This quarter, as part of our commitment to Pledge 1%, the RFPIO team came together to donate to the University of Oregon’s chapter of Camp Kesem. We are proud to sponsor local initiatives, and were introduced to this incredible community effort by our teammate Ryan Slee.
Camp Kesem is an organization that conducts free summer camps for children dealing with the loss of a parent to cancer. Ryan has volunteered with the U of O chapter of Camp Kesem for over seven years and is passionate about the organization and the kids they are able to support.
About Camp Kesem
Camp Kesem was founded in 2000 at Stanford University by founder Iris Rave Wedeking. It’s a volunteer effort driven by college students who plan and staff the camps, and has since become a national organization with university chapters across the country.
According to their website, “for many children their Camp Kesem experience is a life-changing event—providing a community of children with similar experiences, and a safe and welcoming environment to have fun and rediscover their childhood.”
Support and community
The American Cancer Society says that children “grieve differently from adults, and each child is different too. Each phase of growth and development may bring up new aspects of the loss and the child may grieve over and over.”
Keegan Daley, the University of Oregon’s Camp Kesem Director, said, “Camp Kesem is important because it provides a unique, safe space for these children to be themselves. It creates a loving and inclusive atmosphere where they can connect to others who are in similar situations, be understood, and just let loose and be a kid again.
I wanted to do something that made a difference in this world, and I found that in Camp Kesem. I continue to volunteer for Kesem because of the family-like community it has created for me and because these kids inspire me every day.”
How you can help
There are several ways to support Camp Kesem. The University of Oregon chapter has created an Amazon Wishlist for this year’s camp, with items that you can donate directly. “These items are inexpensive and can go a long way in making it a memorable experience for the kids. The tealight candles are especially important because they are part of a remembrance ceremony. Any help is appreciated,” Ryan said.
If you are in the Portland area and are interested in supporting the organization further, they are hosting a benefit event at the Urban Studio on NW Davis Street on April 28 called Make the Magic.
