Jan Mayer Needs Our Help
Donation protected
After a series of personal and financial tragedies including: embezzlement of his company by a trusted bookkeeper, hacking of his computer files from the last fifteen years, and now an aggressive form of prostate cancer our friend Jan Mayer needs our help.
Jan Mayer has made it his life’s work to share his love of art and adventure with the world around him. He has run a successful fine arts business, trained many new artists through internships, co-founded and directed a summer camp for teens where they learned about nature, adventure, and capturing the beauty through the art of photography. The staff consisted of true experts to world class professionals, mostly friends and colleagues of Jan's. Jan has even found the time to lead student tour groups through WDC and adult groups to the National Parks. For over 10 years he organized a not for profit, inspirational ski trip/marketing event for artists and gallery owners alike beneath the slopes of Alta, Utah, that attendees wish he had the time to continue. He has touched the lives of all those who know him and those lucky enough to call him a friend. Jan’s spirit for his work can best be summed up in his own words:
….“Our camps have lots of potential for rewards of all sorts. I believe in the camps and wholeheartedly believe they will influence the next generation in a most positive way. I also believe we will be profitable at some point, but like you, I am not doing this for the promise of financial gain."
Jan’s impact can be clearly felt through the words of his former campers and their families.
"We must never underestimate the power of a mentor. Every great man had a great example! I Can never thank Jan Mayer enough for being there when I was young. His genuine love for life and compassion for others is as contagious, as his sense of adventure. This world is a better place because of the time he took to teach me and others how to seek the Joy"-Derek
"I attended this camp and absolutely loved it. It was unlike any other summer camp experience. It was also great having the director(Jan) around. Instead of running things from an office somewhere he was there, connecting with us, showing us how to have a great time and enjoy the whole experience."
"Both our boys attended the Columbia Gorge Teen Camp 2012. Thank you Jan for organizing such positive environment for our teens, and putting the extra effort into bringing such wonderful and experienced camp leaders"
"Thank you for inspiring me to follow my dreams throughout my life, but also to never forget my artistic side. The color you've brought into my life was instrumental in guiding my soul to calmer pastures. I hope you will continue to inspire youth everywhere in your new adventures!"-Arikia
"I will be eternally grateful to Jan for his influence on my life and the great lengths he went to help shape my childhood and future. Jan made it possible for me to be involved in an expedition camp despite my parents' financial situation. He and the camp encouraged and fostered an absolute love for handwork, outdoors, and adventure that would soon provide to be cornerstones for my career, my character, and my direction in life. In the nearly decade and a half since Jan first showed me the path from inner city Albuquerque to the mountains and rivers of Canada and America, I went on to be one of the youngest to climb El Capitan and continued to travel countless locations and countries both in professional and personal capacities. It is, in no small part, due to Jan fostering my love for adventure that I have climbed and flown some of the largest monoliths in the world. From there, I was able to transfer my hard earned skills and the character forged at camp to the professional world managing some of the largest industrial high angle projects being currently undertaken. As I write this, it is unimaginable the debt and gratitude I feel knowing this catalyst has been one of, if not the most transformative moments in my life. I realize now had there not been someone like Jan to be there for me at that time in my life, the opportunities and direction my life would have taken would have been drastically different and not for the better. Though, paramount to any individual experience, I am thankful for the character it developed in me. If Jan ever is forced to stop his work for youth in need, untold numbers of children will never know how different there lives could have been. "
-Alan
"Quality camps such as Jan Mayer's, are invaluable to building strong, confident leaders with an appreciation of the outdoors and the environment. Providing financial assistance to lower the costs for families that cannot afford to send their children to programs like Jan's is important. Children and young adults who have positive experiences like the one our son had, will likely continue to seek and participate in activities that are healthy for themselves and their community."
-Michele Olson
While most of us think of Jan's life work as creating beautiful silk clothing and silk accessories, Jan considers his work with "youth" his most important contribution and true calling. Jan was originally a high school teacher. He has been very involved in summer camps for youth dating back to 1971 in Minnesota where he was a camp counselor and trip head in the boundary waters. He taught ecology and conservation, water skiing at the base camp and led long distance wilderness canoe trips for four summers. Since then Jan has been instrumental in getting many kids to camp through various scholarship programs that they didn't know existed.In 2014, Jan took a 60% cut in his salary as Camp Director so that 15 kids could attend his camp, including two very deserving homeless kids. One of these campers ended up being awarded a $500 cash award to upgrade her camera and got to meet an Academy Award Winner, who also got his start at a summer camp, some 50 years earlier.
The aggressive prostate cancer Jan was recently diagnosed with does have treatment options but the expense of travel and medical bills makes any form or treatment prohibitive. Jan’s savings are exhausted and after so many years of helping others, Jan needs our help now…..
Funds raised will go towards:
-Day to day living expenses
-Medical expenses ($26,000 is needed for treatment alone, which insurance will not cover)
-Raw materials and supplies to keep silk production workshop up and running until which time he can start selling again.
-Maintaining the healthy cancer protocol.
-Transportation to states where the cancer treatments fit his situation.
-Show fees which must be paid months in advance of show dates.
Be sure and watch the following video to learn more about Jan's remarkable work with teens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8Sw_iWpDTs
We deeply appreciate any and all support you can give, no matter if it's $5, $50, $500 or more.
Thank you so very much.
Blessings and love,
Friends of Jan Mayer
Jan Mayer has made it his life’s work to share his love of art and adventure with the world around him. He has run a successful fine arts business, trained many new artists through internships, co-founded and directed a summer camp for teens where they learned about nature, adventure, and capturing the beauty through the art of photography. The staff consisted of true experts to world class professionals, mostly friends and colleagues of Jan's. Jan has even found the time to lead student tour groups through WDC and adult groups to the National Parks. For over 10 years he organized a not for profit, inspirational ski trip/marketing event for artists and gallery owners alike beneath the slopes of Alta, Utah, that attendees wish he had the time to continue. He has touched the lives of all those who know him and those lucky enough to call him a friend. Jan’s spirit for his work can best be summed up in his own words:
….“Our camps have lots of potential for rewards of all sorts. I believe in the camps and wholeheartedly believe they will influence the next generation in a most positive way. I also believe we will be profitable at some point, but like you, I am not doing this for the promise of financial gain."
Jan’s impact can be clearly felt through the words of his former campers and their families.
"We must never underestimate the power of a mentor. Every great man had a great example! I Can never thank Jan Mayer enough for being there when I was young. His genuine love for life and compassion for others is as contagious, as his sense of adventure. This world is a better place because of the time he took to teach me and others how to seek the Joy"-Derek
"I attended this camp and absolutely loved it. It was unlike any other summer camp experience. It was also great having the director(Jan) around. Instead of running things from an office somewhere he was there, connecting with us, showing us how to have a great time and enjoy the whole experience."
"Both our boys attended the Columbia Gorge Teen Camp 2012. Thank you Jan for organizing such positive environment for our teens, and putting the extra effort into bringing such wonderful and experienced camp leaders"
"Thank you for inspiring me to follow my dreams throughout my life, but also to never forget my artistic side. The color you've brought into my life was instrumental in guiding my soul to calmer pastures. I hope you will continue to inspire youth everywhere in your new adventures!"-Arikia
"I will be eternally grateful to Jan for his influence on my life and the great lengths he went to help shape my childhood and future. Jan made it possible for me to be involved in an expedition camp despite my parents' financial situation. He and the camp encouraged and fostered an absolute love for handwork, outdoors, and adventure that would soon provide to be cornerstones for my career, my character, and my direction in life. In the nearly decade and a half since Jan first showed me the path from inner city Albuquerque to the mountains and rivers of Canada and America, I went on to be one of the youngest to climb El Capitan and continued to travel countless locations and countries both in professional and personal capacities. It is, in no small part, due to Jan fostering my love for adventure that I have climbed and flown some of the largest monoliths in the world. From there, I was able to transfer my hard earned skills and the character forged at camp to the professional world managing some of the largest industrial high angle projects being currently undertaken. As I write this, it is unimaginable the debt and gratitude I feel knowing this catalyst has been one of, if not the most transformative moments in my life. I realize now had there not been someone like Jan to be there for me at that time in my life, the opportunities and direction my life would have taken would have been drastically different and not for the better. Though, paramount to any individual experience, I am thankful for the character it developed in me. If Jan ever is forced to stop his work for youth in need, untold numbers of children will never know how different there lives could have been. "
-Alan
"Quality camps such as Jan Mayer's, are invaluable to building strong, confident leaders with an appreciation of the outdoors and the environment. Providing financial assistance to lower the costs for families that cannot afford to send their children to programs like Jan's is important. Children and young adults who have positive experiences like the one our son had, will likely continue to seek and participate in activities that are healthy for themselves and their community."
-Michele Olson
While most of us think of Jan's life work as creating beautiful silk clothing and silk accessories, Jan considers his work with "youth" his most important contribution and true calling. Jan was originally a high school teacher. He has been very involved in summer camps for youth dating back to 1971 in Minnesota where he was a camp counselor and trip head in the boundary waters. He taught ecology and conservation, water skiing at the base camp and led long distance wilderness canoe trips for four summers. Since then Jan has been instrumental in getting many kids to camp through various scholarship programs that they didn't know existed.In 2014, Jan took a 60% cut in his salary as Camp Director so that 15 kids could attend his camp, including two very deserving homeless kids. One of these campers ended up being awarded a $500 cash award to upgrade her camera and got to meet an Academy Award Winner, who also got his start at a summer camp, some 50 years earlier.
The aggressive prostate cancer Jan was recently diagnosed with does have treatment options but the expense of travel and medical bills makes any form or treatment prohibitive. Jan’s savings are exhausted and after so many years of helping others, Jan needs our help now…..
Funds raised will go towards:
-Day to day living expenses
-Medical expenses ($26,000 is needed for treatment alone, which insurance will not cover)
-Raw materials and supplies to keep silk production workshop up and running until which time he can start selling again.
-Maintaining the healthy cancer protocol.
-Transportation to states where the cancer treatments fit his situation.
-Show fees which must be paid months in advance of show dates.
Be sure and watch the following video to learn more about Jan's remarkable work with teens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8Sw_iWpDTs
We deeply appreciate any and all support you can give, no matter if it's $5, $50, $500 or more.
Thank you so very much.
Blessings and love,
Friends of Jan Mayer
Organizer and beneficiary
Marisa Benzle
Organizer
Detroit, MI
Jan Mayer
Beneficiary