ROCHESTER ROTARY
CHARITABLE TIMES NEWSLETTER IN 2012 MY LIFE FOREVER CHANGED I had worked for American Diabetes Association, a partner of ours, before I came to work for Rotary so I already knew I loved the Campus. What I didn’t realize was just how much this place would change me as a person and how my view of people would change. I had never really worked with people with different abilities, I was nervous and excited. I remember my first summer meeting some amazing people, both campers and staff. What I learned right away, this was a place where everyone, no matter their disability, just fit in! You just treat everyone the way you would want to be treated and the rest would fall into place. I was slowly becoming a part of this “family”. One of my very first friends was Kevin, to this day I still cherish the time I got to spend with him! One of my greatest memories of him was him going down the zipline, he was so nervous but never let that stop him - he went skydiving on his 18th birthday! Another early memory I have is being in Wegmans after my first summer and seeing a camper with his mom. He ran right up to me and gave me a hug. His mom was looking at me very oddly, she came over and asked me how I knew him because he is not a kid that hugs, I said “the Sunshine Camp!”, she smiled and said that makes perfect sense, he still comes here today. These are just a couple of the many stories I could share. Seeing a person in a wheelchair go up the climbing wall and then zipline down is one of my favorite memories, the impact the Sunshine Camp has on everyone is magical. I met my best friend Michael here; he was always happy, and I just got the sense that I wanted him in my life outside of camp. In the beginning we couldn’t really have conversations, he was just someone who
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A newsletter from Rochester Rotary Charitable Trusts, Inc. November 2023
Our special camp gets extraordinary community love. We hear it all the time … “If people would simply visit, they would understand how Sunshine Camp serves our kids in such amazing ways.” We say this because awareness of the camp often produces remarkable actions from individuals and organizations across our community and beyond. In May, about 100 employees of Keller Williams Realty visited the camp to mulch, paint, plant flowers, clean up and perform other hands-on tasks to make the camp safer and more presentable. This work prepared the property to welcome our campers for the summer. For a second year in a row, more than 200 employees from Wegmans Food Markets spent three May workdays at Sunshine Camp. In addition to building a shed for archery equipment, this group painted, cleaned and gardened in various locations, and professionals from the Wegmans IT department removed some old computer wiring and generally improved the efficiency of our information systems at camp. On July 21, rising country music star Trey Taylor headlined a fundraising concert at Sunshine Camp. After spending time with campers and staff, Trey stated that he plans to dedicate a percentage of the merchandise sales from his upcoming worldwide tour to the camp. As they have for many years, the Rochester Building Trades continue to support Sunshine Camp in some very heroic ways. Union workers have consistently helped with a wide variety of repairs, renovations and installations, such as plumbing, roofing, carpentry and electrical work, and even extending to pipefitters who worked on the camp pool. What’s more, at our cocktail reception last spring, we honored the Building Trades for raising more than $60,000 for the camp. Last but not least, through a personal connection, Executive Director Tracey invited the Section V Athletic Council to hold its monthly meetings at Sunshine Camp, which is centrally located for that group. Now aware of the camp and its mission, Section V athletic directors are promoting Sunshine Camp on their website and are helping with camper and camp staff recruitment. Also, please take note of the businesses highlighted in this issue that have supported the camp. In short, when we build awareness for Sunshine Camp, support follows in myriad ways, and we are forever grateful to everyone who picks up the tool of their choice — from a rake to a checkbook. On behalf of our club and our campers, Thank You!
Jeffrey S. Halik
President Rochester Rotary Club
Keller Williams Red Day
Heather Smith
President Rochester Rotary Charitable Trusts, Inc.
Trey Taylor Concert
Tracey Dreisbach Executive Director Rochester Rotary
Wegmans Work Day
S nshine Valentine This Valentine’s Day, give your loved ones some Sunshine! Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp will be selling a variety of Valentine’s Day packages with the help of our partners at Kittelberger Florist, Lisa’s Liquor Barn, and Andy’s Candies, with all proceeds benefiting Sunshine Camp. Packages will be available for both pick up and delivery. Every package will include a card from a Sunshine Camper to share the impact of your gift. Visit sunshinevalentine.org for details about our 2024 packages!
We were honored to present Dr. Elaine Spaull with the 85th annual Rotary Award, the oldest civic award in Rochester. The award recognizes community members who personify Rotary International’s “Service Above Self” motto. Recipients demonstrate exceptional community spirit, touch the lives of many citizens, serve as a postive role model, and share wisdom and knowledge to empower others - to say Elaine has all of these qualifications would be an understatement. Thank you to all who came to celebrate Elaine with us and congratulations Dr. Elaine Spaull!
continued from page 1 made me feel better with his laugh and funny gestures. Today, with speech therapy we can have wonderful conversations, he remembers everything we talk about! He has become part of my family. He calls me a couple times a week (with help from his house staff) and we just talk, it may be about the same things over and over, but he has changed my life for the better. We go to lunch, and he doesn’t have a worry in the world, he just enjoys his time with friends. Everyone deserves a Michael in their lives. One of my proudest moments is being able to share the Sunshine Camp with my nephew Parker, here at camp I was able to show him that no matter what ability or disability he has he can shine! I have many other friends I have met here and look forward to talking on the phone or seeing them again soon. The staff is absolutely wonderful, and I envy their work ethic and charisma. They are here because they love it and not because of their pay. I have seen staff fall in love and even have their weddings here! The Sunshine Camp is and will always have a huge part of my heart. I have met my forever family here.
Brandi Koch
Sunshine Camp Director
WHAT A YEAR ITS BEEN!
2nd Annual Plane Day was a great success with students from School 8, Holy Childhood, and Golisano Children’s Hospital enjoying lunch at the Geneseo Air Show and behind the scenes tours and meet and greets with pilots. Thanks to the KeyBank Foundation for their support of this memorable day!
Julia Zigrossi, long time Sunshine Camp volunteer and incredibly talented local golfer, received the Danielle Downey Scholarship part of which included a donation to a charity of her choice and she chose Sunshine Camp!
50+ volunteers of Pi Kappa Phi from RIT, SUNY Brockport, and The Ability Experience stayed a weekend at Sunshine Camp volunteering their time with spring projects to get camp ready for the summer season. In addition to their time they also presented a generous donation.
This year we celebrated the 5th annual Shirley Isaac Memorial Clay Shooting Tournament at the Rochester Brooks Gun Club. The tournament raised over $20,000 to support Sunshine Camp. Save the date for our 2024 tournament scheduled for August 13!
Rochester Rotarian Joe Cicero and his team at Microsoft raised over $3,000 for the Sunshine Camp through their Microsoft Gives Campaign.
“My experience at Sunshine Camp was absolutely life-changing. Sunshine Camp is such an inclusive, warm environment which is only boosted by its amazing staff and volunteers. Sunshine Camp is a game changer for so many kids and families and I’m just so proud to have been a part of it!” Trey Taylor, Nashville Recording Artist
Roberto Clemente School 8 The 10th annual Construction for Kids Reception raised over $53,000 in support of Sunshine Camp. Thank you to the building trades for your unwavering support!
SPOTLIGHT
School 8 has been the adopted school of Rochester Rotary since 1994.
Scholarship students get hands on expereince in the kitchen learning to make meatballs and fresh pasta with President-Elect Paul Guglielmo.
THANK YOU to Rochester Rotarian Anthony Valerio and Four Winds Chimney for their tremendous support of Sunshine Camp. Four Winds donated all supplies/ equipment necessary and spent four weekends donating their time at Camp inspecting and fixing two of our fireplaces and chimneys to get them updated and ready for use this fall and next camping season!
School 8 Scholar Farhan and his brother met and got an autograph from Buffalo Bills fan favorite Von Miller!
Scholarship end of year family picnic at Sunshine Camp with some fun and games before dinner!
Since 2012 the Andrew Kittel Memorial Ride, in memory of their son Andrew and in support of Sunshine Camp, the Kittel’s have raised OVER $45,000. Each year the event includes a group ride that ends at the camp where guests enjoy a pulled pork dinner, raffles, a live gospel blues band and more.
Rochester Rotarians kicked off our new day of reading this past spring with a dozen members spending the morning reading in different classrooms at School 8.
SUNSHINE ESCAPE Each October on Columbus Day weekend we welcome over 75 adult campers to Sunshine Camp for a fall weekend of fun filled with tractor rides, pumpkin painting, fishing, arts and crafts, music, and so much more. Sunshine Escape is a weekend program designed specifically for campers 21+ years old that have aged out of the traditional Sunshine Camp program. Campers thrive on the opportunities to spend a few days with their peers having fun, and more options of activities that are geared towards adults. Both the Sunshine Camp and Sunshine Escape programs are open to any individual with a disability, to learn more about the programs contact Sunshine Camp Director, Brandi Koch at 585533-2080 x103 or brandi@rochesterrotary.org.
Thank you to our 2023 foundation supporters Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust Avangrid Foundation, Inc. Branch-Wilbur Fund Fred & Floy Willmott Foundation Kathleen Brenneman Grants for Autism KeyBank Foundation Kilian J. & Caroline F. Schmitt Foundation Martin & Suzanne Suter Fund Nancy & Bob Witmer Endowment Fund Rochester Area Community Foundation The Marilyn Lichtman Foundation The Stephen Kim Szczublewski Charitable Gift Fund Waldron Rise Foundation
GIVING AND PLANNING - THREE CHOICES FOR IMPACT As a member of the Sunshine Camp family, your work and support have a profound impact on our campers and their families. We are so grateful for all you do to make the camp thrive. There are two other ways you can help keep this camp vital and growing: making an annual gift each year to Rotary Sunshine Camp, and considering how you might make a long-term gift. Annual gifts are the life’s blood of the organization, providing operational dollars that are put to use TODAY. Your gift each year allows camp staff and administration to make the camp experience the best it can be. The gifts may be cash or gifts-in-kind of items that are usable by our staff and campers such as supplies, equipment, and more. If you are committed to the Sunshine Camp’s success, making your annual gift is a critical element of that success. If you are committed to the camp’s success and have been making gifts frequently, you might consider a gift that allows your gift to live on forever. A gift through your estate or retirement assets can be easily accomplished, and will ensure that Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp will benefit from your generous support for decades. There are a number of easy ways to make a gift to Rochester Rotary using your estate or retirement assets - no lawyer or significant plannning is required. Here are three that everyone can make: 1. Make Rochester Rotary Charitable Trusts, Inc. a beneficiary for your employer retirement fund (401k, 403b or other fund). Simply set the club as a beneficiary, and state either an amount or a percentage, depending on what your plan allows, that you want to commit. 2. Make Rochester Rotary Charitable Trusts, Inc. a beneficiary in a life insurance policy. Whether employer life coverage or an individually owned policy, you can list the club as a full or partial beneficiary. 3. If you are taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from a retirement fund, direct that a portion of your RMD be gifted to Rochester Rotary Charitable Trusts, Inc. each year. Simply call your fund administrator and tell them that you want part or all of your RMD sent directly to Rochester Rotary as a gift BEFORE you take the withdrawal. Doing so will not only make an easy gift to the organization, but will help to not increase your taxable income. The check must go directly to Rochester Rotary to receive the tax benefit, but one phone call to your administrator is all that’s needed. For more information on how your gift can impact a camper, contact Heather Rossi at heather@rochesterrotary.org.
AN EXCITING PARTNERSHIP! We are excited to share Apparel Printers Plus is partnering with Rochester Rotary and the Sunshine Camp to create a limited-edition t-shirt to raise funds and awareness in support of Sunshine Camp. Keep an eye out in early 2024 for details about where shirts will be available!
DID YOU KNOW? Rochester Rotary offers a two-week program at the camp to children with disabilities at no charge, thanks to generous contributions from Rochester Rotarians and from the community. Throughout the rest of the summer, the camp is enjoyed by campers from partner agencies, including American Diabetes Association, Camp Haccamo (supported by Rotary Clubs of Monroe County), Camp Hard Hat, Camp Joy, EPI (Empowering People’s Independence), Heritage Christian Services, Holy Childhood, and SportsNet.
Holiday Fun to Support Sunshine Camp BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Get your tickets today for our first annual Breakfast with Santa at Sunshine Camp on Saturday, December 9. Attendees will enjoy a delicious warm breakfast, crafts for the kids, music, and of course the chance to meet Santa! Seatings are available from 9:30-11am or 11:30am1pm, limited seating is available so be sure to secure your tickets soon. Visit sunshinecamp.org to purchase tickets.
AUNT CHICK’S COOKIE CUTTERS Originally part of the Aunt Chick’s Merry Christmas Set, this year the Jolly Santa Cookie Cutter is being offered as a Limited Edition White Platinum 75th Anniversary Special Cookie Cutter and $2 from each cutter will benefit the Sunshine Camp. Visit Aunt Chick’s™ - grammascutters.com - to order your cutter today or stop by any of our local partners to purchase including Kittelberger, Parkleigh, or AE Gifts + Clothing and enjoy a great season of holiday baking!
LIVING UP TO THE NAME This book was written by Paul’s wife, Annette, as a tribute to an industrious entrepreneur who persevered through difficult times to grow a neighborhood truck terminal to one of the largest and most respected independent transportation resource firms in the country. The DeCarolis name has become synonymous with behind-the-scenes generosity. Peter Sarratori, Rochester Rotary Past President, referred to Paul as gentle, honest, generous and inspiring, but almost invisible. Copies of the book are available for a minimum contribution of $25 and all donations will be directed to the Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp – a cause very dear to Paul. Visit rochesterrotary.org to place your order. Note from the author: This book is my version of the story of Paul DeCarolis – the man I began dating when he worked long hours at a gas station near my home. Mt. Read Terminal Service and the DeCarolis Truck Rental company he later founded were his life. Very early on I realized how important the family name was to him!! Please enjoy sharing the story I lived with him for these past 61 years.
A RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY Did you know Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp is available for rental during the off season months of the year? If you are looking for an ideal location for a meeting, retreat or training session, consider Sunshine Camp! When summer camp is out of session (September to November and from February to May), the facility is available for rent to non-profit organizations and is a perfect for all kinds of events, even overnights and weekends, such as College leadership trainings, conferences, environmental education programs, retreats, staff meetings and training sessions, strategic planning sessions, and more. Contact Brandi Koch at 585-533-2080 x103 or brandi@rochesterrotary.org for details.
SAVE THE DATE - PANCAKE BREAKFAST 2024 One of our most popular family events each year is back for 2024 - mark your calendars to join us Sunday, March 17 at the Sunshine Camp for our annual pancake breakfast featuring our own Sunshine Syrup made each year right at camp!
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SUNSHINE CAMP There are many ways throughout the year to support Sunshine Camp from attending a fundraising event, choose Sunshine Camp as your United Way donor designation option, check out our Amazon wish list, or host a third-party event! Visit sunshinecamp.org (or scan the QR code below) for more information or contact Heather Rossi, Development Director, at 585-546-7435 x203 or heather@rochesterrotary.org.
roctheday.org/sunshinecamp
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DONOR OPTION #1098
Rochester
Administrative Office 585.546.7435 rochesterrotary.org
@rotarysunshinecamp
Sunshine Camp 585.533.2080 sunshinecamp.org
Rochester Rotary Charitable Trusts, Inc. publishes Charitable Times magazine annually.