Where does the time go? Can you believe we’re already into February, and that
2015 is already one-month-old? Camp Good Days has had one of the busiest and
most memorable January’s that we’ve ever had.
First and foremost, Camp Good Days’ Annual Fun Fest
Trip took place from January 29th to February 3rd. On Thursday, January 29th 2015, a group of approximately 45
campers and volunteers departed from the Greater Rochester International
Airport and embarked on the Annual Florida Fun Fest Trip. We started
in Orlando on Thursday afternoon, checking into the Seralago Suites. We’re
so thankful for our friend, Barbara Rodriguez, for going out of her way to
ensure our stay was everything we could have hoped for.
On Friday morning, we met up with John and Linda Mongoven, and they
hosted us for brunch at Applebee’s. After brunch we headed to Walt Disney
World’s Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom is always one of the kids’ favorite
stops on the Florida trip, and it’s a time for the children to let go and be
kids.
We had a great time in Orlando, and on Sunday, the group headed to St.
Pete’s Beach, where we stayed at the beautiful TradeWinds Resort.
On Sunday night, everyone was the special guests of good friends, Steve
and Patty DiGennaro and their neighbors. Steve and Patty, along with
their friends, put on an amazing Super Bowl cookout dinner at their home and
the campers had the chance to swim in the pool, fish off the dock, play games,
and watch the game. Once again this year, Steve and Patty and their friends
went above and beyond in welcoming the campers and volunteers and everyone had
a great evening. It was great to see and have former Buffalo Bills Place
Kicker, Steve Christie, and his wife, Kelly, at our Super Bowl party. Many of
our campers enjoyed having a former Super Bowl participant at the party.
On Monday, the General Manager of the International House of Pancakes
treated the campers to brunch. We were also fortunate enough to have an
anonymous donor pay for the remainder of the volunteers and staff members. I
cannot tell you the joy that the breakfast at IHOP brought to me. The rest of
the day was spent relaxing at the beach at the TradeWinds, where everyone had
the chance to take part in all they have to offer; including swimming in the
Gulf of Mexico, swimming in the pool, playing miniature golf, collecting
sea-shells, going on the giant, inflatable water slide and more.
The Camp Good Days’ Florida
Trip has taken place since 1985 and was originated when Rochester
businessman, Wayne Meisenzahl, who was completing his own treatment
for cancer, wanted to give children touched by cancer the opportunity to
experience firsthand, the magic of Central Florida. The Annual
Florida Trip has continued because of the generosity of Ms. Germaine K.
Hess, one of Meisenzahl’s clients, who left a bequest to Camp Good Days,
through an estate, specifically to ensure that Camp Good Days will be able to
continue providing the Annual Florida Trip. In addition, the trip is
made possible through the Teddi Project at Camp Good Days. The Teddi
Project is supported through the annual Dance for Love, a 24-hour dance
marathon at St. John Fisher College. The 33rd Annual
Dance for Love will take place on February 20-21, 2015. The trip is
also supported by the Gary Amendola Fun Fund, which was established in
memory of Gary Amendola, who was a good friend, supporter and member of the
Camp Good Days’ Board of Directors and lost his own battle with cancer. The
Gary Amendola Fun Fund provides the means for Camp Good Days to host special
outings, activities and events throughout the year.
If you want to see just how much
fun everyone had on the trip, check out the photo album on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CampGoodDays79.
All Things Not Florida
All Things Not Florida
I, admittedly, am not a hockey
guy. I have never truly gotten into the sport, but I must say, our campers were
treated to a great month of hockey. It all started at the Buffalo Sabres game
on January 2nd. We brought ten campers from Rochester to the game in
Buffalo, where our campers took in the game from a suite at center ice.
Although the result was not what our campers had hoped for (a 2-0 loss to
Florida), they had a great time being transported to the game from our Mendon
office via party bus, and taking in the game from some of the best seats in the
First Niagara Center. All of the transportation was made possible from the
Sugarman Family Fund.
On January 23rd, our
campers were the guests of Brian and Leilon Duff at a Rochester Americans game.
Brian is a broadcaster for the Buffalo Sabres, and during the NHL All-Star
break, he and his family traveled down the Thruway and spent the night in a
suite with our campers. The suite was great, and our campers enjoyed the
all-you-can-eat pizza, chicken wings, and snacks that were provided. They were
also visited by some Amerks players who were dealing with injuries, and got
some autographs. We feel so fortunate to have the support of the Duff’s, and
look forward to inducting them into our Ring of Honor this month at our Annual
Night of Gratitude.
In 2014, Marcie, our Southern
Tier Office Director, approached me with the idea of having a “Courage Bowl”
styled hockey game between Cornell University and Colgate University. After a
few meetings with our staff, the Inaugural Courage Classic was born. On January
31, 2015, six of our campers partook in the Inaugural Courage Classic, all of
whom had been touched by cancer, and had the experience of a lifetime. Each
team, Cornell and Colgate, were given three Honorary Coaches, who would be a
part of the team on game-day. The Honorary Coaches attended a practice with the
team prior to the game, were given signed authentic game jerseys from the team,
and participated in a pregame ceremonial puck-drop. Over 4,200 people attended
the Inaugural Courage Classic, all of which gave a standing ovation to our
campers when they were introduced and took the ice.
Other Events:
The Third Annual Takedown Cancer
Wrestling Duals took on new meaning this year, as each wrestling team had
Honorary Coaches who attend Camp Good Days’ programming. Rush-Henrietta,
Webster Thomas, Penfield, and Fairport each had one of our campers attend a practice
the week of the duals and gave the campers authentic wrestling gear. On the day
of the duals, the campers were on the bench with the team, rooting on their
respective squads. The wrestling community was able to raise over $4,000 for
Camp Good Days, and we are so thankful for their support over the past three
years.
The Fayetteville-Manlius Dance
Marathon is off and running, and this year, one of our own campers, Camdyn,
spoke at the assemblies, which officially kicked off the fundraising. She and
James, along with a few others, spoke about Camp Good Days, and conveyed the
importance of the FM Dance Marathon to CGD. This will be the 25th
year that FM has raised money for Camp Good Days, and we cannot thank them
enough for their hard work over the past 25 years!
On January 24th, our
Buffalo campers attended “Disney on Ice” at the First Niagara Center. Many of
the campers dressed up in their crowns and watched some of their favorite
Disney characters skate to their favorite songs.
Lastly, the 11th
Annual Cycle For Hope took place at Rochester area gyms. This fundraiser has
come a long way since its inception in 2004. Ten gyms participated, and
hundreds of people cycled for Camp Good Days, as well as Golisano Children’s
Hospital. We’re anticipating the event raise as much, if not more than the
$8,000 that it raised for Camp Good Days last year.
We’re looking forward to a busy
February as well. The Annual Dance For Love is taking place on February 20th
and 21st, we’re bringing the campers to Glacier Ridge on February 17th,
and the Annual Night of Gratitude is on February 27th. I’ll be
writing you frequently this month, and providing updates along the way!
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