What a summer season! We had another record-breaking Summer Camp, with 10% more campers attending than last year – and we still had a waiting list for new participants. We created a new partnership with National History Museum of Utah, and continued our partnerships with the Children’s Tumor Foundation, National Kidney Foundation of Utah and Idaho, Primary Children’s Spina Bifida Clinic, and Prader-Willi Syndrome Association.
Thank you to our Staff for all of your assistance in creating another successful Summer Camp season! And, thank you to our volunteers, campers, and families for your participation and support. Together, we developed new relationships, created many wonderful stories to share, and made memories which will last a lifetime!
I would also like to thank our donors, supporters, and Board Members. The continuous generosity of our community allows us to provide these wonderful experiences for our campers.
Now that Summer is over, we are excited for our upcoming Community Based Programs, which run through the Fall, Winter, and Spring. We have made some exciting changes to our programs this year – Each month has a Theme, designed to assist our participants become more independent. September’s Theme is: Communication Skills. Our Programs begin on September 20, with the Welcome Back Carnival Party.
“Together we dream, together we do.”
Summer is always our busiest time of year, and this year is no different. As we approach the mid-way point for summer camp, we have many great stories to share including Rusty’s, who you’ll hear from in this newsletter
Push America Team
The success of our camps rely so heavily on our staff and I’d like to acknowledge and thank them for all their efforts. I’d also like to take a moment to thank our supporters that came to Family Fun Day and stayed for our Concert in the Canyon with Scott Helmer, the Intermountain Porsche Club who included Camp K as part of their 5th annual Amazing Rally, executives that joined us at Camp K for the Salt Lake Chamber Business After Hours in May, the 36 bicyclists from Push America who stopped by for a tour (see picture below), and all those who came out for our 14th annual Camp K Classic golf tournament.
Finally, I’d like to restate our vision at Camp K: To ensure that individuals with physical and cognitive challenges achieve full participation in their communities by focusing on their abilities and through the development, implementation, and dissemination of innovative life-long educational strategies.
As I mentioned earlier this month at our Send A Kid to Camp Gala, I believe every generation has the opportunity and the responsibility to invent a new world that is better for everyone. I am thankful, that so many of our supporters came to our gala and gave generously to help support our mission and our Summer Camps. I would also like to thank our evening emcees (Shotgun Jackson and Carly Cash of K-Bull 93 FM), musicians (The Zion String Quartet and Peter Breinholt), Aspen Press (invitations and programs), our guest speaker, Mike Schlappi, our Presenting Sponsor, Program Sponsors, and Table Sponsors, and the entire Ivory family who helped us put together our auction items.
Clark Ivory, Ellis Ivory, Mircea Divricean
Also, I would like to extend our congratulations to Ivory Homes, the recipient of the 2014 Camp K Children’s Humanitarian Award, presented during our Gala, for their contributions to our communities.
While you are likely familiar with our Mission, I would also like to share with you our vision as we prepare for summer camp: Our vision is to ensure that individuals with physical and cognitive challenges achieve full participation in their communities by focusing on their abilities and through the development, implementation, and dissemination of innovative life-long educational strategies.
Together we dream, together we do.
Mircea Divricean
I am very pleased to announce that the Kostopulos Dream Foundation received a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. For those not familiar with Charity Navigator, it is one of the most highly utilized and prestigious independent evaluators of charities and they provide the public with information regarding the finances, governance, and results of the charity. Our goals are to work to fulfill our mission, build our programs and camps, and reinforce the trust within our community and the services we provide.
We feel very honored to received this recognition.
Thank you all for your continued support!
Together we dream, together we do.
Mircea Divricean