Trailways Camp Awarded $20K Grant From Golisano Foundation

provided to The Santiva Chronicle

Trailways Camp, Inc. recently received a $20,000 grant from the Golisano Foundation to increase its staff capacity for reaching adults with special needs and their caregivers.

Trailways provides overnight camping experiences for adults with unique support needs and a much-needed respite for their caregivers. The Golisano Foundation is one of the nation’s largest foundations that supports programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

“We are grateful to the Golisano Foundation for this generous grant,” said Trailways Camp Co-Founder and Board Chair Jerry Miller.

Approximately 1,000 adults exit special education services in the five-county area each year and have few community participation opportunities.

“This grant will help us add staff to reach out to the adults exiting those services, enabling them to participate in the unique camping activities we provide,” said Miller.

“Overnight camping experiences provided by Trailways help the participants continue to grow through peer connection, an introduction to new community members, and learning about healthy lifestyle activities,” said Executive Director Jamie Senkelski.

“Every Trailways camper expresses a desire to return each year,” said Senkelski. “This is a special place where they are celebrated for who they are and challenged to take the next step in their personal growth.”

About Trailways Camp
Trailways Camps was founded in 2007 by the Miller Family in honor of their sons, Robert and Benjamin, who were born with a rare disease that resulted in progressive, multi-system disabilities. Jerry and Sharon Miller initially operated 30 camps in Texas, and have provided 40 camps in Southwest Florida since 2012. The Millers established Trailways Camp, Inc. in 2021, focusing on future sustainability.