Contributions to OHEL’s Camp Scholarship Fund double the fun for hundreds of children. Thanks to a generous anonymous family foundation, a gift to send one child to camp will send two. The foundation will match every camp scholarship gift, up to a total of $80,000, for children in OHEL’s Domestic Violence Program, children living with OHEL foster families, and children with developmental disabilities whose parents cannot afford summer camp fees.
For OHEL’s children, camp and summer recreational programs are not a luxury, but a much-needed opportunity to enjoy a normal, healthy summer away from the challenges of home and school. Camp provides opportunities to make new friends, build self-esteem, try new activities, develop skills and confidence, and simply have fun. There is no government funding for camp; without the support of generous friends, many children would miss the chance to make the most of the summer. And camp is also so important to parents; it provides much needed respite and a chance for parents to spend time with other children.
For the third year in a row, a family foundation wishing to remain anonymous has promised to match camp scholarship gifts. For summer 2014, the challenge has been increased from $50,000 to $80,000. A contribution of $180 to the Camp Scholarship Fund instantly becomes $360; a contribution of $500 instantly becomes $1,000; a contribution of $3,600 instantly becomes $7,200.
OHEL ensures that camp placements meet children’s unique needs and interests. Many will attend Camp Kaylie at OHEL on the Dr. Joe Silver Campus in Wurtsboro, NY, a unique sleep-away camp where children of all abilities bunk, play, and learn together. Others will attend OHEL Bais Ezra end of summer camps or other Jewish camping programs where they can feel safe and enjoy a great summer adventure in environments designed to help them make the most of the special joys of summer— sports and athletics, swimming and boating, games, creative activities, outdoor exploration, picnics and barbecues and trips to nature preserves, zoos, amusement parks, and other outdoor sites and venues. Children receiving scholarships are from your neighborhoods— the five boroughs, Nassau County, Rockland County, Lakewood, Passaic, Teaneck, Edison, and other NJ cities.
It is impossible to place a dollar value on this invaluable opportunity. To contribute to the matching gift Camp Scholarship Fund, please visit the OHEL website at www.ohelfamily.org/ donate or call (718) 972-9338.
Since 1969, OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services has served as a dependable haven of individual and family support, helping people of all ages effectively manage disability, surmount everyday challenges, heal from trauma, and manage with strength and dignity during times of crises
