Camp Sunshine Receives Nearly $40,000 from Hands On Tzedakah and the UPS Foundation

Donation will be used to purchase two new vans, ensuring safe transportation for Camp Sunshine families

CASCO, Maine (June 18, 2012) – Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind national retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, has received a donation of nearly $40,000 from a pair of national organizations, Hands On Tzedakah (HOT) and the UPS Foundation, to provide two new vans to transport Camp families.

Florida-based Hands On Tzedakah (www.handsontzedakah.org), which donated $20,000, focuses its efforts primarily on supporting essential, life-sustaining programs. The UPS Foundation (www.community.ups.com), which donated $19,500, is UPS’s Corporate Responsibility initiative that directs its financial and non-monetary contributions to organizations that support the changing needs of communities worldwide.

HOT initially offered Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org) a $20,000 matching challenge to which the UPS Foundation responded with $19,500. Bridgton Motors in Maine made up the difference with a $500 contribution.

The donations are designated specifically for purchasing two new camp vans. The vans will allow Camp Sunshine to safely and comfortably shuttle children with life-threatening illnesses and their families between area transportation terminals and the campus in Casco, as well as to transport them to Bridgton Hospital or Maine Medical Center should a child require acute immediate care while at Camp.

“Camp Sunshine is extremely grateful for the generosity of these organizations and the opportunity to purchase two new vans,” said Matt Hoidal, Executive Director of Camp Sunshine. “Their continued support and unyielding commitment to Camp Sunshine and the families we serve is heartwarming.”

Camp Sunshine offers children and their families a one-of-a-kind camp experience, providing the entire family the opportunity to connect and rebuild relationships strained from the pressures of the illness. There is no charge to participating families. Interested families are encouraged to contact Camp Sunshine at (207) 655-3800 or www.campsunshine.org.

Hands On Tzedakah and the UPS Foundation have been loyal donors to Camp Sunshine for years. Including its recent gift, HOT has donated more than $94,000 since 2005. All of HOT's gifts to Camp Sunshine have been to pay transportation costs for families around the country who otherwise would have been unable to access Camp Sunshine.

HOT’s mission is to support programs that fall below the radar screen of traditional funding and collaborate with people and organizations who dedicate themselves to helping others. The organization’s ongoing funding of family transportation has helped Camp Sunshine enhance its accessibility to families from around the nation.

“Hands On Tzedakah partners with programs that make a profound difference in the lives of people,” said Ron Gallatin, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Hands On Tzedakah. “Helping organization’s like Camp Sunshine is why HOT exists.”

The UPS Foundation previously donated $15,000 to Camp Sunshine in 2009 for a camp van. Meanwhile, it has supported other efforts, including a recent volunteer outing at Camp. In May, about 30 UPS employees came to Camp Sunshine to help open up the facility for the summer – and also presented their recent donation.

The UPS Foundation is in its second century of service, and believes that giving means more than writing a check. It means giving time and expertise to ensure effective results to communities in need around the world. The UPS Foundation exhibits this mentality by not only making valuable monetary donations but also by volunteering time and efforts to organizations like Camp Sunshine.

“The UPS Foundation is honored to support Camp Sunshine’s efforts to secure transportation for Camp families,” said Eduardo Martinez, President of the UPS Foundation. “Our goal is to fund powerful programs that make a lasting difference to the global community.”

Camp Sunshine recently received a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s leading independent charity evaluator. The rating placed Camp Sunshine 39th in the country – and first in Maine - out of thousands of charities that were exhaustively analyzed for financial oversight, management and transparency.

About Camp Sunshine
Camp Sunshine offers children with life-threatening illnesses and their families a place to relax together for a week, and to take a break from the extraordinary demands placed upon them on a daily basis. The year-round program is free of charge and staffed almost entirely by volunteers. It is the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a life-threatening illness on every member of the immediate family — the ill child, the parents and the siblings. Since its inception in 1984, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for more than 32,000 individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition to providing 24-hour on-site medical and psychosocial support, the camp offers a variety of daily activities, including swimming, boating, archery and soccer, and special events such as bonfires and cookouts. To support Camp Sunshine, please call (207) 655-3800 or visit www.campsunshine.org.

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Here is more information about Camp Sunshine