CAMP Matters Spring Edition, 2018

CAMP Matters Children’s Association for Maximum Potential

Spring 2018

Maximize Summer!

Camp CAMP Arcade Takes Virtual Reality to Live Action!

CAMP’s mission is to strengthen and inspire individuals with special needs —and those who care for them—

CAMP Links Camper Calendar Volunteer Calendar Connect With CAMP @

Board of Directors President Kenneth McConnell Vice President Julie Allen Secretary Dr. Toni Hill Vice Secretary Dana Fox Treasurer Lee Matecko Vice Treasurer Dr. Azreena Thomas

Karen Ridout Jill Rosenthal Mike Zerda

CAMP Advisory Committee Julianne Bass Amy Campos Jamie Fox Selena Frost Kyle Garetson Bill Glenn Elena Guajardo Bob Brock Keith Holloway Mario Dominguez Jean Magargee Dr. Marilyn Harrington Dr. Janessa Manning Dr. Alycia Maurer Dr. Fred McCurdy Bernadette McKay Anton Montano

Staff Directory

CAMP Matters Ready: Player 1

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Alumni Work Day a Huge Success!

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Thanks for the Big Give and the Big Gifts!

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Concert for CAMP Hosted

by Gamma Chi Delta

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CAMP Staff Excel in Essay Contest!

Spring Break Respite Camp Rocks!

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Campers to Ride in Texas Cavaliers River Parade

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New Chief Development Officer

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New Team Member in Family Support Program

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Tribute Gifts

CAMP CFC #25279

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Attention all Camper families and Volunteers!

CAMP 2018 Summer is just around the corner and we don’t want you to miss out!

If you haven’t started or completed your application visit www.campcamp.org to today!

CAMP would like to invite you to SMILE with Amazon Smile!

Each purchase you make on the Amazon.com website earns CAMP donations from Amazon. There is no cost to sign up, simply follow a few easy steps to r e g i s t e r, then use the smile.amazon.com site to check out.

Here is what to do!

1. Click this link 2. Sign into your Amazon account.

Don’t worry, this is still Amazon, just their giving site. It’s secure!

3. Under your name you’ll see “Account & Lists”. Drop the menu bar down and choose “Your Amazon Smile” 4. From here you can add a charity or change your charity of choice.

5. Type in “Children’s Association for Maximum Potential”, and select us!

6. This dashboard is a great way to see how much money you have generated for CAMP! After you have registered CAMP as your charity of choice, you won’t have to do this again. BUT…please remember each time you place an order, you must be on the smile.amazon.com site.

If you have any questions, the CAMP Development Team would love to walk you through it. We are very grateful to you for talking time to set up your Amazon Smile account as it enables CAMP to ultimately support the community who needs us. Because of

YOU, Campers can be themselves, not their disability!

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Ready: Player 1 Throughout the Summer of 2018 Campers will enjoy the sights, sounds, and action of the Camp CAMP Arcade! We will take “virtual reality” into “live action” this summer, featuring our celebration of a different classic video game each week.

Here’s the lineup: Session 1: Space Invaders Session 2: Tetris Session 3: Pac-Man/Ms. Pac-Man Session 4: Oregon Trail Session 5: Sonic the Hedgehog Session 6: Donkey Kong Session 7: Super Mario Brothers Session 8: Rampage Session 9: Minecraft And the best news of all? All the Campers, volunteer counselors, health care volunteers, and staff who are accepted to attend in Summer 2018 get “free play” while at Camp CAMP—no quarters required! We hope to see YOU around the campfire in all your 8-bit glory!

Alumni Work Day a Huge Success!

A huge thanks to students from Center Point High School and CAMP Alumns Joey McCormick, Rebecca Sheddrick, Jacob Sheddrick, Emma Divin, Chris Divin, and Beverly Campos for coming out on March 3! The group had a day of hard work with a whole lot of fun mixed in!

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We are grateful for the love our community has shown for CAMP! Thank you for supporting us through the Big Give and ensuring children and adults from South Texas have the opportunity to experience what it means to live life not defined by their disability. Thanks to you, a total of $53,303 was raised for CAMP!

Concert for CAMP Hosted by Gamma Chi Delta

CAMP would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Gamma Chi Delta, a local Trinity University sorority, for their dedication and service over the past semester. The Gammas kicked off their semester by volunteering at CAMP’s annual “friend-raiser” special event, CAMPfest.

The Gammas hung out with Campers, ran activities, and even washed dishes!

CAMPfest would not have been as successful without Gamma Chi Delta.

They capped their semester of service by hosting their annual philanthropic concert event. The Concert for CAMP had deep

roots in the community and drew crowds from all over the city. The concert featured Aaron Einhouse and offered an opportunity for people to throw on their cowboy boots, grab a dancing partner, and a have some fun while supporting a great cause!

Thank you Gamma Chi Delta for your leadership and dedication, combined with your sorority’s teamwork and energy; the $3,000 you raised will help to strengthen and inspire our Campers!

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CAMP Staff Excel in Essay Contest!

CAMP is extremely proud to recognize the 2017 scholarship winners of the CAMP Essay Contest. They are all amazing young adults with huge hearts!

Ivalis Guajardo, “I’ve essentially grown up at CAMP…where it’s safe to be who you are or grow to be t h e p e r s o n yo u wa n t t o be...surrounded by people who support [you].”

Kelsey Herman, “At Camp, time stops. Immediately [when] you drive through that front gate, all problems...are left behind. The love and acceptance at Camp provide a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.”

Valeria Laddaga, “It is amazing to me how much CAMP means to everyone who is involved...CAMP is more than a week out of our campers' summer, it is an experience that transcends lives!”

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CAMP Staff Excel in Essay Contest! (Continued)

Shelby Vigil, “We are so lucky to be graced with one week of time with [each Camper] - I don’t think that they will ever know how much they inspire me, impact me, and how I think about them every day.”

Andrew Wickersham, “CAMP and the Campers I have come to love have taught me more than I could have ever dreamed and have inspired me to try to make the rest of the world a little more like CAMP!”

CAMP is …

CAMP is more than a summer camp. Because of CAMP, I have come to believe in the importance of diversity, learned that disabilities are not tragedies, and learned how to interact with and care for so many beautiful friends.

- Natalia Jasso CAMP gives people an opportunity to see a different world in a whole new perspective, to communicate and understand people who represent the numerous facets of life. CAMP is more than just a camp for the summer, it's a camp for life.

- Michael Yu CAMP is more than a camp for children and adults. It is a haven and a home.

- Hannah Crocker CAMP is more than just a camp for individuals with special needs it's a place where people can truly be themselves and not be worried about being treated differently.

- Alexandra Grubbs Page 7

Spring Break Respite Camp Rocks!

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Campers to Ride in River Parade Viva Fiesta!

We would like to extend a huge THANKS to the Texas Cavaliers for their generous support and showing our community what real superheroes look like.

Join CAMP at Fiesta for the 77th A n n u a l Te x a s C a v a l i e r s ’ #RiverParade. Look for Campers and volunteers on a float dressed as CAMP Superheroes!

Please get your tickets and come cheer CAMP on. Call (210) 22-RIVER to enjoy Fiesta from your reserved seats.

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CAMP Hires New Chief Development Officer Hello CAMP family!

I am delighted to introduce myself as CAMP’s new Chief Development Officer.

My name is Dianna Hopkins and it’s such an honor to serve CAMP in this role.

I moved to San Antonio in 1989 with my family from Heidelberg, Germany.

Born in England, I spent my early life traveling and living all over the world.

My husband, Tim and I have been married for 18 years and absolutely love South Texas. We are blessed to have a son, Jacob, who just turned 12 this year. He is truly the light of our lives.

For the past 18 years, I have dedicated my life to nonprofit service in the South Texas community. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and am a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). My journey in development, community engagement, and leadership has given me great joy in building strong relationships, the opportunity to lead exceptional teams, and the skills to develop robust programs - all to bring resources so badly needed to our community. Every day, I see the impact of how nonprofits are changing the lives of our family, friends, neighbors, and even those we have yet to meet.

opportunities in front of us this year, and our Development Team is kicking things off with renewed energy and direction. Of course, we have much to celebrate too, as together we strengthen and inspire thousands of individuals and families each year through this amazing mission!

I look forward to connecting with you and hearing your CAMP story. Please do not hesitate to reach out by email at dianna.hopkins@campcamp.org or through my direct office line at (210) 671-7957.

Sincerely,

CAMP has always been one of my favorite nonprofits simply because of the critical and powerful impact it has on our community. I am both humbled and honored to serve CAMP, and in turn, each of you.

We have big Page 10

Dianna Hopkins,

CFRE

Chief Development Officer

New Team Member in Family Support Program Hello, CAMP family!

My name is Amanda Meigs (pronounced ‘meggs’) and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the newest member of CAMP’s Family Support Program team! I’ve admired this incredible organization since moving to San Antonio nearly five years ago, and sincerely consider this opportunity to be a gift.

I’ve worked with many of you through my previous positions at the Arc of San Antonio, AACOG IDD, and CDS in Texas.

My primary role is to serve as the billing specialist for those who use respite units to attend CAMP through the various Medicaid waiver programs. I’m already seeing that my previous experience and ability to speak “service coordinator/case manager” and “FMSA”, lend themselves quite well to this position!

I look forward to working with you, and am truly excited to be a part of such an impactful organization. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email at amanda.meigs@campcamp.org or call (210)-671-5239.

Warmest regards,

Amanda Meigs FSP Billing Specialist

CAMP is …

CAMP is a maker of magnificent memories, CAMP is the brightest shining star on a dark hill country night, and most of all CAMP is a home to all whom it welcomes.

- Rachel Franklin Camp is more than a location, a summer camp, and a place of acceptance. It’s idealism.

Camp makes you believe so much in 515 Skyline Drive you want the rest of the world to be like it.

- Clare Maas Camp is my home away from home. Camp taught me how to love regardless. Camp provided me with an opportunity to meet people who inspire. Is it is old and new friends, it is where I grew up, it is where I met my best friends.

- Sierra Cantu CAMP is who you are when you come through the gates; it is who you become because of the Campers that come through the gates and inevitably changes your life forever.

- Alexis Peters Page 11

Tribute Gifts - Honorariums Thank you to the following individuals who made a gift in honor or memory of someone special. We are extremely grateful for your generosity!

WILL ALEXANDER Bill & Rosemary Alexander ANDY & JULIE ALLEN Tom & Jennifer McGaughy Stumberg Trust COLLINS ALLEN Paul & Pam Rohlfs SCOTT & SHANNON BENDLE Larry & Pat Bendle DR. BRANDON BRIERY Jerry Copeland Carolyn Powell Charlotte Caples Tafaro HANNAH BURSHNICK Carolyn Schilthuis TIMOTHY CHO Marie Tvaroch TRENT EVANS Dorothy Jean Evans MICK FOX Bruce & Pat Beck RICHARD & TONI GOLDSMITH David & Claudia Ladensohn

SUSAN OSBORNE Jane Edwards DEAN OSTERWEIL Diane Kearns TIFFANY PEARSON Ruby Hood-Pearson SAM PESTELLO Delancey Pestello MIKE POWELL Claire & Toby Jackson NATHAN POWELL Claire & Toby Jackson MADELEINE REICHERT ZACHARY, Ph.D. Jay Vargas-Zachary Chloe Zachary HARRIET ROY Rose Roy ALEX SEGO Anonymous Andy & Julie Allen Jessica Alwell Abigail Arredondo Garcia

Amanda Moore Susan Osborne Alexandra Reilman Mary Richardson Brian Schuster Matthew Sego Susan Sego Mary Wallace Lauren & Dan Weiss Shelby Williams Jeffrey Zerda BRUCE & PATRICIA SHAW Bruce & Patricia Shaw DOUG & CINDY STEPHENS Dianna Hopkins ZACHARY THURMOND Dawn Thurmond & George Cue CONRAD TULLIS Matthews Family Foundation GARRETT TULLIS Matthews Family Foundation LIZ TULLIS Matthews Family Foundation

MICHAEL HAWKINS

Mr. Benjaman Ault

BRANDY & JOHN WILLIAMS

Amy Hawkins

Amber Beck Castro

Claire & Toby Jackson

GENERAL (R) J.T Hill &

Larry & Pat Bendle

DR. TONI HILL

Hannah Burshnick

Cordis & Carole Colburn ISAAC JACOBS Brian Schuster NATALIA JASSO Alonso & Carrie Jasso JOEY MORTON Charles & Veronica Morton Page 12

Abigail Dickerson Nancy & Rex Enoch Jerry & Nancy Gerson Natalia Jasso June Kang David & Laura Leach Dr. Fred A. McCurdy

MARYANN & MIKE WINGO Alison Blass BELINDA & NERVA WOOD Claire & Toby Jackson JEVON WOOD Claire & Toby Jackson

Tribute Gifts - Memorials MEGHAN HILL Cordis & Carole Colburn William Robertson IAN HINKLE Martha Hinnenkamp

SCARLETT ANCELLOTTI Karyssa Gibbs RUTH ANDERSON Constance Behrman EDWARD & MARY ROSE BLASS Alison Blass RUTH ELAINE BYRD Rick & Leslie Selig Byrd RYAN DAVID HARRIS David Harris

MATT KREGER Dean & Gwen Byers Marion & Dave Rodgers BRIAN LAMONT Gaylon & Christy Lamont JILL LEONOWICH Pamela C. Leonowich SONDRA ROSENTHAL Eleanor & Richard Seline MARY THERESA SHEVLIN MURRAY Anonymous BILL SPEARMAN Jim & Suzanne Reily

THE PERRY AND RUBY STEVENS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION Phillip & Laurie Milton

TRAVIS STRAND Kristen Ann Algert COLE TOLSON Mike & Lisa Elrod RHETT URBAN Paul Urban

MARIA STANCOMBE Marilyn Stancombe

YOU matter to us! Have you moved recently? Do you need to update your records? Would you like to speak with someone in the development office?

Please contact Lauren Weiss at (210) 671-6002 or lauren.weiss@campcamp.org Page 13

Lackland AFB Center Point, TX CAMP Executive Offices Camp CAMP Facility Please send all Camper, Volunteer Please send mail and faxes and Staff paperwork, mail, faxes, here only when your Camper, or donations here.

Volunteer, or Staff Member is at CAMP. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 27086 San Antonio, TX 78227

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 999 Center Point, TX 78010

Physical Address: 2525 Ladd Street Bldg. 3850 Lackland AFAB, TX 78236 Phone: (210) 671-5411 Fax: (210) 671-5225

Physical Address: 515 Skyline Drive Center Point, TX 78010 Phone: (830) 634-2267 Fax: (210) 858-8035

www.campcamp.org campmail@campcamp.org