Fresh Air Fund

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Fresh Air Fund is a charity that helps inner-city children have fun in less urban environments. It was created in 1877 and celebrity contributors to the fund include Mariah Carey, Tommy Hilfiger, Christina Milian and Eric West.

Every summer, The Fresh Air Fund sends thousands of six to 18 year old city children to stay with volunteer host families in 13 states and Canada. In addition, The Fund runs five summer camps on a 2,300 acre reservation in Fishkill, New York. About 3,000 children sleep-away at camp for 12 to 24 days each summer.

Camp Mariah is the name of one of The Fund's camps, and is sponsored by Mariah Carey. It is a serene escape, located in Fishkill, New York, intended to allow inner-city youth to embrace the arts, be introduced to career opportunities, and build self-esteem. Run by The Fresh Air Fund, Camp Mariah is part of The Fund's Career Awareness Program, serving children in 7th through 9th grade.

During the rest of the year, The Fresh Air Fund's camps are rented out to other groups. Camp Mariah and Camp Hidden Valley have heated cabins which can be used throughout the winter. Sharpe Reservation, home to all five camps, also has a year-round nature program, high and low ropes courses, a planetarium, and a model farm.

[edit] External links

• The Fresh Air Fund — the organization's official Web site
• Camp Mariah
• Sharpe Reservation — more information about year-round use of The Fund's reservation