Begun initially by Julian Reiss, the Julian Reiss Foundation’s sponsorship of its summer camp programs has been greatly enhanced and expanded through the years under the direction of Julian’s son, Dr. Paul J. Reiss, Ph.D., and now is run by a Board of Directors consisting of other Reiss family members. Currently, separate camp programs are conducted in collaboration with three “Nativity-model” middle schools in New York City. From both the lower east side of Manhattan and The Bronx, these schools contribute about 150 campers each year to the summer programs.
The Julian Reiss Foundation’s first camp program with Nativity Mission Center began in 1962 (when Nativity Mission Center was just an after-school program), and the full year-round, camp-school Nativity model was born in 1971 with the founding of Nativity Mission School. In the years since, that Nativity model has been replicated in numerous other communities, leading to the formation in 2006 of the NativityMiguel Network of Schools, which now includes 64 schools across 27 states. For more about the Nativity-model and the NativityMiguel Network of Schools, please click here:http://www.nativitymiguelschools.org/.
The campers served by the Julian Reiss Foundation are young people who demonstrate considerable potential. By reason of their families’ financial circumstances, their neighborhood environment and their limited educational opportunities, however, reaching their full potential is a constant challenge. The combined camp-school concept of the Nativity-model constitutes an effective intervention into the lives of these children as they enter middle-school age. The impressive results are not only apparent at camp right before your eyes, but also in the longer term achievements and personal development of the graduates.
The Reiss Foundation manages and maintains the camp property, facilities and services, and covers all expenses for transportation, food and supplies. Partner schools are responsible for running and appropriately staffing the programs. Every donation to the Julian Reiss Foundation helps support these important summer camp programs. If you are interested in helping, click here to donate today.
The Julian Reiss Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation.
Board of Directors
Paul Jacob Reiss, Director Emeritus
Paul Julian Reiss, MD, Chairman, Executive Committee
John D. Reiss, Executive Committee
Martha Reiss Acworth, Executive Committee
Catherine Reiss Sloan
Julia Reiss DeSantis
Elizabeth G. Reiss
David P. Reiss
Steven J. Reiss