Send a Kid to Camp goal increased to meet Tucson need

The program raises money so children from low-income households and military families can attend overnight YMCA, Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps for little or no cost to their families.

Our original goal was to raise $180,000 to send 670 kids to summer camp. So far this year we’ve received 1,162 donations totaling $137,133.

On June 16, the YMCA asked for and was granted an additional $10,000 because families were still applying and the Y had already allotted all of the Sportsmen’s Fund scholarship money.

That day alone, 10 scholarship requests were submitted, Chip Hutler, executive director of the YMCA’s Triangle Y Ranch Camp, wrote in an email.

“We have reached out to a variety of nonprofits and community service groups to reach those who might have need including C.A.S.A.-Court Appointed Special Advocates, Black Women’s Task Force, Doolen Middle School/IDOC, 355th Force Support Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, 162nd Arizona Air National Guard, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Tucson, Tucson Refugee Ministry, Casa de los Niños, TUSD Native American Studies, Compass Affordable Housing, Arizona Children’s Association, numerous schools and the YMCA branches in Tucson.

“We are grateful to the Sportsmen’s Fund and all of the donors who provide us with the opportunity to serve youth at camp who would otherwise not have a camp experience,” he wrote.

Since 1947, the Arizona Daily Star Sportsmen’s Fund has helped pay for 37,907 children to go to camp. It is one of the oldest 501c(3) charities in Arizona.

Your contribution qualifies for the Arizona tax credit of up to $400 for donations to qualifying charitable organizations. Donations are welcome throughout the year.

Recent donations include:

Jack Alexander, $100.

Alpha Delta Kappa PSI, $150.

Abe and Barbara Aragon, in memory of Abe Aregon Sr., $50.

Charles Autrey, $400.

Bill Baker, $50.

Dorothy Baldwin, $25.

Patricia Banner, $50.

Gino Barone, $100.

S. Annette Bartlett, $250.

Patricia and Franklyn Bergen, $100.

Mary Black, $75.

Marjorie Blaine, $100.

Dan and Mary Boone, $100.

Anne Britt, $50.

Cranston Broadfoot family, in loving memory of Brian Keith Pranger, $150.

Kathleen Brooks, $200.

Jean Burton, $100.

Cheri Cross-Bushnell, in memory of Ace Bushnell, $100.

Elaine Carlton, $100.

Maj. Carl Carlton, USAF (Ret.), $500.

Linda and John Carter, in memory of Jim Leader Sr., $100.

Mark Cavins, $100.

Karen Chadwell, $100.

Dolores Christensen, $100.

Karen Christensen, in memory of Ryan Kay, $100.

Robert Coate, $100.

Sam and Laverne Cohen, $35.

Kathleen Colsman, $1,000.

Joe Conley, $25.

R.J. Daniels, $100.

Linda Dashew, $200.

Patsy Davis and Glenn Davis, CSM (Ret.), $200.

Jeanine Delgman, $100.

Sue and Ron Detrick, in memory of Gladys Hurt, $300.

Doris Dinsmore, $100.

Judith and Richard Dowse, Jan McCarron, $100.

Ruby Duke, $75.

Vicki Edwards, $400.

Constance Elson, $15.

Susan Enholm, thinking of her sister Chris Mankowitz who hated camp, $100.

Warren Essig, in memory of Bill Pahle, $20.

James Fogltance, $75.

Jacqueline Ford, $75.

Bill and LaVerne Foster, $100.

Eugene Foushee, $100.

Martha Frailey, $50.

Robert Fusinati, $200.

Lori Gaudette, $200.

Mona Gentz, $90.

Steven Gibson, in memory of Steve Minder, Jim Gibson and Johnny Gibson, $100.

Christopher Goldsmith, $25.

Derek Roth Gordon, $750.

Janet Grimes, $50.

Janet and Kai Haber, M.D., $100.

Eleanor Hagen, $100.

Deborah Hammar, $35.

Pat Heller, $200.

Bruce Hilbert, $30.

Alice Hinton, $50.

Linda Howland, $25.

Sharidah Jenkins, $95.

Becky and Sid Johnson, in memory of our sister Jan McCarron, $2,000.

Joseph and Toni Kane, $100.

Janet and Kai Keepers, $50.

Patrick Kelly, in memory of Elizabeth Dickey Kelly, $400.

Susan Kettlewell, $200.

R. Keyser, $200.

Philip King, $100.

Joan Kleinerman, $20.

George Campbell and Debbie Kornmiller, in memory of Ken Carlton, $100.

Elaine Kozolchyk, $54.

Wendy Kriendler, $50.

Lois Kulakowski, $200.

More donations will be acknowledged in the coming week.