Help Send a Kid to Camp pay for 300 more kids to go to camp this year

The Arizona Daily Star Sportsmen’s Fund raises money so children from low-income households and active military families in Southern Arizona can attend camp on scholarships funded by Star readers.

Our goal is to raise $250,000 to pay for up to 800 kids to go to camp this year. We committed to pay for at least 400 kids to attend YMCA and Boy and Girl Scouts overnight camps in the Santa Catalinas and Camp Tatiyee, in the White Mountains, for school-age children with special needs. These camps are summer camps.

In addition, we now expect to send 400 more children from Title 1 schools to two shorter overnight camps — Sky School camp, a four-day, three-night science camp atop Mount Lemmon, and Camp Cooper, a three-day, two-night desert exploration camp on Tucson's westside. Both camps are mostly during the school year. 

So far, we've received 830 donations totaling $195,022.72 or 78% of our goal. We're shy $57,363.87 for summer camps. 

Our summer bills include:

• $6,630 to send 17 kids from Edge High School to Sky School.

• $13,090 to send 31 kids from Flowing Wells to Sky School.

• $85,000 to send 85 kids to week-long Lions Camp Tatiyee for children with disabilities. 

• $150,000 to send 242 kids to weeklong Triangle Y Ranch camp.

We have pledged $72,000 to pay for at least 350 more kids to attend Camp Cooper and Sky School by the end of the year. 

Our 22nd annual Cork Fun Chili Cook-Off is expected to raise nearly half of that pledge. The cook-off is Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cork Tucson, 6320 E. Tanque Verde Road. Admission is $10 at the door. 

Since 1947, the Sportsmen’s Fund has helped pay for 45,189 children to go to overnight camp. We’re one of the oldest 501(c )(3) charities in Arizona and one of the most efficient, with 97 cents from every dollar going to send kids to camp.

Your contribution to the Arizona Daily Star Sportsmen’s Fund Send a Kid to Camp fund qualifies for the Arizona tax credit for donations to qualifying charitable organizations. Our code is 20450.

Joint Arizona filers can donate up to $1,009 for 2026 taxes, and other Arizona filers can donate up to $506 for their 2026 taxes. Our EIN is 86-6053274, which is needed for some funders.

Credit-card donations and details on the camps we sponsor: azsendakidtocamp.org

Send checks, payable to Sportsmen’s Fund, to: Send a Kid to Camp, P.O. Box 16141, Tucson, AZ 85732-6141

For more information: Debbie Kornmiller at 520-954-3139 or info@azsendakidtocamp.org

Donations are welcome throughout the year.

Recent donations include:

American Online Giving Foundation, $142.80.

Regina Bohnert, $15.

Ed and Linda Bolyard, $50.

C.J. Bright, $250.

Kathryn Cade, in memory of Rick Cade, $100.

Carol and Jesse Couch, $156.89.

Jim Davis, $300.

John G. Furrier, $150.

Deborah H. Gallivan, $100.

Hidden Valley Lunch Bunchers Rene Coy, Mary Ann Jacobs, Noreen R. Nelson, Mary Ann Nickles-Larkin, Linda Lu Maddux, Anne Catren and Carole Fee, $220.

James H. Holmberg, $200.

Adrian Ingalsbe, $260.

June Kulow, $50.

Jennifer Prileson, $104.70.

Wayne W. Ritari, $50.

Byron Snyder, $100.

DA Rempe and ML Wilson Fund, $500.