Over 25 Years Helping Kids

Founded by Marjorie Powell Allen and other community leaders, Camps For Kids stepped in to help when the federal government withdrew assistance for youth summer programming in 1980. Over the past three decades, we have given financial support to more than 40,000 campers who otherwise would have been unable to benefit from this valuable experience. Spina bifida, cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, developmental disabilities, Tourette syndrome, poverty and neighborhood crime … these are some of the challenges facing our campers. Our camping network includes 32 camps specializing in serving this very deserving population. We’re generating life-affirming results for our campers. New skills, sound decision-making, lasting values … that’s Camps For Kids. In 2006 Camps For Kids began an ambitious project to significantly expand support for special needs campers. Based on a successful concept in Michigan called “Detroit Summer Dreams,” the project was led initially by Hallmark, Inc., and involved a number of generous corporate and private philanthropies. The concept is simple and is the heart of the Camps For Kids Campaign: Area philanthropies invest by establishing a fund for special needs campers Participating camps urge their supporters to contribute through this special fund so that donations can be matched dollar for dollar, expanding support for special needs campers Camps For Kids allocates funds after ensuring that our network continues to support the neediest of our community’s kids, with only the highest quality programming After more than ten years of operation, Detroit Summer Dreams is raising over $1.5 million a year for their special needs campers. We believe that Kansas Citians are at least as generous. But it takes your gift to get there! Donate to the Camps For Kids Campaign