Care Camps has gained a new partner in healing this week as Lippert Components, Inc. (Lippert™) made an announcement of its combined financial and volunteer support of the charity that helps kids with cancer experience the healing power of the outdoors.
Lippert’s Director of Corporate & Community Impact, Michilah Grimes, said, “In honor of
Lippert’s 65th anniversary, we are kicking off our celebration by giving back to a charity that serves kids in every community where Lippert employees and customers live! From May 24th – May 30th a portion of ALL sales from our online store (https://store.lci1.com/) will be donated to Care Camps — an organization that provides opportunities for children with cancer to attend specialized oncology camps where they get to spend time outdoors and experience new adventures while being with other kids just like them. For us, serving the people and communities around us is the very foundation of our team’s culture — so we thought there’s no better way to celebrate our 65th anniversary than by doing what we love the most…Giving Back!”
Lippert’s CEO, Jason Lippert, stated, “Lippert is passionate about helping children and families around the world, along with camping and the outdoors, so partnering with Care Camps is a natural fit for Lippert. Not only do they help children and families dealing with a terrible disease, but they focus on the importance of getting outdoors and the restorative nature of camping. So many children miss out on all of the wonderful outdoor activities that camping can provide when they are sick, and Care Camps gives children dealing with cancer a chance to experience the healing power of the outdoors, all at no cost to the families. The Lippert family is excited to be a part of this mission, and we hope more of our industry partners will join us to make sure every child has this opportunity.”
In addition to a newly announced major charitable gift, Lippert has already served many Care Camps children this year with an employee “Acts of Service” event in April that packed 1,000 kits full of fun items to send to kids all over the region for Care Camps’ “Camp-In-A-Box” experiences.
Because COVID has forced many of these kids who are immunocompromised to stay in isolation for the past year, camps decided they needed to bring the fun to the kids at home by providing interactive virtual camp experiences, coupled with the “Camp-In-A-Box” activities that allow kids stuck at home to still get outdoors and have fun together by doing backyard campouts, virtual campfire singalongs, Zoom hikes, scavenger hunts, making s’mores, and so much more, while still providing the emotional support of camp counselors through “Zoom Cabin Chats” throughout the year. Through their creativity, these special camps across the nation were able to serve even more kids than usual, and provide year-round support, as this new format allowed kids in hospitals to be a part of the laughter and fun, too.
Care Camps also announced the addition of Michilah Grimes to the Care Camps Advisory
Council, where she will serve the charity by helping find ways to ensure every child has the chance to experience nature and promote the cause within the RV and outdoors industry. Care Camps Director of Development, Jennifer Mercer, said, “We are thrilled that the Lippert team is joining forces with Care Camps to make sure kids facing cancer have the opportunity to be in the outdoors and find healing with other kids who know exactly what they are going through. Michilah has already been an incredible champion for our kids, and we are excited to have her on the Care Camps team.”
Michilah said, “I am honored to join the Advisory Board of Care Camps. This special charity provides an opportunity that allows children going through cancer to be a kid – to play games, be in the outdoors, and laugh with one another. In the midst of such a difficult time, they get to throw their worries out the window and be a kid. The camps also give them a chance to create lasting friendships with those who understand what they are going through. They aren’t labeled by their disease but are celebrating life.”
Thanks to an ongoing generous donation from Kampgrounds of America’s (KOA) Rewards Program, all of Care Camps administrative costs are covered, allowing 100% of all donations like this one from Lippert to go directly towards helping the kids. More funding is needed to ensure every child battling cancer has the opportunity to find hope and the healing power of the outdoors. If you or your business would like to give back and support Care Camps, you can learn more at www.CareCamps.org.
