Camp Kids Are Kids Operating Fund

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago


2015 TESTIMONIAL VIDEO

"It is the best camp you will ever see . . . you will feel like a normal kid, and you will never stand out. You'll fit right in, and make lots of new friends."
     - Kei’Shaun, Age 11

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago is a free, urban, overnight camp for children living with cancer that are treated at one of the Chicagoland hospitals.

With Childhood Cancer Awareness Month kicking off, help us continue to move Camp Kids Are Kids forward with strength. We currently need to raise $50,000 to ensure that all of our operating expenses are met for 2016.

Why is this camp needed?

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago 2015

Every year more than 13,500 kids are diagnosed with cancer. Childhood cancer is an already underfunded cause – with most of the limited donations going to research and treatment. What many don’t realize is that these kids go through intense treatments that can last years.  They are often isolated, lose friends in the process, and effectively have a piece of their childhood taken from them. No kid deserves to go through that. And that is exactly what Camp Kids Are Kids addresses.

Camp Kids Are Kids is the first urban camp of its kind in the United States – which allows kids who might not be able to go camping in the normal camp environment to participate. We also have kids from all types of backgrounds. It is a truly amazing camp.

Our title sponsor these last three years has been the Ritz-Carlton, which allowed the kids to sleep in bunks, while they “rough it at the Ritz.” Some of our past events have included attending a White Sox game in a suite, going on a boat cruise (where the kids dress up, dance, eat and watch the fireworks over Lake Michigan), having a bon-fire with the Chicago Fire Department, going to the beach, making their own pizzas at Homeslice, and so on. The ultimate goal of Camp Kids Are Kids is in the name. It was created to ensure that these kids are able to “just be kids” for a week. This is incredibly important from an emotional standpoint.

We are constantly inspired by our campers. At a recent fundraiser, one of our oldest campers shared her camp experience. She talked about how at the start of our second camp she realized that one of her best friends from the previous year’s camp had passed away. Her closing remarks on her speech were: “Yes, camp is important to kids like me to go away for a bit, and take a break from life. But camp is even more important [for someone like my friend, who was here from another country] who find a home and friends in a place that is completely foreign, who can have fun in what could possibly be their last days, hours, or minutes with us. Camp is friends. And camp is safety. Camp is home away from home.” We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves.

SEE CAMPER SPEECH HERE

No family deserves to suffer through having a child with cancer. Put yourself in the place of these families, and these children – and with that in mind, please consider donating to our amazing organization. Every penny helps. And if you can’t donate, a simple “share” goes a long way. Let’s make sure Camp Kids Are Kids is around for a long time to come!

"My favorite thing about interacting with other campers was that the other kids are all living with similar problems as me, so for once not being 'normal' felt normal all week. . . . This was one of the best weeks I’ve ever had in my life, and I would’ve regretted forever if my parents hadn’t signed me up. You will make friends that will last forever and make memories you’ll never forget!"
     - Katrina, Age 13

Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago 2016

To learn more about Camp Kids Are Kids Chicago please visit:

www.campkidsarekids.org

In 2015 I took on the role of the camp videographer. It was while I was fully immersed within the camp, I truly realized how amazing it was – for both the campers and volunteers. Not long after my first camp experience, my role within the organization continued to grow. Being so intimately involved with Camp Kids Are Kids has been the most rewarding experience of my life. The video I created below of this year's camp will give you an idea of what an amazing experience it is:

2016 CAMP FACEBOOK VIDEO

Thank you for your support!  And please help us keep Camp Kids Are Kids free to these children and families!

- J.J. Painter