camp gives back 2014

We can hardly believe it: ‘Camp’ Camp 2014 is only a week away! For the fourth year in a row, Camp will host a sold-out crowd of over 240 people from across the U.S., plus Canada, Spain, Mexico, and the U.K. – all of them geared up and ready to have the best time ever! Forty of this year’s Campers have been with us for an unbelievable 10 years or more, including this year’s 15th-Year Campers, Nick D. of Caldwell, NJ, Darcy G. of Brooklyn, NY, and Michael L. of Tucson, AZ. As we’ve done the past four years, we will be donating $100 in each of their names to the It Gets Better Project in honor of their noteworthy Camp anniversary.

Additionally, we will continue our ongoing support of the GLBT community even further with our “Camp Gives Back” campaign, now in its third year. With this campaign, we collect donations from our Campers & Staff and, in combination with our own donation of 10% of our Camp Store sales, make a donation to an organization benefitting the GLBT community. In 2012, we raised almost $1100 for Mainers United for Marriage, one of the organizations instrumental in helping Maine become the first state in the country to pass marriage equality by voter referendum. Last year, we raised $1435 for Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund which aims to inspire and engage everyone, especially straight people, to become active participants in the advancement of equality for all and, most importantly, helps to raise awareness about and bring an end to GLBT youth homeless.

In recognition of the proud fact that one of the strengths of ‘Camp’ Camp is that it is multi-generational, we are pleased to announce that this summer’s Camp Gives Back campaign will benefit SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders).  SAGE, which was originally Senior Action in a Gay Environment, was founded in New York City in 1978 by a group of activitists who recognized that GLBT seniors often did not have adequate social and financial resources and support. Over the past 36 years, SAGE has grown from a tiny NY-centric organization to a national support and advocacy organization that is working tirelessly to address the needs of older GLBT folks.

If you are attending Camp this summer, you can help SAGE in their efforts by just buying an extra Camp t-shirt or souvenir or two (or three) in the Camp Store. You’ll also be able to make additional donations to SAGE via your Cashless ‘Camp’ Camp account. Not coming to Camp this summer? Well, then we suggest popping over to SAGE’s website and making a donation. Let’s face it: none of us are getting any younger. (Alas!) But, with SAGE leading the way in offering supportive services and consumer resources for LGBT older adults and their caregivers, as well as advocating for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT older people and providing training for aging providers and LGBT organizations, we can help make sure – if only in a small way – that all of us receive the support and care we may need in our later years.  So, won’t you join us and make a donation today?