provided to The Santiva Chronicle
The 250+ participants cheered when Jim Castle raised a sign and surprised everyone with an announcement that Grampy’s Charities will lead a $100,000 match campaign to expand camping opportunities for adults with special needs.
The campaign funds will expand camping opportunities for adults with special needs, especially those who have been to Trailways Camp in the past but must now wait over 5 years to return due to limited spaces. Over 500 campers have expressed the desire to return. The goal of the Match Campaign is to reduce the time it takes a camper to return.
The match campaign doubles the impact of every dollar donated by supporters of Trailways Camp! In the words of Victoria Perez (Tori), who was able to return for overnight camping in January because of the prior year’s Grampy’s 50K Match campaign:
“Overnight camp was an amazing experience for me. I was nervous at first, but I quickly felt comfortable because everyone was so kind and supportive. One of my favorite parts was making new friends who accepted me and made me feel like I belonged. The talent show was a highlight because I was proud to get on stage and share my talent. Kayaking was another favorite activity—I had never done it before, and I felt excited and proud of myself for trying something new. Camp helped me grow, have fun, and believe in myself, and I will always be thankful for the memories I made.”
“We are so grateful for this generous community partner organization that reaches so deeply into the community and shares the Trailways Camp Vision of a community of uniquely created individuals, in relationship with one another,” said Jerry Miller, President, Trailways Camps, Inc.
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