Message from Our Executive Director
Posted: March 26th, 2007
This year, Camp Fire USA - Midlands Council crossed over an extraordinary threshold with the purchase and renovation of a neighborhood building - a first in regional history! Our new home will house a growng staff of dedicated professionals; community meetings and events; and most importantly, our signature educational programming for the more than 900 youth who live within a one-mile radius.
Located at 2566 St. Mary’s Avenue, the building will also serve as a kind of hearth, enkindling hope in a neighborhood that’s seen many hard times. Destination Midtown, a partnership of public and private interests working together to return the Midtown District to prominence, recognized Camp Fire’s revitalizing presence with its annual “Spirit of Midtown” award. We are grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received since moving in last fall.
With outstanding construction by Kiewit Building Group and design by Leo A. Daly, the facility features vibrant, kid-friendly rooms; state-of-the-art meeting areas; and a spacious storage area for our Snack Pack program.
Most importantly, the kids loved the new building the moment their sneakers touched the freshly-laid, colorful carpeting. The fact that it is theirs gives them a sense of belonging and pride, all too often absent in their young lives.
On behalf of the children and teens we serve, I want to thank all the generous individuals, foundations and corporate partners who made our new home possible. Camp Fire’s capital campaign, “Building to Make a Difference,” was a resounding success with $5.5 million raised. $2 million will go to our endowment, laying the foundation for our future, generations to come.
I hope that you will visit our new home soon and take a tour of the facility! I promise you will be as inspired as we continue to be.
Warm Regards,
- Penny Parker
