District Foundation

As I sit here and write this article, children from the New York District are enjoying life at Kamp Kiwanis, they are playing games, boating on "Lake Janis", sleeping under the stars at the "J. Donald Herring Tenting Village", doing arts and crafts in our very new and spacious "Bensonhurst & Bay Ridge Arts & Crafts Shack" and just enjoying the outdoor experience as well as making new and lasting friendships.
This may seem to you as just a week of fun and games for challenged and underprivileged children to enjoy but it's more than that, it's a chance for these children to interact with others, it's a chance for a challenged child to be able to play with a healthy child, it's a chance for these children to learn to be tolerant of others and to learn about life. This is what will guide a child in his/her formative years to choose the right path when they come to that fork in the road of life.
This is the beauty and the mission at Kamp Kiwanis, this is what Executive Director Rebecca Lopez and her staff of counselors are trained to do and they are great at it. This is what Kiwanis is all about, helping the children to become better citizens in our community and someday be able to give back what they have received. I hope you can understand the value of sending one child for a week at Kamp Kiwanis, it's not just fun and games; it's a life changing experience.
Your Kamp, (yes it is your Kamp) is constantly improving to better serve the children that attend, as you know, the new "Arts & Crafts Shack" is much larger and better equipped than the old one, this will allow the Kamp staff to serve many more children at one time, and give the children an opportunity to learn more. I can't say enough about all of the Kiwanians who donated their time and money to help complete the building.
Now work has been started for our new "Library". The Queens West Kiwanis Foundation, under the leadership of Joe Aiello has, made a commitment to fund a brand new library building at Kamp Kiwanis, they have stepped up to the table and have come through on a commitment made three years ago by then President, Distinguished Past Gov. Edward McGowan. This library will be a learning center with books to read, educational videos to watch so that each child will come away with the best Kamping experience possible. We at the NYDKF want to express our appreciation to the Queens West Kiwanis Foundation, past President Ed McGowan and present President Joe Aiello and the rest of the board of directors for their commitment to the Kamp and especially to the children.
I would like to send out get well wishes to New York District Foundation Vice President Joe Battista for a full recovery. As you may or may not know, Joe suffered a severe heart attack the Friday evening of the Kamp open house weekend. Had it not been for the speedy action of the Turning Stone staff, this could have turned out much different. On June 14 Joe went into the hospital and surgeons performed quintuple bypass surgery. Joe is at home recuperating and tells me that every day he feels a little bit better. He understands that it is a long process to full recovery and is very much committed to regain his health and once again be the force that he is, promoting and helping Kamp Kiwanis. I'm sure that you will all join us at the NYDKF in wishing Joe a quick but most of all, a full recovery. Joe get well soon, Kamp Kiwanis would never be what it is today if it wasn't for Kiwanians like you.
While we're on the recovery wishes, we would like to send best wishes to President Emeritus of the NYDKF, Hon. Orlando "Lindy" Marrazzo for a speedy recovery from shoulder replacement surgery.
I want to also mention our gratitude to Governor Bill Risbrook for his commitment to our Kamp, Governor Bill has continued the Military Kamper program started by DPG Mike Malark and has raised a great deal of money for that program and I know that there's more to come. Thank you Governor, you're an inspiration to our future governors.
Have a great summer and we'll see you in August.
 

Column Posted on Web Site July 28, 2012