Each year as summer kicks off, we see hundreds of children from all over Central Maryland keenly lace up their sneakers and head to Y camp – a safe place where they can play outside, make new friends and discover new passions. However, what you don’t see are the hundreds of generous donors who make camp possible for one in four of these children. To them, we want to say thank you.

The importance of Y camp can’t be understated. Poverty can limit opportunities for any kind of enrichment—even the brightest and most talented kids can stall.

Fortunately, though, we have a movement of caring givers behind us who make it possible for hundreds of children to attend Y camp every year! You only need to visit the Send a Kid to Camp website to find out why these incredible donors choose to support this worthy cause.

• “I donated because I was fortunate enough to have parents who could provide me with summer camps and most other things that kids would enjoy, and I feel that ALL children should have the same opportunities.”
• “My sister and I went to summer camp. A lady in our neighborhood sponsored us. I sent both of the daughters to camp, pass it on!”
• “I donated because I spent many summers at Y Summer Camp and my brother was a counselor at Y Summer Camp. We both were enriched because of it.”
• “The reason is simple: the Y enables children to learn, exercise, socialize, and keep out of trouble during the summer months. It’s a good thing.”

And it’s not just adults who are rallying behind our community. Recently, one of our associates from the Y in Arnold, Christine Hickey, shared this story with us:

“Yesterday my six-year-old son Rowan and his buddy Sam wanted to set up a fruit punch stand in our neighborhood after school. They decided it was a good idea to do something positive and wanted to use their stand to raise money so that a kid like them with limited opportunities could go to camp this summer. After about an hour of aggressively flagging down cars, bikers, and walkers, they raised over $25, which they are very excited to donate to Send a Kid to Camp.”

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Rowan and Sam and everyone who has donated to help send a kid to camp this summer.  Your gift is not only about keeping kids active and safe this summer, it’s about giving them a chance to discover new talents and make new friends!

If you would like to join our community of generous donors, there is still time to donate. Your gift will help give a child an unforgettable summer. Thank you.