132 CHILDREN EXPERIENCED SUMMER TIME NORMALCY THANKS TO 4 GENEROUS GRANTS
Sarasota, FL (July 17, 2017) – Thanks to grants from Bank of America Client Foundation, Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, and The Schoenbaum Family Foundation, Children’s Guardian Fund was able to send 132 abused, abandoned, and neglected children in the 12th Judicial Circuit to a specialty summer camp or activity.
Children attended a variety of local programs including literacy and science camps, athletic camps, dance programs, and camps focused on arts and culture.
“Camp may sound like a luxury, but when you consider the trauma and loss that these children have suffered, sending them to camp is the least we can do,” said Carol Belmont, president of Children’s Guardian Fund. “A structured summer program really promotes summer time learning and allows children to develop new coping skills that will support them as they return to school and tackle academic challenges that often seem very great in view of past problems.”
Requests for camp funding continue to come in as school does not resume until mid-August. “We anticipate processing 30 more requests for summer activities before the summer is over,” said Jan Vestal, Program Director.
There are currently over 1400 children in the 12th Judicial Circuit who are in the care of the state.
