CampMinder Magazine Volume 3 | Page 56

Inspiration from Camp POWER Camps and STATE Give Back Together “As we continued to work with public schools and nonprofit organizations, we naturally began searching for a way to tie in our passion for camping,” says Scot. “STATE’s mission aligns perfectly with so many camps – bringing out the best in our kids.” So STATE created the “Buy 1, Give 100” campaign – an initiative for camps and their families to support kids in need in their surrounding communities. The concept is simple. STATE creates a custom campaign for each camp. If the camp is able to sell 100 bags across their network of families and alumni, STATE will hand-deliver 100 bags to a school or nonprofit organization of the camp’s choosing. “We are thrilled to announce that Camp Micah in Maine will be the first camp to take on the challenge,” says Scot. “They will be launching the campaign and engaging their families this summer, complete with a presentation and STATE Bags store on Visiting Day. Camp Micah has designated the kids of nearby Camp Northbound, a program similar to Camp POWER, as the charitable recipients of the 100 donated bags.” IN MARCH OF 2009, after years of experience in camping and nonprofit organizations, Scot launched Camp POWER. The camp is a one-week, fully-funded program, serving hundreds of kids growing up in three of Brooklyn’s most impoverished and violent neighborhoods. Camp POWER is graciously hosted at Tyler Hill Camp in Pennsylvania and is fueled by an incredibly dedicated volunteer staff. and their friends will not only love the bags, but also that their purchase is impacting the lives of kids in their own backyards. We can’t wait to help deliver these bags to the children of Camp Northbound in time for the new school year.” “Our company is about so much more than just selling great bags and the bottom line,” explains Jacqueline. “We hope to trigger a new way of thinking for kids of all socioeconomic backgrounds by stressing the importance of giving back.” STATE … supporting kids of the United States … cultivating a philanthropic state of mind … the name makes perfect sense. Holly Milne [email protected] “Often times, kids in these neighborhoods are forced to grow up far too fast,” says Scot. “We hear stories all the time about their parents or guardians working two or three shifts and kids as young as ten being thrown into parental roles. They’re picking up their little brother or sister at school, cooking dinner, and cleaning up the house. Kids need the opportunity to just be kids. They need to laugh, play and act their age, and Camp POWER provides that chance. The program takes place at the end of each summer so that accomplishments and newly-gained confidence can propel campers into a new school year.” “This was a no-brainer for us,” says Director of Camp Micah, Mark Lipof. “Social action is an essential piece of our camp’s philosophy and programming, and we’ve been following STATE since their launch. We are so impressed with how they motivate kids beyond just donating material objects. We want to deepen our support of Camp Northbound and encourage our own Camp Micah community to be involved. Partnering with STATE is the perfect way to do this. We know our Camp Micah families 56 | Volume 3