Camp Fun Director Honored by Senator Weber for Saving Lives

M.C. Millman

Yesterday morning, Senator Weber visited Camp Fun to present Menny Schwab, the camp's director and founder, with a proclamation honoring his heroic life-saving efforts and outstanding citizenship. 

Menny Schwab is well-known as the director of Camp Fun. He also is a Hatzoloh member,   Zoning Board member in the Village of Wesley Hills, and Executive Vice President of Breuers Yeshiva/YRSRH in Manhattan - the yeshiva his grandfather founded. The senator and accompanying entourage honored him in front of his entire camp for saving three lives. 

In attendance for the occasion with Senator Bill Weber was New Hempstead Mayor Abe Sicker, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Golding, Executive Director Hatzoloh EMS of Rockland County: Morty Becker, Communications Director for the senator; Ramapo Police Officers Small, Franklin, and Burr, and K9 Remi. 

The group of visitors made quite the splashy entrance when, in true Camp Fun style, they arrived to greet the campers in a parade of vehicles, including a Jeep SUV, golf cart, ATV, and an RS1 race car, complete with lights and sirens and an American flag. The festive occasion also included a helicopter dropping T-shirts in the field. 

In 2019, Menny participated in the ING Miami Marathon when he performed CPR on a marathon participant he noticed in significant medical distress.  Menny saved a child's life who nearly drowned in a crowded wave pool at a water park in 2021. Menny also saved the life of a passenger aboard a San Diego-bound flight in January 2023.

Senator Bill Weber's proclamation highlighted Menny's commitment to the community, helping educate thousands of Rockland County's youth as the owner of Camp Fun for 35 years for generations. 

"Today was nothing short of amazing," the senator shares exclusively with Rockland Daily.  "I had such a wonderful time at Camp Fun! Everything from the motorcade welcome to the campers chanting USA, a surprise helicopter t-shirt drop, and a K9 presentation from the Ramapo Police were all special.

"It was an honor to present Menny Schwab, a longtime Hatzoloh member and educator, with an official New York State proclamation for having saved three lives in just the past couple of years. The most recent taking place on January 25, 2023, on a flight to San Diego, where Menny gave aid to a passenger undergoing a medical episode. Menny is a fantastic role model for Rockland youth - I can't wait for my next visit!

Rockland Daily spoke with Senator Weber's Communication Director, who shared the senator's first connection to Camp Fun and the incredible hashgacha that meeting had for the camp. 

"I went with the senator to the Tomche Shabbos dinner on January 9 and introduced the senator to Menny Schwab, who I knew personally as a former Camp Fun camper. Menny mentioned that his camp would have no campus for the last two weeks of the program. He also mentioned that another camp had been unable to find a campus for the entire summer. The senator intervened and found a place for both camps."

Menny shared with Rockland Daily about what makes his camp so unique that years later, a previous camper would be so eager to introduce him to a senator at a random dinner which would end up assisting his camp in such a tremendously beneficial way.

"Camp's Fun focus is on building up every camper to create a space where every child shines for generations," Menny says. "And, of course, it's all done in Camp Fun Style."