Chai Lifeline Supports 160 Local Families
The nonprofit’s new ChaiNation program has helped Baltimore-area fundraisers raise over $10,000 for families facing medical crises.
By Sophie Zhang ·
Chai Lifeline serves 160 families in the Baltimore community who are navigating medical crises or financial hardship. The organization is now expanding its local fundraising efforts through a new initiative called ChaiNation, which assists community members with the logistical complexities of organizing charity events.
Racheli Daniel, director of Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic, stated that the primary barrier to community fundraising is often the operational workload rather than the cause itself. ChaiNation aims to remove these hurdles by providing the necessary support to turn event ideas into executed fundraisers.
The program has already generated tangible results in the region. At the 2025 Ohr Feigy Women’s Basketball Tournament, the team representing Baltimore and Pikesville raised more than $10,000. These funds support families dealing with illness or crisis. Additionally, a local fundraiser titled “Take Me Out to Simcha” distributed raffle entries for Orioles game tickets to its donors.
Daniel emphasized that local donations remain within the regional budget, ensuring that funds directly support services in Baltimore. She explained that when patients seek treatment in the area, they are referred from local Chai Lifeline offices to the regional team. This structure allows community contributions to expand local support services without being absorbed into a larger national budget.
The organization has strengthened its fundraising capacity by partnering with trusted community institutions. Chai Lifeline has collaborated with shuls including Chizuk Amuno and Beth Tfiloh. It also partnered with BT Camps to host an affordable Sunday event that raised funds while gathering community members.
Daniel noted that these partnerships help build trust and encourage participation. She described the organization’s role to one family going through a cancer treatment journey as that of a mother, providing constant availability and support for both large and small needs.
Chai Lifeline currently supports 160 families in the Baltimore area. Through ChaiNation, the organization aims to empower more local residents to organize their own fundraising events, thereby increasing the resources available for direct family assistance.
Source: Baltimore Jewish Times
