The Arizona Daily Star’s Sportsmen’s Fund Send a Kid to Camp program raises money so children from low-income households and military families can attend overnight YMCA, Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps for little or no cost to their families.
Send A Kid to Camp will officially kick off its 2016 camp drive on Thursday, Feb. 25, with an envelope in that day's Arizona Daily Star. We have increased our commitment to the three camps by $5,000 each and have a goal of $180,000 to send 670 kids to summer camp.
In 2015, the Sportsmen's Fund received 1,515 donations totaling $175,162 — including $6,555 donated in December — and spent $166,457 to send 621 local boys and girls to overnight camp.
Since 1947, the Arizona Daily Star Sportsmen’s Fund has helped pay for 37,907 children to go to camp. It is one of the oldest 501(c)(3) charities in Arizona. Your contribution qualifies for the Arizona tax credit of up to $400 for donations to qualifying charitable organizations.
Donations are welcome throughout the year.
Many of today's donations are in memory of LaVerne Hawkins, who died Jan. 6 at the age of 90. LaVerne was cook, nurse and "mom" to thousands of children at the Triangle Y Ranch camp alongside her husband, Chick, the camp's director for 26 years, according to her obituary.
Donations in memory of LaVerne Hawkins include:
B. Doolen, $100.
Jay and Susan Douthit, $25.
Kerry Dufour, $100.
James Eppler, $100.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Evans, $100.
Patti Payne and Fred Farsjo, $100.
Thomas Foust, $100.
Tricia and Pete Ginter, $50.
Mary Hardin, $50.
Dorothy Kaiser, $100.
Debbie Kornmiller and George Campbell, $100.
Angie Seefeld and Marietta Luce, $50.
Jack McDuff, $400.
Sidney and Catherine Mendelsohn, $100.
Jeff and Tiana Ronstadt, $100.
Pete Stewart, $50.
Kay Urguran, $100.
Other donations include:
L. and J. Botzong, in memory of their deceased son Charles F. Botzong, $50.
Merilys Brown, $50.
Thomas and Claire Brown, $100.
Patricia Frannea, $100.
Steven Gibson, in memory of Johnny Gibson, $75.
Ellen Glenn, $100.
Holly Hail, $400.
John Johnson, $100.
Michael and Robin Kaiserman Philanthropic Fund, $200.
Linda Jo Kurth, $100.
Thomas Neil, in memory of his brother John C. Neil and James Neil, who I miss every day, $400.
Donald Pitt Family Foundation Philanthropic Fund, $1,000.
Thomas Poore, $200.
Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Thompson lll, $1,000.
Two anonymous donations totaling $300.
More donations will be acknowledged in the coming week.
