For 90 years, LAJF has been committed to helping young people grow intellectually, ethically, and globally. We do this by operating our Rising Sun programs. Camp Rising Sun is our full-scholarship, summer leadership program for teenagers from more than 30 different countries and 10 U.S. states.  Each summer, 60 young men and 60 young women practice leadership skills in a supportive community of peers and counselors.

The mission of the Louis August Jonas Foundation is to develop in promising young people from around the world a lifelong commitment to compassionate and responsible leadership for the betterment of their communities and the world.

We seek to:

• Foster an appreciation of both diversity and our common humanity

• Expand intellectual horizons and heighten artistic sensibilities

• Develop leadership abilities and self- reliance in a safe environment

• Offer and demonstrate a philosophy of living to serve society through the pursuit of humanitarian goals

Camp Rising Sun was founded in 1930 by George E. Jonas, affectionately known as "Freddie." The Camp was established as a boys' program for New Yorkers in Rhinebeck, New York. The goals of the program were to provide a space for boys without the ability to attend a summer camp to build their character, develop intellectually, and form lifelong bonds.