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Commit to Camp Campaign
We are grateful for those who offered a matching donation challenge and to the donors who helped us to meet and surpass it; their generosity enabled a great Camp experience for nearly 100 campers! Please take a look at our special “Thank You” video below made for all those who helped.
What is Bournelyf Special Camp?
Since 1980, Bournelyf Special Camp (a tax exempt 501 c 3 non-profit) is the only summer day camp in Southeastern PA that provides structured and challenging outdoor activities for higher functioning youth aged 8 through young adult with Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and similar intellectual disabilities. (In recent years the Camp has accepted campers on the autism spectrum when it feels it can offer them a successful Camp experience.)
What is its mission?
The mission of the Camp is to develop participants’ abilities by helping them build confidence, improve social and communication skills, and become more physically fit through challenging but achievable physical activities and by interaction with other campers and the community. Activities include swimming, hiking, camping, boating, horseback riding off-site, and life skills programming. The Camp’s 1-4 staff to camper ratio helps to ensure that campers receive the personal attention they need.
Why is Bournelyf unique?
Roughly half of the Camp’s operating budget is funded by tuition (coming from school districts, county funds, or parents) and the other half is through fundraisers, donations, and grants. So all campers receive some financial aid. Additionally, no camper will be denied attendance because of a financial challenge.
Why does Bournelyf need your help?
The economic decline of recent years has diminished or eliminated funding that Campers received from local governments and school districts (i.e., tuition support from school districts and local governments decreased 15.4% from 2009 - 2010). Some grantmakers who have supported the Camp in the past have shifted their priorities as well. We face an urgent need for funding to support Camp operations for 2011 and beyond.
What is the Camp doing?
This challenge has energized the Camp family. We want to ensure that Bournelyf thrives for years to come. We have seen campers flourish and have talked to enough parents to know that Bournelyf offers a unique experience that kids with special needs cannot get anywhere else. And so we in the Camp family are renewing our own efforts and reaching out to the community to share our story and enlist its suport.
What can you do?
Donations to Bournelyf Special Camp are welcome. We have set a goal of $60,000.00 to be able to operate Camp this summer in the way we have for so many years. All contributions during the 2011 Annual Appeal will go toward 2011 Camp expenses and paying down any 2010 outstanding debts. Any leftover funds will be applied toward 2012. If you know a service club, corporate sponsor, or business that might support our work, we invite your call.
What are certain contributions equivalent to?
- A $100 donation is equivalent to a week’s worth of boating opportunities.
- A $200 donation is equivalent to five riding lessons for one camper.
- A $500 donation is equivalent to six weeks of swimming lessons.
- A $1,000 donation is equivalent to the tuition and operating costs for a camper to attend one, two-week session.
- A $5,000 donation is equivalent to operating fees and costs plus ingredients for healthy food cooking.
Bournelyf Special Camp is a registered 501 (c) (3) organization, EIN # 23-2583691. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.