serving children since 1877Remember your summer vacations? Doesn’t every kid deserve that kind of fun?
We have over 200 children scheduled for Fresh Air trips this summer and need your help to host or find hosts!
The Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer vacations to New York City children from disadvantaged communities since 1877. This is your summer to help!
The end of July is growing closer and we still have 200 children who need to be placed with host families for this August
Unless all prospective host families are screened and vetted by the end of July these 200 children may miss out on an invaluable experience
Please host a child or help us get the word out that we need folks who can welcome a child from the city into their homes next month
One last thing that is actually very important. We are looking for families who want to extend an invitation to a 9-12 year old. We really need more families who want older children and boys
Please Email Angie, mailto:angie@freshair.orghair.org, immediately and she'll speed you through the process!
Or, you can call us at 1-800-367-0003 (212.897.8900) -- ask for Angie
If you want to help but don't live in these areas - BLOG about this program, tell your friends, recommend someone, or DONATE
There are trip dates set for August 2008 for over 200 children and we need host families to volunteer to host these inner-city children. The dates and locations are as follows:8/11-8/21
New Jersey: Warren County, Bergen County, Union County, Somerset County, Morris County, Hunterdon County
8/11-8/22
Pennsylvania: Lancaster, Akron, Christiana, Denver, Donegal, East Earl, Elverson, Lititz, Manheim, New Holland, QuarryvilleNew York: St. Massena, Ogdensburg, Potsdam
8/12-8/22
Harrisburg, Pa
8/15-8/22
Central Massachusetts: Acton, Hopkinton, Lexington, Marlboro, Wayland
8/15-8/25
New YorkWestern Fingerlakes: Canandaigua, Canal Towns, DansvilleCentral New York: Fulton, Marcellus and OswegoMassachusetts:Cape CodPennsylvania:Doylestown, Upper Bucks, Lower Bucks, Chalfont
8/25-9/1
New York:Columbia CountyRed Hook/Rhinebeck (Dutchess County)Albany County
News Facts
THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877.Nearly 10,000 New
York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2007, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.Fresh Air Children
Children are selected to participate in The Fresh Air Fund Friendly Town program based on financial need. Children are from low-income communities. Fresh Air youngsters are registered by more than 90 social service and community organizations in all five boroughs of New York City.
Fresh Air Fund Friendly Town Program
Fresh Air children, boys and girls from six to 18 years old, visit over 300 Fresh Air Friendly Towns in the summer. Fresh Air children on first-time visits to Friendly Town host families are six to 12 years old and stay for 7-14 days. Most families have such a great summer with their Fresh Air child that 65% invite the child back the following summer.
Friendly Town Host FamiliesFresh
Air Fund volunteer host families open their homes to inner-city children for two weeks or more in the summertime. Each Friendly Town community is supported by an experienced local volunteer.
There are no financial requirements for hosting a Fresh Air child. Most hosts simply want to share their homes with inner-city youngsters. Host families are not paid. The Fund has a program for placing children who have special physical or emotional needs.
Fresh Air Fund Camping Program
There are no financial requirements for hosting a Fresh Air child. Most hosts simply want to share their homes with inner-city youngsters. Host families are not paid. The Fund has a program for placing children who have special physical or emotional needs.
Fresh Air Fund Camping Program
3,000 New York City youngsters, ages eight to 15, attend five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. Camp Hidden Valley is for boys and girls with and without special needs, eight to 12 years old; Camp Tommy is for 12- to 15-year-old boys; Camp Anita Bliss Coler is for girls, nine to 12-years old; Camp Hayden-Marks Memorial is for nine- to 12-year-old boys, and Camp Mariah is a coed camp for 12- to 14- year-old career campers.
Additionally, 2,000 young people participate in year-round weekend camping experiences. Special features shared by all camps include a planetarium, model farm, wilderness trail and ropes course. Camp Tommy is named in honor of Board member/designer Tommy Hilfiger for his dedication and support of Fresh Air children.
Career Awareness Program
The Fresh Air Fund’s innovative Career Awareness Program is designed to help New York City youngsters understand the relationship between school and work and how to make choices that will determine their futures. In New York City, 12- to 14-year-olds participate in job shadowings that offer close-up views of business and a career fair.
The year-round program includes weekend camping trips and an intensive three-and-a-half week summer session at the Career Awareness Camp – Camp Mariah. The career camp is named in honor of Board member/singer Mariah Carey for her dedication, support and commitment to Fresh Air youngsters. Career awareness graduates continue to receive support through the PreOccupations Club and benefit from the guidance of volunteer mentors.
About Fresh Air Fund
Additionally, 2,000 young people participate in year-round weekend camping experiences. Special features shared by all camps include a planetarium, model farm, wilderness trail and ropes course. Camp Tommy is named in honor of Board member/designer Tommy Hilfiger for his dedication and support of Fresh Air children.
Career Awareness Program
The Fresh Air Fund’s innovative Career Awareness Program is designed to help New York City youngsters understand the relationship between school and work and how to make choices that will determine their futures. In New York City, 12- to 14-year-olds participate in job shadowings that offer close-up views of business and a career fair.
The year-round program includes weekend camping trips and an intensive three-and-a-half week summer session at the Career Awareness Camp – Camp Mariah. The career camp is named in honor of Board member/singer Mariah Carey for her dedication, support and commitment to Fresh Air youngsters. Career awareness graduates continue to receive support through the PreOccupations Club and benefit from the guidance of volunteer mentors.
About Fresh Air Fund
In 1877, the Reverend Willard Parsons, minister of a small rural parish in Sherman, Pennsylvania, asked members of his congregation to provide country vacations as volunteer host families for children from New York City tenements. This was the beginning of The Fresh Air Fund tradition.
By 1884, Reverend Parsons was writing about The Fund for New York’s Herald Tribune, and the number of children served grew. In 2007, close to 10,000 New York City children experienced the joys of summertime in Friendly Towns and at five Fund camps in upstate New York.
By 1884, Reverend Parsons was writing about The Fund for New York’s Herald Tribune, and the number of children served grew. In 2007, close to 10,000 New York City children experienced the joys of summertime in Friendly Towns and at five Fund camps in upstate New York.
Donate
Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities. Whether it’s a two-week trip to the country to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities. We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.
Donate online now Join Our Monthly Giving Program For a few dollars a day, you can have a tremendous impact on the life of an inner-city child. Sign up to be a monthly donor today – easy, convenient, automated and life-changing.
Sign Up Now Printable Donation Form If you'd like to fax or mail in your donation, please print out a form and follow the directions below.You can fax a completed form (with your credit card information) to (212) 681-0146 or mail one (with your check, money order or credit card information) to:
The Fresh Air Fund633 Third Avenue, 14th FloorNew York, NY 10017Make checks payable in US dollars to: The Fresh Air Fund.
The Fresh Air Fund633 Third Avenue, 14th FloorNew York, NY 10017Make checks payable in US dollars to: The Fresh Air Fund.
Open a Printable Form Donate by Phone To make a donation by telephone, call us at (800) 367-0003. Please ask to speak with the Development Department.
Sara Wilson, Outreach Coordinator
Jenny Morgenthau, Executive Director(212) 897-8898
Kate Brinkerhoff, Public Relations Director(212) 897-8890
