Magical Rewards for Camp Harbor View Campers as they prepare for a weekend in Disney World
For Immediate Release
Magical Rewards for Camp Harbor View Campers as they prepare for a weekend in Disney World Despite hard economic times, local donors present sixteen inner-city Boston resident children with a trip to Disney World and a shopping spree with Mayor Menino at Reebok World Headquarters
October 2, 2008 Boston, MA – Today Mayor Menino will accompany sixteen Camp Harbor View campers to Reebok’s World Headquarters in Canton, MA, for a preparation shopping spree before their upcoming trip to Walt Disney World; a gift and reward to them for their exemplary leadership skills exhibited during their summer at Camp Harbor View, all thanks to a great community effort and a few local donors with hearts as big as their wallets.
This past June at Camp Harbor View Foundation’s first annual Beach Ball gala two generous donors went head to head in a bidding war over an auction package donated by John Fish of Suffolk Construction that would send eight campers and two chaperones on an all expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World for a weekend. Herb Chambers of Chambers Motorcars of Boston and Arthur Winn of Winn Companies settled on matching each other’s donation of $80,000 to double the package. This Columbus Day weekend sixteen campers and counselors-in-training and four staff from Camp Harbor View’s 2008 season will escape out of Boston and enjoy four days away from their hectic lives in the happiest place on earth. “Camp Harbor View helps bring joy to hundreds of children in the city of Boston, and we are privileged to be part of that effort,” said Dorchester native Herb Chambers. “These campers have worked very hard to earn this trip and we are extremely proud of their accomplishments,” he added.
“Thanks to the incredibly generous donations of Herb Chambers and Arthur Winn, these kids will get the treat of a life time,” Mayor Thomas Menino said. “This shows kids that with hard work and dedication, the kind they exhibited at Camp Harbor View, good things happen. In today’s struggling economy there are certain investments that should be made with caution but not when it comes to the city’s youth – that is one investment that should be made continually because without them, no matter how stable the economy is, Boston’s future remains in doubt.”
The trip has been limited to the older group of campers, ages 13 – 15, for logistical reasons and also in hopes that this may become a tradition at the annual Beach Ball gala in which case the younger campers may have the same opportunity in future years. “Throughout the summer the campers earn leadership pins when they demonstrate leadership skills. Hanging around the camp are signs listing the qualities of a leader, we call them 4 C’s and an R, Character, Courage, Commitment, Citizenship and Respect. When the campers demonstrate these qualities the staff rewarded them with a leadership pin. The campers chosen to attend the Disney trip were the ones from each session who earned the most pins. They are peer leaders at the camp and definitely deserve this incredibly generous reward,” explained Camp Harbor View Director Cara Gould
When counselor-in-training Elsa DeLeon was told she had earned herself a trip to Disney world she exclaimed, “For real? You’re not playing with me? I’m really going to meet Mickey? I’m so happy right now I can’t even tell you!”
Camper Briana Eldridge had a similar reaction when asked if she wanted to participate in the trip, “…Yes I want to go to Disney World!! Thank you so much, I’m speechless, I really don’t know what to say…I’m too excited to think right now!”
In order to prepare the kids, most of whom rarely have the opportunity or means to travel outside of their Boston neighborhoods, they will be taken to the Reebok World Headquarters in Canton, MA, where they will have the unique opportunity to visit the Reebok Concept Store to stock up on footwear, apparel and travel supplies. Reebok has offered a 60% discount on their purchases at the Concept Store, which is not normally open to the public, and John Fish will cover the total cost of the shopping trip.
“Camp Harbor View has been such an incredible source of self-esteem and confidence for these young kids. The Reebok shopping spree and Disney World trip are opportunities for us to recognize and reward the young people at the Camp who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and inspired other kids at the camp to dream big and succeed,” said John Fish, CEO, Suffolk Construction Company.
Camp Harbor View Foundation Co–Founder and President Jack Connors said, “We want to show these kids who rarely get outside the same four blocks in Boston that there is a whole world full of opportunities out there. Step one was Camp Harbor View on Long Island, step two is now Disney World. We’re so proud of these kids and how they are growing because of CHV.”
Camp Harbor View opened in 2007 as a result of Mayor Menino’s concern for the welfare of Boston’s inner-city children. Mayor Menino reached out to Boston businessman and civic leader Jack Connors, Jr. and together they had the idea to create a camp for the most at-risk children of Boston that would expose them to experiences and activities beyond their day to day life. With the help of John Fish and a powerful Suffolk Construction team, the Camp was built in 109 days. Today, Camp Harbor View is operated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and provides over 600 of Boston’s inner-city youth with four weeks of summer day camp. Each camper experiences a wide variety of activities designed to build confidence, encourage creativity, and help develop the leadership skills they need during school and beyond.
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Contact: Ashley Butler (CHV Foundation)
617-572-3479
Mayors Press Office
617-635-4461
