The Fresh Air Fund Summer 2009

Earlier this summer I posted some information about the annual half-marathon fundraiser for the Fresh Air Fund. This event and the summer was a big success for the group:

* Nearly 8,000 children enjoyed their best summers yet
* 370 students participated in the Career Awareness Program
* 11 counselors-in-training spent three days on the Appalachian Trail
* 168 young people were Leaders-in-training

“Camp has way more trees, a lot more things that you can see than New York City.” – Yaramyah, 11

“I learned how to swim…I didn’t know how before.” – Malaysia, 9

“I learned a lot of different things from the counselors – I learned how to trust each other, how to respect others, to treat everyone the same.” – Jeremy, 14

“It’s beautiful up there. I could never get tired of waking up to the perfect sunrise and going to sleep to the perfect sunset.” – Francine, 16

Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences in the country to more than 1.7 million New York City children from disadvantaged communities. Each year, thousands of children visit volunteer host families in 13 states and Canada through the Friendly Town Program or attend one of five Fresh Air Fund camps.

For more information on the Fresh Air Fund visit their website, follow them on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook.