Camp Kavod Summer Camp, Fit & Fun Sports Program and Project RIDE are all part of the Levis Jewish Community Center’s Special Needs Department that provides children and teens with special needs (ages 4-20) with a high quality and well rounded camp program during summer and holiday breaks. HOT’s first grant to Camp Kavod provided the initial funds to purchase digital cameras and printers to launch a middle and high school Digital Photography program. HOT has continued this funding which has enabled this program to successfully continue for three years, tremendously benefiting and enhancing campers’ fine motor skills and creativity.
Since the original grant, we have made annual grants for extras “not in the budget” to make the summer more enjoyable and complete for children with special needs, and we have expanded our support to other vital year-wide programs. HOT’s support has funded a dance for middle and high school students to assist in promoting greater social and recreational opportunities. Most recently, HOT funded a new “Fun in the Sunshine” adapted art program that included supplies and equipment to enhance fine and gross motor skills for new Pre-K campers. Additionally, HOT funded a Sensitivity Training Program for over 100 teens who mentor children and teens with special needs in the Fit & Fun Sports Program and Project RIDE (Recreation, Independence, Development and Equipment) bicycle program where children and teens with special needs receive a customized tricycle on loan until the child outgrows it, providing a new active and social opportunity for families to come together and ride bikes.
Now that the print has been bolded regular readers of the HOT News know that we are going to give the organization’s wish list. It is longer than most, but the total dollars are small. Why list it this way? Because we want our donors to see and feel what they can do to help make a summer, fall, winter or spring program that much more enjoyable for a special group of children whose needs are different than others, whose needs are so much simpler than other children. It takes so little to make them happy. Read the next paragraph and see how you can create a smile. Consider designating:
- 2,000 for materials and an adaptive art instructor for a new Heart Program (Taking Art to Heart)
- $2,500 for mats and trainers for yoga for relaxation therapy and enhancing self-control for their youngest campers
- $1,800 for materials and instructor for a Music Therapy Program for sensory integration of the youngest campers
- $1,000 for a Teen Dance
- $500 for Materials and Games to enhance social skills of teen campers
Additionally, the following donations are necessary to successfully continue programs:
- $900 for Fit & Fun Sports Buddy Sensitivity Training
- $600 for Project RIDE bike events
- $4,500 for ten Project RIDE adapted bicycles ($450 each)