I hope that everyone had a joyous Holiday Season and a great start to
2014. Two-thousand
and fourteen represents a very special year, here at Camp Good Days, as we are
celebrating our 35th Anniversary Year… I have spent much time reflecting on the
past 35 years, during which we have served more than 45,000 campers from 22
states and 29 foreign countries. In addition, many of the programs and services
started right here have been used as models for other cancer treatment centers
and organizations around the world. Everything that we have done and continue
to do is about improving the quality of life for children, adults and families
whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life threatening challenges.
We’re proud to be preparing for our 35th camping season, and hope
you’ll join in on some of the fun we’re planning for 2014!
We had a very successful Holiday Season at Camp
Good Days, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the JC Penney
Managers and Employees at Marketplace Mall, Greece Ridge Center Mall, and
Eastview Mall, as well as the Rochester Lancers, City of Rochester, the
Walden-Galleria Mall in Buffalo, Destiny USA in Syracuse, and Old Navy at the
Shops at Ithaca, as well as all of the volunteers and those who helped to
support Camp Good Days and Special Times’ Annual Joe Benet Memorial Kazoo Fest
this Holiday Season. While funds were down a little overall, we’re thrilled to
have raised $86,772 at Kazoo Fest in 2013. We hope to see everyone who
volunteered this year at Kazoo Fest again next year!
On the Monday after Christmas, we got all the
Rochester campers together for some Holiday fun at Ellison Park. With the help
of Otto Harnischfeger, we filled the cabin to the brim with fun and festive
Holiday decorations. We planned out many holiday games and prepared with both
indoor and outdoor events. The day could not have been better if we scripted
it. About 50 campers in the Rochester area gathered, and the location provided
an intimate setting for our campers to reunite. They played games, and even had
some special visitors. Santa and Mrs. Clause came in a limo, and were escorted
by the Monroe County Sheriffs. The kids loved petting Santa’s reindeer after
they got their gifts from Santa as well!
On New Year’s Eve, we attended the City of Rochester’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. We had tables set up at the Riverside Convention Center, and it was great to be at the event with a huge crowd and a number of family friendly activities. Joining us was Bill Benet, whose father, Joe, started Kazoo Fest some 68 years ago just a few blocks from where we were, at Sibley’s Department Store. It is amazing to see this holiday tradition still going strong so many years later, and what a blessing that this event benefits the children and families at Camp Good Days. The evening concluded as I was invited to join Rochester Mayor, Tom Richards and City Council Vice President, Dana Miller, to speak about the Rochester community, which was then followed by a beautiful fireworks show.
Myself, Deputy Mayor Leonard Redon, and Former Mayor Tom Richards.
Longtime volunteers Dort and Mike selling kazoos on New Year's. Thanks!
If you found yourself making a resolution to
volunteer this New Year’s, I would encourage you to look into our programs. I
often feel like a sergeant in the military and all he’s looking for is “a few
good men and women.” If you’re interested in making an impact in the community
this year, take a look at our programs and services. We’re always looking for
new people to make an impact in our organization, and you can learn about the
many opportunities we have right online. (http://www.campgooddays.org/Volunteer/)
With the start of the New Year, we are actively
pursuing our goals and objectives. We’re excited to commemorate this
achievement throughout our events during 2014, and will incorporate our new
poster, painted by Steve Christie, former Place Kicker for the Buffalo Bills, at
all our events.
As many of you know, special fundraising events are vital to Camp Good Days, as they provide the means for us to continue keeping the promise I made 35 years ago - that all of our programs and services would be provided free of charge for the participants, so as not to create any additional financial burden on those families served. Oftentimes, especially when a child is diagnosed with cancer, one of the parents (if the child is lucky enough to have both parents in their life) becomes the primary caregiver and must cut back their hours at work. With that, the family income decreases, yet the bills remain the same, and I never wanted a family to have to make the decision between sending their loved one to Camp Good Days and paying their bills. There are very few things that are the same price today as they were in 1979 – that price being free.
As many of you know, special fundraising events are vital to Camp Good Days, as they provide the means for us to continue keeping the promise I made 35 years ago - that all of our programs and services would be provided free of charge for the participants, so as not to create any additional financial burden on those families served. Oftentimes, especially when a child is diagnosed with cancer, one of the parents (if the child is lucky enough to have both parents in their life) becomes the primary caregiver and must cut back their hours at work. With that, the family income decreases, yet the bills remain the same, and I never wanted a family to have to make the decision between sending their loved one to Camp Good Days and paying their bills. There are very few things that are the same price today as they were in 1979 – that price being free.
The 32nd Annual Teddi Dance for Love
will take place Friday & Saturday, February 21 &22, 2014 in the Student
Life Center at St. John Fisher College. I often think to myself, “Where
else can you find 100 people gathered on Wednesday night’s at 9:30 PM to help
and plan a fundraiser other than on a college campus?” This 24-hour dance
marathon is planned and implemented by a student committee at the college and
raises funds to support the Teddi Project, here at Camp Good Days, providing
the funds necessary for us to be able to take campers on special outings and
activities, and on the Annual Florida Fun Fest. The Teddi Dance for Love
is one of my favorite times of year; a time when you see firsthand the true
meaning of love, hope, and giving. Each and every year, I continue
to be amazed by the hard work, dedication and devotion displayed by the Teddi
Committee, all of the participants, volunteers and supporters, and the overall
St. John Fisher College community. As Teddi’s Dad, all those
involved with the Teddi Dance for Love help to keep my daughter’s spirit
and memory alive. There are truly no words to express my gratitude
for that special gift they give to me.
We’re also gearing up for the
Fayetteville Manlius Dance Marathon. On Wednesday, January 8th,
2014, 12 members of the Fayetteville-Manlius High School Class of 2014 will
take the stage of the school’s auditorium with the responsibility of officially
kicking off fundraising for the 23rd Annual Fayetteville-Manlius Dance
Marathon (FM DM), that will take place on Saturday, March 1st,
2014. These 12 remarkable students have been nominated as MC’s, and head
up the fundraising efforts for FM DM. The students start working on FM DM
as soon as school starts in the Fall (although they’re already excitedly
discussing next year as soon as the Dance Marathon ends in March), and after
this official kick off for the entire student body, will work tirelessly right
through until the event in March.
Over the years, the students and FM Community have raised
well over a million dollars for Camp Good Days; last year alone their efforts
totaled over $125,000. The funds they raise with their 12-hour dance send
hundreds of children touched by cancer to summer camp each year. But the
best part is, they don’t just send them – they’re at camp right along with
them. Dozens of Fayetteville-Manlius High School students, current and
former, volunteer as summer camp counselors each summer, some offering weeks of
their time. For a group of high school kids to unite an entire community
and raise over $100,000 is simply amazing. But for so many of them to
volunteer their time during summer camp and throughout the year at every single
event in the Syracuse area, that’s beyond words. We are more than honored
that this community comes together this way to help Camp Good Days, and are so
grateful to be going into the 23rd year working with this incredible
group of people.I recently went back through my blog posts, and came across one written on January 3rd, 2008. It referenced when we opened up our Recreational Facility in 1989. One of the attendees of the ribbon cutting ceremony asked me what I wanted to do next. I replied that I wanted to close Camp Good Days, as I truly believed that at some point, during my lifetime, the answers that had been eluding us in the battle against cancer would be found.
I’m excited about the progress that is being made.
Through the efforts of CANCER MISSION 2020, we have now entered the CALL TO
ACTION Phase. I am excited to
announce that Congressman Tom Reed has introduced legislation in the U.S. House
of Representatives, which is sponsored by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and
Congressman Chris Collins, which strengthens the enforcement mechanisms of the
requirement to publicly report results of cancer trials and research conducted
with federal grant money. The goal of the legislation is greater sharing of
cancer research results in the search for a cure to cancer. You can view HR
2301 and support it directly on our website at http://cancermission2020.com/images/BILLS-112hr5283ih.pdf.
Keep in touch with Camp Good Days in 2014. ‘Like’ our page on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@CampGoodDays). Tune in to the Camp Good Days’ Radio Show on 92.1 WYSL FM/1040 AM the first Thursday night (6:30 PM) of every month to hear about what’s new at Camp Good Days. If you are outside of the listening area, you can get the podcast of the show at http://wysl1040.com.
My next blog post will feature an in depth look at
the 32nd Annual Teddi Dance for Love, and also touch on our Annual
Night of Gratitude, one of my favorite nights of the year.
Additionally, one of my personal goals for 2014 is
to be more consistent with these blog posts, in an effort to keep you all
up-to-date. Sometimes it can be a bit difficult, as you can tell
from the number of different programs, events, activities and efforts we are
involved with – but I promise to do my best.
