How this Solution really makes a difference

The Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation was created in 1996 by Carol DiPaolo and her son Joey. When Joey was four, (1984) he was infected with the HIV virus from a blood transfusion during open-heart surgery. At age ten, Joey and his family attended Camp Sunburst in California which was the first ... moreThe Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation was created in 1996 by Carol DiPaolo and her son Joey. When Joey was four, (1984) he was infected with the HIV virus from a blood transfusion during open-heart surgery. At age ten, Joey and his family attended Camp Sunburst in California which was the first and only AIDS related summer camp program in the country. Empowered and motivated by the camp experience both mother and son began public speaking in 1990 bringing AIDS education to parents, faculty, and students throughout the country. After becoming national AIDS spokespersons for several AIDS organizations, Carol and Joey decided to establish The Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation (JDAF). JDAF is a foundation motivated by compassion and hope for young people who are living in unforeseen circumstances. Together, Carol and Joey have provided over 500 AIDS prevention and education programs nationwide. In 2000, Camp TLC was officially founded, as a vehicle to provide camping to youth living with AIDS/HIV. Being that the AIDS/HIV virus became a manageable disease versus one that took the lives of those infected, the need for programs that dealt solely with AIDS/HIV was diminished and as a result. Camp TLC went dormant in 2008. Recently, the Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation teamed up with seasoned nonprofit professional Caroline Baumis and decided to bring her dream of bringing programs to children living in isolating circumstances to life. Camp TLC is an on the move camping program that delivers a week of camp to children living in hospitals, group homes, and shelters across the country at no charge to the organization. Starting in the summer of 2011, Camp TLC toured the Northeast for 4 weeks and brought camp to partnering organizations via a tractor trailer filled with programming supplies and traveling program staff. Camp TLC launched during the summer of 2011, and “toured” the Northeast for 4 weeks bringing camp to selected organizations in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Camp TLC spent five days in each city and deliver themed-filled activities similar to those provided by residential for-profit camps. In each location we worked within the constraints of the facility and the particular physical or health limitations of the children. And in its first year, Camp TLC served the needs of more than 250 children and family members for 4 different organizations throughout the Northeast. Camp TLC spends five – six days in each city and delivers themed filled activities that are similar to what they would experience at a residential for-profit camp but at the facility where they are residing. Camp TLC believes that when children are delivered hope and happiness through quality programming, they are delivered a renewed sense of self-esteem and respect not only for themselves but others. Each day will have its own theme that not only represents fun but will have a curriculum that parallels some of life’s most important lessons (friendship, trust, knowledge, respect, love). Camp TLC’s goal is to develop programming that connects all of the areas of programming together so that the children also have creative outlets to display what they have learned throughout all of the activities. Programming areas include art, dance, music, drama, and sport based youth development and will strive to inspire each child to take risks and discover skills they might not know they have. On the last day of Camp, the week will be celebrated by giving children the final and most important gift, the gift of self-esteem, which will be executed through the Showcase of Jewels (art, sports, poetry, singing, dance, and other talent) and will be open to the organizational staff that works with the children at the facility (including parents when appropriate). Camp TLC will also bring many of the aspects of evening camp (campfires, s’mores, songs, water fun, drive-in movie night, etc.) that we all remember but in a manner that fits the structure of the facility we are serving. Some of the unique evening programming we have planned is as follows: Wild Sports Night: A fun event to bring the kids and staff all together working towards a goal, developing a creative and competitive spirit while having absolute fun and tones of laughter (and get a little messy )in the process. Olympic Day: Kids and Staff will work together in various relay events or group exercises (adaptive when necessary) encouraging fair play and the development of team work from all the kids and leadership from the older kids. Camp TLC Amazing Race: A great event that will involve family, staff and kids towards several tasks to be completed in teams in a race against time and each other. But in the end, everyone wins! Disco Poly Night: A disco night for family and kids with \\\ Follow the Leader\\\ dances, friendly dance offs and much more. This night is designed to teach children and families the importance of fun group physical activity. The benefit of including our families in some of our programming is twofold: First, Camp TLC believes that by including the entire family in some of our activities, so that together, they can benefit from the joys of camp and quality family programming while creating positive memories despite living in a stressful living situation. Second, by exploring the vast world of sports via creative programming outlets, we hope that we can teach the families the benefits of sports in the lives of today’s youth as it builds both strong minds and strong bodies.

Feel Good Factor
Camp TLC strives to embody the spirit of youth in every community we serve, inside and out of the organization that has been selected as a beneficiary. By working with the youth that live outside of the selected organization in the community, we are able to create an amazing Camp session f... ...moreCamp TLC strives to embody the spirit of youth in every community we serve, inside and out of the organization that has been selected as a beneficiary. By working with the youth that live outside of the selected organization in the community, we are able to create an amazing Camp session for those that are residing inside the facility that reflects the community in which all of the participating youth live in. The staff of Camp TLC works directly with the participating youth and helps them design and implement a camp session that reflects THEIR community for the children they choose to serve. That’s right, you help us choose the site, the youth, the volunteers AND the activities. Prior to Camp, we will travel to you and work with your team of volunteers, together, and allow you to help us design a week long camp session which will take place over the summer or school break. From site selection, volunteer recruitment, program design, Camp TLC wants your involvement in making a difference in the lives of youth across the country. During Camp, you get to be a part of the action and volunteer as a counselor so that you can see the magic you created first hand. We can’t think of a better way to make a difference in the lives of youth, can you? Most of us have never spent the night in a homeless/domestic violence shelter or been separated from our parents and placed in foster care. Even fewer of us have had to spend the summer in a hospital battling a serious illness or disability. To children living in these circumstances, life can not only be a daily challenge but one that at times is isolating, and leaves them with a sense of hopelessness. Camp TLC is designed to give these children a week of camp that provides them with not only a sense of joy and happiness, but most importantly, lifts the burden of the circumstance in which they are living and gives them the ability to be a normal kid. Camp TLC wants to someday have an impact ALL throughout the United States. We want YOU to be a part of this special program and help ROCK OUT and bring camp to youth across the country living in isolating circumstances.

Project Ideas
Because Camp is a really cool place to be during the summer, we are not only looking for money but really cool fun things to use throughout the day. Youth can help us by working with local groups to get games, arts and crafts, entertainers, ice cream, sports equipment, and anything else tha... moreBecause Camp is a really cool place to be during the summer, we are not only looking for money but really cool fun things to use throughout the day. Youth can help us by working with local groups to get games, arts and crafts, entertainers, ice cream, sports equipment, and anything else that you or your group thinks would make the day more FUN! As far as fundraisers go, we can help you out in that area as well and provide you with the tools to develop and implement an event that works in YOUR community!

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