The First Magic Maker: Arnie Preminger on Founding Sunrise

Welcome to Magic Makers, the official podcast of Sunrise Association. In each episode, we sit down with the people who make the magic happen — from dedicated volunteers and visionary leaders to Sunrise alumni, campers, staff, and supporters — to explore the heart, hustle, and hope behind our mission: bringing back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings, always free of charge.As we mark our 20th summer, we’re honoring two decades of laughter, resilience, and childhood joy. This podcast is part of our year-long celebration — a living time capsule of the stories that built Sunrise and the people who continue to shape its future.In this powerful premiere episode, we sit down with Arnie Preminger, the founder and heart behind Sunrise Association, to hear the origin story that began with a Paul McCartney concert and turned into a global movement. Arnie shares how one night of inspiration led to the creation of the world’s first full-summer day camp for children with cancer and their siblings — and how a vision fueled by compassion, community, and courage grew into a network of life-changing programs serving nearly 60,000 children each year. It’s a conversation about magic, mission, and the people who make it all possible.Topics Covered:The Paul McCartney concert that planted the seed for SunriseWhy day camps — not sleepaway — filled a critical gap for kids with cancerThe “perfect storm” of community, hospitals, and heart that launched SunriseEarly challenges and the moment Arnie knew Sunrise would succeedThe decision to include siblings — and why it’s one of Sunrise’s most powerful valuesLaunching Sunrise on Wheels and bringing the magic into hospitalsExpanding to Israel and what makes the Sunrise model replicableHow Sunrise maintains excellence and safety in everything — even Uno cards!Arnie’s personal “aha moment” and reflections on legacyWhy joy, hope, and love are at the center of every Sunrise experienceLinks & Resources:Learn more about the 20 Summers of Sunrise Magic campaign → https://sunriseassociation.org/20-summersCommit to $20/month for 20 months and become a Magic Maker → https://sunriseassociation.org/20-summersConnect with Sunrise:• Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/sunriseassociation/• Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/sunriseassociationdaycamps/• LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunrise-association/• YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/sunriseassociation✨ About Sunrise Association:The Sunrise Association brings back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide through the creation of inclusive day camps, year-round programs, and in-hospital recreational activities, all completely free of charge. We serve nearly 60,000 children annually across 13 summer day camps, 80+ weekly in-hospital programs, and virtual platforms.Learn more → https://www.sunriseassociation.org/