The Fresh Air Fund: Giving Inner City Children the Experience of a Summer Vacation!
Thursday, June 11, 2009 Posted by Jolly Mom
UPDATE: I am reposting this because the Fresh Air Fund emailed me the other day to let me know that they have received a tremendous offer by some very generous donors. From now until June 30th, any donation you give will be matched dollar for dollar! If you were planning on donating, then now is definitely the time! Also, the Fresh Air Fund is still looking for host families. Keep reading below for more information on how to donate or become a host family this Summer.
I recently found out about an amazing not-for-profit organization called The Fresh Air Fund that gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities. In 2008, The Fresh Air Fund's Volunteer Host Family Program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes for two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.
The Fresh Air Fund is only possible because families with big hearts open up their homes to these children! Summer is quickly approaching and The Fresh Air Fund is looking for host families in several states. They are the states marked in green in the map below.
There is no such thing as a "typical" host family. If you have room in your home - and your heart - to host a child, you could be one too. This program is so successful that more than 65% of all children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year!
Other ways to help The Fresh Air Fund are through donations! You can give a child the experience of a lifetime with your gift to The Fresh Air Fund! Please visit The Fresh Air Fund website for more information on how to donate or become a host family.
I recently found out about an amazing not-for-profit organization called The Fresh Air Fund that gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities. In 2008, The Fresh Air Fund's Volunteer Host Family Program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes for two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.
The Fresh Air Fund is only possible because families with big hearts open up their homes to these children! Summer is quickly approaching and The Fresh Air Fund is looking for host families in several states. They are the states marked in green in the map below.
There is no such thing as a "typical" host family. If you have room in your home - and your heart - to host a child, you could be one too. This program is so successful that more than 65% of all children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year!
Other ways to help The Fresh Air Fund are through donations! You can give a child the experience of a lifetime with your gift to The Fresh Air Fund! Please visit The Fresh Air Fund website for more information on how to donate or become a host family.
May 17, 2009 9:10 AM
The Fresh Air Fund Program is wonderful. I used to live in Northeast Penna and I was very involved in the Fantastic Program. The kids are such fun. Part of my responsiblities was to go into the City and bring 3 busloads of children back to the country. We had children who came every year. They were like the cousins who lived in the city and came to visit for the summer. My Aunt and Uncle had the same young man for years. He is now married and has 2 children. He stays in contact with them and is an amazing young man.
The kids always had a lot to share with us, and they took home a lot of really great experiences with them as well.
I highly encourage everyone to get involved with the Fresh Air Fund.