Racing to Victory: SC CUs and Carolinas Credit Union Foundation
Three-year goal will raise $250,000 for cabin built by "South Carolina's Credit Unions"
In
keeping with the credit union philosophy of “people helping people” the
Carolinas Credit Union Foundation’s Board of Directors recommended The
Victory Junction Gang Camp as a
statewide Social Responsibility project to the Board of Directors of both the
North and South Carolina Credit Union Leagues. Both leagues unanimously endorsed
this as their project.
The Foundation has
pledged $500,000 to The Victory
Junction Gang Camp to be
raised over a three-year period, beginning in 2003, to build two cabins for
campers, which will be named for the credit unions in each state.
Below
are details of The Victory
Junction Gang Camp. Join our
campaign today!
The Mission:
The mission of The
Victory Junction Gang Camp is to enrich the lives of children with chronic
or life-threatening illnesses by creating camping experiences that are
memorable, exciting, fun, empowering, physically safe and medically sound.
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is solely supported by generous
contributions and donations from corporations, individuals, and foundations. No
child or family will have to pay to attend the camp. They have embarked on a $24
million campaign to build this year-round, multi-disease, medical specialty
camp.
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is located in Randleman, North Carolina on
62 acres and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2004. This will be a special
place for children and their families, who would not otherwise be able to attend
camp because of their special medical needs
The History:
Oddly, the saga of
the camp began with salad dressing. In 1982, Paul Newman and his friend, author
A.E. Hotchner, established Newman's Own Foods to market the actor's personal
recipe with the profits earmarked for charity. The salad dressing was such a hit
that the company branched into spaghetti sauce, popcorn, salsa and lemonade.
Soon the profits reached millions.
Newman's Own received scores of letters asking for help from parents of kids
with serious illnesses, but tax rules prohibited the firm from making donations
to individuals. Newman began pondering other ways to help these children. In
1986, he had an inspiration: why not build a place for kids who are too sick to
go to ordinary camps? He'd name it The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp for the
ragtag bandits from his film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
In 1988, Paul Newman opened and founded The Hole in The Wall Gang Camp in
Ashford, Connecticut for children with cancer and serious blood disorders. Since
1988, Newman has founded camps in New York, Florida, Ireland, France and
California. He wanted to give them the opportunity to "kick back, relax and
have fun." He insisted that the camp's focus be about fun and that it be
free of charge for the campers and their families.
The Dream:
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is the most recent addition to Paul Newman's family of Hole In The Wall Gang Camps. It will be the only multi-disease camp of its kind in the Carolinas and Virginia.
In 1998, Kyle and
Pattie Petty visited The Boggy Creek Gang Camp in Florida as the
celebrity hosts of a motorcycle ride fundraiser. At the camp, they met children
who sang, cheered, danced and hugged. For a moment, everyone forgot that beneath
the smiling faces and boundless energy were children who daily faced
life-threatening challenges. Pattie turned to Kyle and said, "We need to
bring this kind of miracle to the children back home." And so their dream
began.
Pattie and Kyle Petty co-founded The Victory Junction Gang Camp with Paul
Newman because they recognized that seriously ill children needed more camping
opportunities. Pattie and Kyle began working towards their goal of bringing a
camp to North Carolina. Then in May 2000, the Pettys' 19 year-old son, Adam, a
fourth-generation NASCAR driver, was tragically killed in an accident at the
track. Distraught, the family put their dreams for a camp on hold as they
searched for a way to make sense of such a tragic loss.
Through the support of a caring community and loving friends and family, the
Pettys began to heal. Pattie revived her dream to bring a camp back home. In
Adam's honor, Richard and Lynda Petty donated the necessary acreage to start the
camp in Randleman, North Carolina.
The Vision:
The Victory Junction
Gang Camp's summer program will consist of eight week-long sessions for 125
children each session. Campers range in age from 7 to 15 years. During the fall
and spring, the camp will offer family weekend retreat programs.
At no charge to the children or their families, this permanent, year-round camp
will aim to accommodate young people with life-threatening illnesses such as Arthritis,
Epilepsy, Immunology Deficiencies/HIV, Asthma,
Genetic Disorders, Kidney Disease
Pediatric specialty
doctors, nurses and a fully equipped medical center are available 24-hours-a-day
to handle general and emergent medical needs, everything from bandaging a minor
cut to providing chemotherapy. However, the medical presence is kept in the
background.
What
Camp Means:
The Camp is in the
business of creating happy memories. A child's mind can soak up events and
impressions faster than a pit crew can change tires! But sadly, a child
suffering from illness typically has fewer chances to experience the wonders of
everyday life, let alone go to a summer camp. The Victory Junction Gang Camp
is all about providing that experience, fueling chronically ill children with
memories that can sustain and inspire.
Camp is all about kicking back and just being yourself. It's not a place
for pity; it's a place where being "different" is the norm. It's a
place where kids connect with other kids who have illnesses. It gives them a
place to experience the full range of fun and pleasure that "healthy"
kids might experience at summer camp. Victory Junction offers incredible
programming, spirited counselors, and magical facilities that create experiences
of a lifetime.
Victory
Junction Gang Camp Programs:
Summer
Camp
The summer camp program will serve medically complex children whose impairment
prevents them from being able to attend any other camp. Through a creatively
designed, camper centered program that embraces cabin life, guided instruction,
and just plain fun, we intend to empower our campers to enhance self esteem and
self confidence.
Summer camp also helps foster memorable friendships by creating a community
of peers facing similar situations.
Summer camp will consist of eight 7-day sessions for 125 children each session.
Campers age range between 7 to 15 years of age.
Family
Retreats
Weekend programs at the camp offer families living with the challenges of caring
for an ill child to come together and support each other in a warm, educational
and fun environment. Sibling weekends and camper reunions will also be offered
to children and families.
Family retreat
programs will be offered to approximately 30 families per weekends during the
Spring and Fall.
What
activities will be offered at camp?
Boating
and fishing
Arts and Crafts/ Pottery/ Wood shop
Swimming
Horseback Riding
Sports and Recreation
Archery
Adventure/Ropes Course
Creative Writing and Camp Newspaper
Theater/Music/Dance
How
are campers referred to camp?
Through physician referral, various health care providers (children's hospitals
and clinics), voluntary health organizations organizations (like the American
Cancer Society, American Lung Association) and word of mouth.
Can
parents feel safe allowing their sick child to attend this camp?
Parents should know that a full-time Pediatric Physician, serving as the Medical
Director, will be at the camp year-round along with two-full time nurses.
Additionally, a specialized medical staff will come to camp each week for the
different disease groups. The medical center is a state-of-the-art facility that
is able to provide medical care and supervision.
Philosophy
towards campers:
It is believed that chronically ill children look and act differently than their
peers, and therefore are sometimes treated differently. Camp is the one place
they can come where
they
are just like everyone else, for once, they are normal. Therefore, this camp
will make a special effort to make sure there are no measures of any kind on the
children when they
get to camp, including financial, religious, or physical differences.
How
is the camp funded?
Because of the philosophy, no child or family pays to attend camp. The Victory
Junction Gang Camp relies on contributions from individuals, organizations,
corporations and foundations.
Is
the camp affiliated with any religious organizations?
No. A founding principle of all Hole in the Wall Gang Camps is that no child is
made to feel 'different'. Therefore the camp is nondenominational. Children from
all religious beliefs are welcome. For spiritual enrichment, there will be
several quiet/meditation areas at the camp.
Community
Involvement:
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is interested in working with organizations that
have the mutual mission to provide innovative programs for chronically ill
children and their families to maximize the services provided by this premiere
facility. Through working together, the quantity and quality of camp program
opportunities for children can be increased.
Typically,
groups that partner with the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps contribute in the
following ways: referring campers, providing medical volunteers and equipment,
consulting on the special needs of children and families to enhance programs,
and by providing other types of support.
If
you wish to contribute or need further information, contact Carolinas Credit
Union Foundation, PO Box 49379