Hi, my name is Marisa Reby, and I have the distinct honor of having been recently hired as the new Development Manager at URJ Greene Family Camp. I wanted to take this opportunity to share a bit about myself and tell you why I am SO excited and grateful to be a part of the year-round team.
I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended/participated in all Jewish activities that were available to me. In addition to growing up attending URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI), for the most formative years of my life, I was engaged in my synagogue as a madricha (student assistant), I participated in many Jewish community leadership opportunities, and was an active member and leader in BBYO. I attended HUC High school programs, was a participant of Machon Kaplan through the Religious Action Center, and even went on to get a degree in Jewish Studies at Indiana University (as well as a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis), and the thing I am most proud of through all of these experiences!?
The relationships and community that I have built along the way.
Over the last twenty-plus years, I have had the immense opportunity to give back to the Jewish community as a Jewish communal professional and year-round camp professional. I have tremendous gratitude for the relationships I have created and the people I continue to meet along the way. I personally have experienced and witnessed the transformational moments that camp can provide as a camper, counselor, year-round staff member, and even camp parent (My husband, Alex, and I are the parents of two teen boys, Micah and Noah…who also LOVE Jewish camp!).
Simply said, camp is magic.
What other place in the world can children, youth, and teens be their most authentic selves? At the core, camp gives kids a beautiful gift. The gift of being able to build independence, gain life skills, learn how to be a good friend and an active part of a community, all without the presence of screens? Again, magic! I am immensely grateful to be a part of this Kehillah Kedosha (holy community), and I cannot wait to hear about YOUR camp magic. Please reach out (mreby@urj.org), I’d love to meet and know what makes GFC such a magical place for you.
Shabbat Shalom,
Marisa Reby
Development Manager