The Kresge Foundation Awards Camp Fire $500,000 Challenge Grant for Capital Campaign

Camp Fire USA Central Puget Sound Council, announced a $500,000 challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation, a leading national foundation providing challenge grants for construction or renovation of facilities. The grant was made on a challenge basis, requiring the Council to raise the $ 1.4 million required to achieve the $6 million campaign goal. The campaign will help support the renovation and transformation of Camp Sealth and Camp Niwana into year-round facilities that will serve more than 12,000 youth each year.

Seattle WA (PRWEB) December 10, 2003 --Today, Lee Drechsel, the chief executive officer of Camp Fire USA Central Puget Sound Council, announced a $500,000 challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation, a leading national foundation providing challenge grants for construction or renovation of facilities. The grant was made on a challenge basis, requiring the Council to raise the $ 1.4 million required to achieve the $6 million campaign goal. The campaign will help support the renovation and transformation of Camp Sealth and Camp Niwana into year-round facilities that will serve more than 12,000 youth each year through camping programs, retreats, and environmental education. This support will also enable Camp Fire to extend its reach to disadvantaged youth, and to improve its service to children, youth and families with special needs.
   Camp Sealth is a well-loved Puget Sound institution that needs renovation and winterizing to meet the growing demands of our popular summer camp and our award-winning environmental education program. With the support of The Kresge Foundation, we can preserve this important part of Washington state history and keep this wonderful camp and Camp Niwana for future of our youth" said Lee Drechsel.

   More than two million children have passed through Camp Fires portals since 1911. Plans for the camps include weatherization, restoration and expansion of the environmental education program, which began last year to assist schools in meeting the state mandate.

   Camp Fire USA is a nationwide nonprofit youth development agency that serves over 650,000 participants in 41 states. Founded in 1910, Camp Fire builds caring, confident youth and future leaders. Local branch offices in Bremerton, Redmond, Kent and Seattle serve more than 17,000 boys and girls, ages 5 to 18. For information on Camp Fire programs, call 1-800-451-CAMP or visit http://www.campfire-usa.org/

   At the time of the September 2003 grant announcements, The Kresge Foundation had awarded 99 grants in 2003 for a total of $62,490,600. It will continue to make new grant commitments during the balance of the year. John E. Marshall, III, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, indicated In this cycle of grantmaking, our Trustees were pleased to support a range of organizations reflecting almost the entire breath of the nonprofit sector. This diverse group is responding to the new challenges presented by their communities or sustaining activities that have demonstrated their effectiveness."

   In 2002, the foundation reviewed 565 proposals and awarded grants totaling $109,251,000 to 158 charitable organizations in 33 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and England. Grants are made to institutions operating in the areas of higher education, health and long-term care, arts and humanities, human services, science and the environment and public affairs.

Grants are made toward projects involving construction or renovation of facilities and the purchase of major capital equipment or real estate. Grant recipients have raised initial funds toward their respective projects before requesting assistance from the foundation. Grants are then made on a challenge basis, requiring the institution to raise the remaining funds, thereby insuring completion of the projects.

   The Kresge Foundation is an independent, private foundation created by the personal gifts of Sebastian S. Kresge. It is not affiliated with any corporation or organization.
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