October 2002
Dear Friend,
Greetings from West Virginia. Scottie’s Place is thriving! Thanks to the support we received from hundreds of individuals and five private foundations, Scottie’s Place was able to serve a record number of children during the summer 2002. Children from as far away as Philadelphia and as close as Beckley and Lewisburg, West Virginia spent two weeks at Scottie’s Place having the time of their lives! The high point of the summer was a wilderness camping adventure on the banks of the New River. Campers canoed down river with all their gear and spent three days exploring, fishing, swimming and sleeping under the stars. It was exhilarating and rejuvenating for children and staff alike.
The summer programs would not have been possible without the dedication of the staff, volunteers and youth leaders who gave their time and talents to the camp. Numerous volunteers provided mentorship and donors offered food, clothing, gear and other supplies. We are thankful to Jim Redmond, Karen Lin Greenberg, Megan Riley and Jenn Jeffers for their dedication to the children and their love for adventure. Board member Kipling Jones and his son Kellen rode horseback through the mountains from Raleigh to Scottie’s Place and raised over $2,000 for the camp. Four television stations and several newspapers and radio stations provided media coverage, increasing awareness of the issue of homeless children in this country. Kipling’s and Kellen’s “Ride to the Rescue” is an example of the many creative ways that people bring their talents and interests to benefit the camp. The generosity of so many people made the summer a great success. Thank You!
At Scottie’s Place we are enjoying West Virginia’s beautiful fall season. The backdrop of brilliant foliage makes the panoramic views from this mountaintop even more dramatic. This fall, children from local shelters have enjoyed weekend programs at the camp. It has been a wonderful respite for them. The campers have enjoyed hiking through the mountains, carving pumpkins and decorating gourds, working with the animals and canoeing on the New River. Over Thanksgiving, the annual five day program will reunite 10 campers for an old fashioned holiday.
Perhaps the biggest news entails the completion of a new facility at the camp. Jim and Ellen Saunders, devoted friends of the camp, provided for the construction of a two story frame house, nearly 1200 square feet, which will serve as staff lodging. We are greatly indebted to them for this generous gift.
We are very excited about the continued growth and success of the camp. Our vision for creating a safe place for this nation’s poorest children is steadily coming to fruition. We are humbled that so many people have joined us in our cause. High school Key Clubs from Raleigh, Circle K Clubs from Virginia Tech, Lions and Women’s Clubs, church youth groups and elementary classrooms – Scottie’s Place has become a mission for many. We are thankful that you, too, see the value of the work at Scottie’s Place and will continue to support the camp. Our annual budget is $122,400. This is the amount of money we must raise in order to continue operations. Your donations make a huge difference in the life of a homeless child.
In addition to our annual campaign, the Board and Founders, in demonstration of our commitment to this camp, have initiated a capital campaign to purchase the land on which the camp operates. This campaign called “Name an Acre,” is an opportunity for supporters to preserve the land for Scottie’s Place and create a permanent resource for homeless children and their families. For more information about the “Name an Acre” campaign for Scottie’s Place please contact the camp.
As the fall season gradually gives way to winter we wish you the very best of health, friendship and prosperity. On behalf of the 1.4 million homeless children in this country, we thank you again for your continued support.
Sincerely, Jo-El and Paul
