pampering experience for these busy moms by purchasing from our event wishlist of products at the link below.
Say ‘yes’ to the dress-up
On October 31, children (and many adults) across America will dress up as superheroes, kittens, doctors, pumpkins, ghosts, and other alter egos.
The children we serve who live in family shelters love dressing up for Halloween, too. We want to give them the chance to find a costume, enjoy some “treats,” and have the full experience of the holiday. Pretending to be someone else can be a welcome distraction from the disruption they've been facing in their lives, whether they're attending a new school, traveling great distances to stay at their old one, or missing friends, loved ones, and cherished possessions from their former home. It's a chance to experience some normalcy during a chaotic time.
We gladly accept and encourage costume donations for them to celebrate the holiday. In addition to our annual costume appeal, our health education department holds Halloween-themed lessons on bones and brains during the last two weeks of October, which young patients can enjoy before or after their appointments. They send them home with bags of treats as well.
Help make Halloween a reality for kids who may not have a chance to celebrate otherwise. Donors can ship costumes to us through online retailers such as Amazon or Walmart, or send them directly to The Floating Hospital, 21-01 41st Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101. Costume drop-off at the same address is available during our regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8am–5pm. Costumes must be received by October 21.
Pickups may be available for anyone who has amassed a large number of costumes through a school, business, or apartment collection drive. Ask for the education department at 718-784-2240, ext. 777 for more details.