This post is a break from the usual for me. Today, I’d like to share an organization that is very important to me in an attempt to help them with a fundraising campaign that will be taking place tomorrow. If you have a non-profit that’s dear to you, please help them to get the word out. Do whatever you can to help them to reach their goals. If you can’t help them through donations, help them by promoting awareness.
Do you have an itch to adopt a charity but are unsure where your donations should go? Are you having a hard time identifying yourself with one cause? Well, the next time you’re feeling charitable, I have a particular organization I’d like you to consider. And I feel so strongly about the cause and the leadership that I am more than proud to attach my name to it — I’m talking about Med Camps of Louisiana.
What is Med Camps of Louisiana?
This is a description of Med Camps of Louisiana, taken straight from their website:
MedCamps of Louisiana holds a series of one-week, fun-filled camps each summer free of charge for children in Louisiana facing the challenges of a variety of physical and mental disabilities. These include spina bifida, cerebral palsy, asthma, sickle cell anemia, autism, epilepsy, juvenile arthritis, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech impairment and those developmentally disabled.
Children battling these disorders are often unable to participate in normal childhood activities. Consequently, they are often “left out” because they have special needs. With MedCamps that is no longer the case.
That’s their mission, plain and simple. While at Med Camps of Louisiana, these children engage in a number of activities they normally miss out on, such as canoeing, horseback riding, fishing, archery, and swimming. Of course, the BIG EVENT is the end-of-the-week dance. Yeah, that activity gets a lot of attention.
The best part about Med Camps of Louisiana, as stated above, is that it’s free to the campers and their parents. That’s right, the parents don’t pay a penny. Of course, that means that this wonderful organization has to raise the funds on its own, and that’s possible only through donations and fundraising.
Why I Care
I worked at Med Camps of Louisiana for three summers. During those three summers, I saw firsthand how this special place touches the lives of its campers as well as its camp counselors. I myself learned valuable life lessons while there. Also, Med Camps taught me that I had the capability of being a mentor. I truly understood how important Med Camps of Louisiana was to its campers when one mother explained it to me like this: “My son spends half the year talking about what he did at Med Camps and then spends the other half of the year talking about what he’s going to do at Med Camps the next year.” With the encouragement of the dedicated staff members, campers learn valuable lessons like independence and reaching their maximum potential. No one is teased or heckled. Med Camps is all about inclusion.
Why You Should Care
All too often we talk about making a difference. The tragedy is that we do nothing about it. You don’t have to change the world to make a difference. I’m not asking you for much; I’m just asking you to take that one small step that goes a long way.
If you still need more convincing, watch this short video which gives another take on Med Camps of Louisiana:
What Can You Do?
On Thursday, June 3, 2010, Med Camps of Louisiana is holding an event they’re calling MoneyBomb. MoneyBomb is a one-day, virtual, grassroots fundraising effort aimed at creating an explosion of cash for this wonderful organization. The goal is to raise at least $25,000 in donations, raised entirely through email chains, Facebook posts and other online links. (I personally would like to see this post retweeted again and again because I’d like to see Med Camps on Twitter too. Help me to convince them!) All they’re asking for is a donation of $10 and the hope that you’ll turn around and tell another friend about the event. The goal is to go viral. I’m trying to do my part and asking you to spread the word. You can give your donation here. And before you ask, yes, I’ve already donated.
I spoke earlier about the leadership of Med Camps of Louisiana. I can think of no two better people to work together on this mission than Caleb Seney, the Executive Director, and Wes Cavin, the Camp Director. I’ve had the pleasure of working with them both at Med Camps and know they’re the right men for the job.
Where Does Your Donation Go?
All donations are greatly appreciated. Whether it go toward campsite renovations, feeding the campers, or buying camp supplies, you can rest assured that it will go toward a great cause.
Please donate to this wonderful organization. And when you’re sitting around wondering what good thing you’ve done with your day, you can sit back and think of all the kids who will be having a great summer because of your donation, your contribution to an organization that gives one week of opportunity to children with special needs.
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