Elizabeth, 14, said she’s never been camping before in her life — and can’t wait to try canoeing.
Joseph, 15, said he’s never tried archery.
“When am I ever going to get to do that, except at camp?” he said.
Melanie, 16, said she can’t wait “to spend some time in nature, with the trees and around the campfire.”
And Javier, 13, said he was looking forward to staying overnight and meeting new people “after being stuck at home for most of the year.”
With candor, he added, “I am also looking forward to getting away from the family for a bit.”
All of these youngsters from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach have been signed up and will soon go to their first summer camp in the mountains, courtesy of Press-Telegram readers who have donated to the publication’s Send-a-Kid-to-Camp Fund.
“The word has gotten around that summer camps are opening after being closed last year so kids that have never had the opportunity to go to camp are so excited to have the chance to be out in the great outdoors this year,” said Don Rodriguez, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach. “Parents are clamoring to be able to give their kids this opportunity that they would not be able to afford on their own.”
The 22nd annual Press-Telegram Send-a-Kid-to-Camp campaign is currently underway, asking once again for readers to help send kids to camps operated by the Big 5 youth organizations: the YMCA of Greater Long Beach, Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, Camp Fire Angeles, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. This year, the Boys & Girls Clubs will send their kids to Camp Oakes in the San Bernardino Mountains, which is operated by the YMCA.
The campaign was started by the late Press-Telegram columnist Tom Hennessy and Jean Bixby Smith, chair emeritus of the Long Beach Community Foundation, which has partnered with the news organization for the fund drive.
Marcelle Epley, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said she was gratified at how the list of donors is growing and the amount of donations is climbing during such a tough year, with the city and nation only now beginning to come out the other side of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I get a lump in my throat and think, wow, this is truly the kindness of others at their best moments,” Epley said. “Press-Telegram readers are amazing.”
This is where you come in.
Your dollars have sent hundreds of children to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at a mountain camp. We invite you to make a contribution this year and make a child’s dream come true. Keep in mind that it takes $450, on average, to send one youngster to one week at camp. Here is how you can donate:
- Online donations are preferred and can be submitted at the Long Beach Community Foundation’s website, longbeachcf.org. Click the “Donate” button and look for the campaign logo.
- You also can mail a check, payable to the Long Beach Community Foundation (with Send-a-Kid-to-Camp in the memo), to Long Beach Community Foundation, 400 Oceangate, Suite 800, Long Beach, CA 90802.
Thank you in advance for making a difference in the lives of Elizabeth, Joseph, Melanie, Javier — and many other children.
Send a Kid to Camp Donors
Dates: May 1-May 31
Total: $11,050
Donors:
- Herman and Nancy Andreasson;
- Linda and James Armor;
- Paul and Lucy Baker;
- William Barfield;
- Paula Bawden;
- Linda and Thomas Brayton;
- Terry Buckley;
- Bill and Fran Cahill in memory of Tom and Deb Hennessy;
- Leona Campion;
- Kay Cerny;
- Martha and Eldon Chambers;
- Betty Day;
- Janet DeGiorgio;
- Melanie Dietz;
- George Downer;
- Don and Wendy Ebright;
- Janet Fettig;
- Claude and Nancy Friedmann;
- Elaine Gates;
- Gail Hamilton;
- Jan Jackson;
- Margaret Jones in memory of Caroll and Richard;
- Anna and Richard Joyce;
- Jeanne McKay in memory of Sidney Katz;
- Elizabeth Kier;
- Richard Landes;
- Joan Maguire;
- Wanda Mata;
- Colleen Kelly Maxfield;
- Clenora McQueen;
- Robert J. Merz;
- Susanne and Norman Milkes;
- Joseph Minarovic;
- Tommy L. Nerman;
- Frank and Margie Newell;
- Sally and Edward Nilsen;
- Raymond C. Nottingham;
- Mary and Gene Novotny;
- Joyce Ricci and Mike Donnelly;
- Judith and Donald Robinson;
- The Russell Family;
- Marcia Scharfen;
- Lois J. Smith;
- Andrea and Stephen Smith;
- Elizabeth Stepan;
- Patty and Scott Tomashefsky;
- Gail Tweedt in memory of Eric Tweedt;
- Sandy K VandenBerge;
- Kathy and David Walker in memory of Christopher J. Walker;
- Linda W. Wheeler;
- Richart and Janette White; and
- Nellie Young.
June 06, 2021 at 02:41AM
https://www.presstelegram.com/2021/06/05/send-a-kid-to-camp-fund-youngsters-cant-wait-to-get-to-summer-camp-in-the-mountains/
Send-a-Kid-to-Camp Fund: Youngsters can’t wait to get to summer camp in the mountains - Long Beach Press Telegram
https://news.google.com/search?q=Send&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
No comments:
Post a Comment