Kampgrounds of America (KOA) and its franchisees will donate more than $900,000 to Care Camps, a charity that helps children with cancer spend time outdoors.
The amount includes a recent additional $100,000 on top of KOA’s traditional financial support sources. KOA stated it donates $1 from every Value Kard Rewards loyalty program sale to Care Camps, along with offering a promotional camping weekend in May to provide the organization additional funding.
“Since the non-profit’s inception, KOA franchisees and KOA have been the leading champions for this cause,” Care Camps Director of Development Jennifer Mercer stated. “The KOA system has raised over 14 million dollars to help kids with cancer forget about the chemo, the radiation, and all the hard stuff that comes with cancer, and just be a kid again.”
Care Camps was founded 36 years ago by KOA campground owners and is the organization’s primary charity, offering special oncology camps to children.
“Today, Care Camps is growing partnerships across the camping and RV industries, but KOA and its franchisees are still Care Camps largest supporters, and we could not be more grateful for this gift,” Mercer stated.
Because of Covid restrictions, Care Camps’ three main fundraisers were cancelled this year, including the KOA Big Weekend in May. State-issued business limitations restricted campground fundraisers, the organization stated.
In addition, KOA noted a corporate and private donation slowdown, resulting in Care Camps facing a substantial camp budget deficit. The deficit prompted KOA to move forward with an additional donation this year.
President and CEO Toby O’Rourke learned about the financial challenges that Covid restrictions had posed for the camps, KOA stated, inspiring her to garner support from KOA ownership to make the additional $100,000 donation.
“KOA and its campgrounds have always been dedicated to making sure kids with cancer can experience the healing power of the outdoors though Care Camps,” O’Rourke stated. “As a corporation, we wanted to do what we could to offer additional support to the charity during what has been an extremely challenging year.
“Camp directors at these special oncology camps knew that cancer would not take a break for Covid,” she stated.
KOA camp staff launched the Interactive Virtual Camps and Camp-in-a-Box programs to bring activities to kids within their homes, O’Rourke stated. In addition, the camps were able to serve children in hospitals who normally wouldn’t have been able to attend camp in-person.
“As a result, thousands of kids going through the hardest times of their lives were able to create memories to help them endure the challenges they face despite Covid restrictions,” O’Rourke stated.
O’Rourke noted feeling strongly about ensuring camps are available next year.
“We hope others in the outdoor hospitality and RV industry will join us with year-end gifts to ensure kids with cancer continue to have the chance to enjoy the outdoors,” she stated. “We all believe in the health benefits of being outside, and I can’t think of an organization more aligned with the values of this industry than Care Camps.”
