WATERBURY – Although donations to the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund’s 2024 fundraising cycle consistently flow in year-round, today marks the formal beginning of the campaign that will ramp up over the next three months to ensure as many kids as possible will be able to attend camp this summer.
And this spring, rather than set a fundraising goal, the Campership Fund is setting a “camper goal” – to increase the number of campers who enjoy the life-changing experience of camp this summer.
As they have since the program launched in 1969, contributions come from far and wide. One recent example was a donation from the little town of Bridgewater, with fewer than 2,000 residents but with people who do their part for the sake of underprivileged youngsters.
Gloria E. Traver, in her 90s, has kept her eye on the program. “I give to you guys every year,” said nephew Mark Carlson, who donates on behalf of his aunt who now lives with his family. “She asked me if it was a good program, and I said yes.”
Many others share the same belief. Since Jan. 1, contributions, coupled with some surplus funding carried over to this year, have reached $134,665.
The fund also this year enjoys an extra boost. The late Angela LaMoy of Waterbury included a $152,166 gift in her estate for camp tuition. The fund’s volunteer directors are exploring longer-term options for LaMoy’s generosity, with generations of campers in mind, said Anne Karolyi, managing editor of the Republican-American, Sunday Republican and rep-am.com, and fund president.
“We’re in a welcome and unprecedented place at this point of the year, which is vital as we hope to both increase our numbers of campers this summer and build a steady course for the fund and future generations,” Karolyi said. “Every year, our annual campaign kickoff is a positive reminder of how much people care about helping kids whose families otherwise could not afford it. This year, we’re thinking about both this summer and many summers to come.”
Last summer 285 eligible campers enjoyed various camps statewide. The overall cost for tuition fees for 2023 was $125,702, all of which was shouldered by the Campership Fund. As has been the tradition from the get-go, the campers and their families never are asked to personally chip in to help share the financial load.
The program’s all-volunteer board of directors, the United Way of Greater Waterbury which volunteers to monitor the application process, and enthusiastic supporters will be optimistically working toward this year’s goal of pushing the attendance roster past 300 campers, the fund’s pre-pandemic level.
On April 28, the first fundraising event of the year takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Quassy Amusement Park and Waterpark in Middlebury. A special Campership ticket purchased in advance will allow the ticket holder to enjoy a day of rides and a Camerpership-exclusive lunch, from noon to 2 p.m. in the renovated pavilion. The menu will feature hot dogs, burgers, wings, salad and a cash bar where a portion of the proceeds also go to the Campership Fund.
Event tickets are available on the park’s website (quassy.com) at this link: https://webhost.corecashless.com/quassy/sales/?p=is12t4ym.
Tickets also can be picked up at the Republican-American, 389 Meadow St., between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by asking any volunteer Campership Fund director.
Tickets are $35 per person or $100 for a party of four, and include free parking and the lunch, but tickets must be purchased in advance.
The special ticket price compares to the regular admission charge of $45 per person that day, and does not include food or parking.
Representatives of the camps that host Campership Fund applicants have been invited to attend and answer questions about their camps and facilities. Quassy’s annual spring egg hunt also will be taking place the same day.
A dedicated group of Campership Fund supporters – Frank J. Monteiro, Post University and Spectre, a charitable foundation – are picking up the costs to stage the Fund event, so all proceeds from ticket sales will go directly toward paying tuition fees for this camping season.
Children ages 5 to 18 who are members of low-income families from Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Prospect, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury are eligible to apply for camperships. The 10 communities make up the United Way’s service area. The agency will begin accepting applications for campership slots in a few weeks.
The Campership Fund accepts donations all year round, 24/7. An easy way to contribute for those who are comfortable in giving online is to simply log onto greaterwaterburycampershipfund.org and make a secure contribution electronically.
For anyone still preferring traditional methods, checks can be mailed to the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund, 389 Meadow St., Waterbury, CT 06722 or dropped off at the Republican-American building.
The Campership Fund is a 501(c) 3 organization, so gifts are tax-deductible.
Donations amounting to $875 recently were received from:
Cherrie Gillis, Waterbury, $250
ION Bank, Naugatuck, from Community Awards 2024 program, $200
Gloria E. Traver, Bridgewater, $150
Susan M. McEntee, Waterbury, $150
Amadeo and Lisa Rinaldi, Waterbury, $100
Charlene A. Wicks, Waterbury, $25
In a clarification from the March 24 Campership Fund story, the $100 donation by Joseph and Cathy Minnella, of Naugatuck, was given in memory of Mary Monteiro.
