AGENDA #4d
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Acceptance of Grant for Camp Escapade
DATE: April 14, 2004
The attached resolution would accept a $1,000 grant for the Town’s Camp Escapade, a camp for children with disabilities. The program would be run by the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department. The donation would come from The Wachovia Foundation through the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, and Greenways.
The Friends of the Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation and Greenways organization was approved for 501(c)3 status in the early 1990s. Since then, the organization has served primarily as a mechanism to accept and use various small donations for particular projects or program areas of the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department.
In 2001 a resident petitioned the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Commission and the Council to provide funding for camps for youth with disabilities. The Council provided $25,000 to fund inclusion services for summer day camp participants with disabilities and funded a full-time community-based Therapeutic Recreation Specialist position, which had been deferred in previous years.
In 2003, the Council provided the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, and Greenways with a $10,000 grant to allow the organization to build a business plan, create promotional materials, and develop a base for future fund raising activities.
On March 22, 2004, the Council accepted a $5,000 grant for Camp Escapade from Strowd Roses, Inc., through the efforts of the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, and Greenways.
The Friends of the Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation and Greenways’ initial fundraising goal since the receipt of Town start-up funds was to provide eight weeks of Camp Escapade for children with disabilities during the summer of 2004 through private donations. The earlier $5,000 grant from Strowd Roses, Inc. will allow the Town to operate the camp for one week, most likely beginning on July 26. If the Council accepts this grant it would be used to supplement the funds already received.
The Friends of the Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation and Greenways organization still has active grant applications with additional requests for funding. If additional funding is secured through those grant opportunities the camp could be extended to two or more weeks. If the additional grants are not secured the camp will be held the one week that is currently funded.
Camp Escapade: Camp Escapade would be established to serve youth with disabilities in Chapel Hill and Orange County. Individuals who participate in Camp Escapade would have moderate to severe disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or mental retardation. The need for a community-based day camp program for youth with moderate to severe disabilities is greatest during school vacations such as holidays and summer break.
Activities provided through this day camp would focus on improving the overall health and well-being of program participants. Daily programs would focus on facilitating personal growth, social interactions between peers, and helping individuals further develop recreational skills. Camp activities would include arts and crafts, swimming, self-expression through dance, music, games, and daily living experiences such as cooking and community outings.
The Wachovia Foundation: The Wachovia Foundation is a private foundation that is funded annually by the Wachovia Corporation. The Foundation provides grants to eligible 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations in four primary areas:
Budget: If the Council accepts the grant we will include both the grant revenue and the proposed camp expenditures in the Manager’s Recommended Budget proposal for FY 2004-05.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution that would accept a $1,000 grant from The Wachovia Foundation through the efforts of the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, and Greenways; authorize the Manager to include the $1,000 grant and proposed expenditures in the Manager’s Recommended Budget proposal for FY 2004-05; and thank the Friends of the Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation and Greenways and The Wachovia Foundation for the donation.
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A $1,000 GRANT FROM THE FRIENDS OF CHAPEL HILL PARKS, RECREATION, AND GREENWAYS; AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO INCLUDE THE GRANT IN THE MANAGER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR FY 2004-05; AND THANKING BOTH THE WACHOVIA FOUNDATION AND THE FRIENDS OF CHAPEL HILL PARKS, RECREATION, AND GREENWAYS (2004-04-14/R-5)
WHEREAS, the Council has implemented a community-based Therapeutic Recreation program for people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the community has expressed a desire for a summer camp to serve youth with disabilities in Chapel Hill and Orange County; and
WHEREAS, The Wachovia Foundation has offered to provide $1,000 for Camp Escapade through the efforts of the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, and Greenways;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council accepts a grant in the amount of $1,000 from the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, and Greenways for a summer camp to serve youth with disabilities in Chapel Hill and Orange County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Manager is hereby authorized to include the $1,000 grant and proposed expenditures in the Manager’s Recommended Budget proposal for FY 2004-05.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council expresses its gratitude to The Wachovia Foundation and the Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, and Greenways for their efforts to fund Camp Escapade.
This the 14th day of April 2004.