The Fresh Air Fund is one of many
charitable organizations that focuses on helping children. This one is unique in that it focuses on helping New York
City low-income young people simply get out of the big city and to somewhere
with fresh air. An excerpt from their site, http://freshair.org:
“THE FRESH AIR FUND, an
independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to
more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877.
Close to 9,000 New York City
children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. Each summer, nearly 4,000
children visit volunteer host families in rural, suburban and small town
communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children
also attend five Fresh Air camps in the summer on a 2,300-acre site in
Fishkill, New York. Close to 2,000 young people participates
in year-round educational programs at camp and
New York City.
Children are selected to
participate in The Fresh Air Funds programs based on financial need. Children
are from low-income communities. Fresh Air youngsters are registered by more than 90 social service and community
organizations in all five boroughs of New York City.
3,000 New York City youngsters,
ages eight to fifteen, attend five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in
Fishkill, New York. Camp Hidden Valley is for
boys and girls with and without special needs, eight to twelve years old; Camp
Tommy is for twelve-to-fifteen-year-old boys; Camp Hayden Marks Memorial is for
nine-to-twelve-year-old boys; Camp Mariah is for boys and girls in 7th to 9th
grades; and Camp Anita Bliss Coler is for girls, nine-to-fifteen-years old.
For thirteen-to-fifteen-year-olds at Camp ABC, The Fresh Air Fund has
established the Precious Center for Teen Leadership intended to give young
women a safe, nurturing environment to focus on their futures. Additionally,
many young people participate in year-round weekend camping experiences.
Special features shared by all camps include a planetarium, model farm, wilderness
trail and ropes course. Camp Tommy is named
in honor of designer Tommy Hilfiger for his dedication and support of Fresh Air
children.
Joseph Armato is a supporter of
this organization and has suggested it to many of his clients whose homes were
recently affected by fires.
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