Jewish camp works — at least that’s according to feedback from a national survey. It reinforces the fact that Jewish camp is a magical transformative experience for Jewish children and plays a big role in shaping future Jewish leaders and professionals. That’s why Jewish Federation of St. Louis is giving 50+ St. Louis Jewish camp-age children, who are going away for the first time for at least 19 days, a special gift. Each is receiving a One Happy Camper (OHC) grant — $1,000 off their camp tuition.   

The group of One Happy Camper grant recipients represents kids from 12 area congregations who are attending 12 different camps. More than 20 of those receiving the grants are going to Camp Sabra. Several others are attending Camp Ben Frankel, Camp Livingston and Camp Nageela Midwest. Between 10 and 15 percent of Jewish camp-age children attend a non-profit Jewish overnight camp any given summer. In 2010, more than 400 children from St. Louis attended Jewish camp. 

The One Happy Camper program (OHC) is a needs-blind cash grant that has, to date, allowed more than 20,000 children in the U.S. and Canada to attend nonprofit Jewish overnight camp. This is the first year that Jewish Federation of St. Louis has participated in the One Happy Camper Program. Federation entered a funding partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp.  FJC will provide a four-year matching grant to the St. Louis community. Michael Staenberg is providing the leadership around fundraising in the St. Louis Jewish community to meet the FJC’s matching grant.

According to the Foundation for Jewish Camp parameters, grants are available only to children who currently are not involved in a Jewish immersion program or enrolled in a Jewish day school. Eligible first-time campers may choose from among more than 150 Jewish non-profit camps listed on FJC’s website www.jewishcamp.org.

There is still time to sign up to receive the $1,000 grant. Visit www.onehappycamper.com. Before beginning the application process, carefully review the eligibility criteria. Have camp and session information readily available as both will be needed to complete the application. 

 

The information above was provided by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.