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Building a Walkway to a Respite at Camp Sunshine

December 07, 2009 - CASCO -- Brick by brick, they are building a walkway and an endowment at Camp Sunshine.

As part of the camp's 25th anniversary, the camp accepted the challenge to raise $250,000 in funds that will be matched by the New Balance Foundation. This money would become part of Camp Sunshine's endowment and would sponsor 20 families with sick children to attend a week of camp, Executive Director Matthew Hoidal said.

But, with one month left to reach their goal, they are falling a few bricks shy, having raised $235,000 to date.

Since the beginning of the year, Hoidal said the organization has been reaching out to past donors, affiliated groups, local clubs and individual people offering them the opportunity to purchase a brick for the walkway. He said those interested can purchase a 4-inch-by- 8-inch brick for $250 or an 8-inch by 8-inch brick for $2,500 and have it engraved.

"We couldn't be happier with the overwhelming response to this generous matching challenged," Hoidal said. "As we near the end of the challenge, our goal is within reach and we hope many more people will participate, especially during the holiday season."

To date, Hoidal said people have had bricks engraved with birthday wishes, in loving memory of a deceased family member, a gift to a friend or with company logos. Hoidal said the bricks would make a great holiday gift for someone, while supporting a cause in need.

Founded in 1984, Camp Sunshine offers an opportunity for not only sick children, but their whole families to attend a week of camp, Hoidal said. In 2001, the camp, which had outgrown its original location at Point Sebago r esort, established itself on 24 acres of land on Sebago Lake. This year it offered 22 sessions of camp and a 25th anniversary weekend celebration, with the capacity to host 40 families per session.

"What makes us unique is we serve the entire family. We have counseling support for parents and adults, recreational opportunities for the whole family and families can come together and meet others who can intimately relate to what they are going through," Hoidal said, which provides an additional support network for them.

This is the second time the New Balance Foundation has committed $250,000 to the camp's endowment and the foundation has been supporting Camp Sunshine for a number of years Hoidal said.

"An endowment is a critical element to the long-term sustainability of any nonprofit organization," New Balance Foundation Managing Trustee Anne Davis said.

Camp Sunshine is in the midst of a $14.5 million endowment campaign to help expand and improve programs, Hoidal said.

"We continue to be impressed by all that Camp Sunshine offers to children and their families and we feel privileged to be in a position to assist Camp Sunshine in sustaining and growing their valuable work," Davis said.


By EMMA BOUTHILLETTE, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, December 2, 2009


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago


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