Camp PALS D.C. Adventure Fundraiser
Donation protected
Hello all!
We hope this message finds you well. This past week, my co-leader Samantha Conigliaro and I, were selected to lead the PALS Programs Adventure in Washington D.C. the first weekend of November (4-6)!
PALS Programs provides a place for young adults with Down syndrome and their peers to have fun, grow as individuals, and build transformative friendships.
PALS Adventures engages PALS alumni of all ages year-round as campers and counselors pair up one-on-one to explore a new place, take a trip, or engage in new shared experiences. Adventures are open to any camper and counselor who has ever attended PALS or is ready to try it for the first time.
Samantha and I both just recently became involved in Camp PALS. This summer was Samantha's first summer with the program and also her first time having the pleasure of becoming friends with young adults with Down Syndrome. Samantha volunteered as an EMT-B on the Medical Staff for both Camp PALS Maine and Camp PALS Georgetown, and it changed her life forever. "I never thought I would truly get to know each participant by being the Medic, but I was so overwhelmingly filled with joy at the relationships that were created between those two weeks. I truly feel like I have made lifelong friendships this summer, and it is such a great feeling! Coming home from camp, people kept telling me how good of a person we are for doing this, but it is so different than that for those of us on this side of things. I believe I speak on behalf of all of the volunteers and staff with PALS that our participants do way more for us than we could ever possibly do for them. The lessons of courage, strength, responsibility, gratitude, love, acceptance, and so much more that I have learned and continue to learn from our participants are priceless and so rare. I could not be happier to be part of the PALS family, and I look forward to growing with this organization!"
I was a counselor at Camp PALS New York for a week at the end of July. For me, the camp was the best of my week of my summer and my year. I had so much fun being with the campers and getting the chance to experience New York City with them. It was a wonderful experience that I learned a lot from and it opened my eyes to just how awesome of an organization PALS is and what it is able to do for campers and counselors alike. People that come from all different backgrounds and walks of life became family after just one week of being together.
I was also involved at a long weekend in LiveUp Programs in Washington, D.C. and I am on the Board of Bournelyf Special Camp, which is a day-camp that runs six weeks throughout the summer in the West Chester area for children with intellectual disabilities and related disabilities. This is a cause that I have been very passionate about for many years, and it has been the most rewarding experience of my life to be involved with the Down Syndrome community in such a way that I get to make a difference in the lives of others.
The reason that Samantha and I are asking for your help is to help raise money for funds for activities for our adventure in Washington, D.C. The more money we raise, the more we can do and the more memorable the weekend will be for the campers! Sneak peek: we are planning to attend a Washington Wizards NBA game!
Our adventure in Washington, D.C. is a first time adventure for PALS! Samantha and I have already begun planning for this awesome weekend and any amount that you can donate is greatly appreciated. We are dedicated to making this a weekend one that will not be forgotten and one that we can set the precedent for going forward! We cannot thank you enough for taking part in making this weekend great.
Other ways to donate:
-via the PALS Programs website @ http://www.palsprograms.org/donate/ - please be sure to earmark the funds for the Washington, D.C. adventure!
-via USPS mail to either Samantha or myself! please message either of us for our addresses!
Thanks again!
PALS love,
Samantha and Matt
P.S. - Check out some awesome videos from the Camps that Samantha and I were at!
We hope this message finds you well. This past week, my co-leader Samantha Conigliaro and I, were selected to lead the PALS Programs Adventure in Washington D.C. the first weekend of November (4-6)!
PALS Programs provides a place for young adults with Down syndrome and their peers to have fun, grow as individuals, and build transformative friendships.
PALS Adventures engages PALS alumni of all ages year-round as campers and counselors pair up one-on-one to explore a new place, take a trip, or engage in new shared experiences. Adventures are open to any camper and counselor who has ever attended PALS or is ready to try it for the first time.
Samantha and I both just recently became involved in Camp PALS. This summer was Samantha's first summer with the program and also her first time having the pleasure of becoming friends with young adults with Down Syndrome. Samantha volunteered as an EMT-B on the Medical Staff for both Camp PALS Maine and Camp PALS Georgetown, and it changed her life forever. "I never thought I would truly get to know each participant by being the Medic, but I was so overwhelmingly filled with joy at the relationships that were created between those two weeks. I truly feel like I have made lifelong friendships this summer, and it is such a great feeling! Coming home from camp, people kept telling me how good of a person we are for doing this, but it is so different than that for those of us on this side of things. I believe I speak on behalf of all of the volunteers and staff with PALS that our participants do way more for us than we could ever possibly do for them. The lessons of courage, strength, responsibility, gratitude, love, acceptance, and so much more that I have learned and continue to learn from our participants are priceless and so rare. I could not be happier to be part of the PALS family, and I look forward to growing with this organization!"
I was a counselor at Camp PALS New York for a week at the end of July. For me, the camp was the best of my week of my summer and my year. I had so much fun being with the campers and getting the chance to experience New York City with them. It was a wonderful experience that I learned a lot from and it opened my eyes to just how awesome of an organization PALS is and what it is able to do for campers and counselors alike. People that come from all different backgrounds and walks of life became family after just one week of being together.
I was also involved at a long weekend in LiveUp Programs in Washington, D.C. and I am on the Board of Bournelyf Special Camp, which is a day-camp that runs six weeks throughout the summer in the West Chester area for children with intellectual disabilities and related disabilities. This is a cause that I have been very passionate about for many years, and it has been the most rewarding experience of my life to be involved with the Down Syndrome community in such a way that I get to make a difference in the lives of others.
The reason that Samantha and I are asking for your help is to help raise money for funds for activities for our adventure in Washington, D.C. The more money we raise, the more we can do and the more memorable the weekend will be for the campers! Sneak peek: we are planning to attend a Washington Wizards NBA game!
Our adventure in Washington, D.C. is a first time adventure for PALS! Samantha and I have already begun planning for this awesome weekend and any amount that you can donate is greatly appreciated. We are dedicated to making this a weekend one that will not be forgotten and one that we can set the precedent for going forward! We cannot thank you enough for taking part in making this weekend great.
Other ways to donate:
-via the PALS Programs website @ http://www.palsprograms.org/donate/ - please be sure to earmark the funds for the Washington, D.C. adventure!
-via USPS mail to either Samantha or myself! please message either of us for our addresses!
Thanks again!
PALS love,
Samantha and Matt
P.S. - Check out some awesome videos from the Camps that Samantha and I were at!
Organizer
Matt Kardish
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
