We love that our community supports Camp CARE. As the constant needs for funds arises, many local organizations have stepped up to help us raise money.

Transactions For Charity is yet another of these awesome groups.

Do you have a business that runs credit card transactions? Do you know someone else that does?  This may be a great way for you to save money AND help Camp CARE.

Transactions for Charity uses the power of a business’ credit card processing to generate donations to a local charity of the business owner’s choice.  However, if anyone from the Camp Care organization refers a business that uses TFC, the donations resulting from their credit card processing will be automatically directed to Camp Care.  Your donations will consist of an upfront $50 donation for every new merchant as well as an ongoing donation in the amount of 10% of the monthly profit from each merchant’s processing fees.  Since Transactions for Charity provides a turnkey fundraising solution, the referral is all that is required from Camp Care.

For example, if someone from Camp Care refers TFC to their dental office and they sign up with TFC, Camp Care gets $50, plus ongoing donations (paid quarterly) based on their monthly profit.  If this office ran $50k in credit cards each month, you could expect around $10/mo for as long as they continued to process through us.  If another company ran about $1M each month, you could expect about $100/mo from that.  This is great for everyone involved.

If you already have a contract with another company for credit card transactions, it still might be worth it to have TFC run a free report for you and see if they can get you a better deal. Many local companies and non-profits are now using them because their rates are so good AND they give back to local charities.

Website:              www.transactionsforcharity.org

Facebook:           http://www.facebook.com/pages/Transactions-for-Charity/163009070406102?sk=info

So if you own a business or work for someone that runs credit card transactions, please consider contacting Chris at Transactions for Charity and possibly switching your transactions over to them, helping Camp CARE in the process.

Please pass this along!!

Next week: We’ll move on from fundraisers and focus on WHY camp is important to chronically ill children and their siblings.

Back in the Spring, I posted about a very special little girl named Jenna who won the “Spirit of Camp CARE” award last year. This is an award that we give to a camper for various different things such as: participating and embracing camp  in all events, helping other campers-showing compassion, teamwork, etc… Basically exemplifying “spirit” while at camp.

Last year we presented this award to 3 different campers.

Today, I want to tell you about yet another of our 2010 winners.

His name is Russell O’Neal and he is one special young man. I had a few minutes to catch up with Russell earlier this summer, and am just now sitting down to write up some of his advice and thoughts on camp this year.

Russell is 18 years old and has been in treatment for the past 2 years. He attended camp for the first time in 2010 and was extremely nervous about being away from home for the first time since his treatment began. Our staff was amazed at how Russell jumped right in and participated in all activities. At one point, I looked up and he was swinging out over the lake from a rope swing. At another time during the week, he tried out the zipline and he was not afraid to ask the ladies to dance during our annual dance of the week. Every staff member agreed that Russell was a great choice for the spirit of Camp CARE.

Here’s some information that Russell gave me about camp.

1. What was your biggest fear about coming to camp?-Being away from home and not knowing anyone.

2.What were your favorite activities at camp?-Tubing on the Lake and The Dance-for sure!

3.What is your advice for new campers-Try not to be nervous. You will make tons of new friends. Just be yourself. Have a blast!

4. What did you appreciate the most in our staff? That they supported me. That they encouraged me to try new things.

5. What is your advice for parents sending their kids to camp for the first time? I promise you 100% for sure that your kids are being well taken care of.

.Here are a few pictures or Russell participating in some of his favorite camp events!

And since we have had yet ANOTHER season of camp since Russell won his award, I thought I would take a moment to post a pictures of the 2 winners from camp THIS year.

Over 10 children were nominated for the award this year, but Gabby and Ji were the final recipients of our special Mickey and Minnie Mouse awards. Hopefully, we will have a chance to post interviews with them sometime soon.