 As the leaves show their fall colors and the air turns crisp, we reflect on the success of the 2019 summer, the first for Timanous as a nonprofit. With the changing of the seasons comes the gradual awareness that, believe it or not, next summer’s preparations must begin now. While there is much to accomplish before Opening Day 2020, Director Garth Altenburg and the Board of Trustees are all looking forward to seeing the traditions of Timanous continue next summer, where campers will undoubtedly have a great experience filled with fun, friendships, and personal growth. As a nonprofit, our mission is to focus not only on providing a camp life that has lasting value for every boy, but also to broaden access for more boys to be able to attend Timanous in the first place. We plan on gradually increasing the number of families receiving financial assistance over the next few years, and committing to support each boy’s entire camper career. This goal necessitates that we plan early for next summer—and each summer—because the funds we are able to raise directly impacts the number of boys to whom we can make this commitment. Planning for Summer 2020 A core element of this growth will be supported by the Sandy Tattersall Fund endowment. Thanks to the incredible support of the entire Timanous community, this fund now stands at $1,000,000 in total donations and pledges. We are all truly grateful for the generosity of everyone who contributed toward this effort. In order for Sandy’s Fund to provide a steady source of funding in perpetuity, the majority of the fund will remain invested, such that it will cover only part of our commitments each year. This leaves us with the need to have an annual appeal for next summer, much like we’ve done for years under the Al Furniss Fund. We’ve decided to call this effort the Annual Fund for Camperships.  Our objective for next summer is to have approximately 15% of campers receiving some level of financial aid. This translates to allocating approximately $145,000 of funding in the 2020 budget. With a modest draw from the Sandy’s Fund endowment, a total of $115,000 needs to be raised through an annual appeal. We are pleased to say that several individuals have already contributed generously to this effort. This is a solid start, but honestly we need your support this fall so that we can make plans for next summer. The Annual Fund for Camperships Your gift toward this $115,000 goal will directly fund 2020 camper scholarships, or as we are now calling them, camperships. This may be a new term for all of us, but it’s used by many camps—and the American Camping Association—as it has a simple definition: a campership is financial aid given to a family so their child can attend camp. Timanous has always been a place where boys can learn to live well together, no matter their different backgrounds outside of camp. Eight year old Mallards from different countries and speaking different languages at home all work together to clean their cabin; a Heron who likes basketball eats his meals next to a Crow who enjoys reading; we all link arms in a circle at the close of Council Fire to recite the Timanous Prayer. Campers all wear the same uniforms, listen to stories by lantern-light in the same rustic wooden cabins, and face the same challenges in spending a summer away from home. We have an opportunity to share this nurturing environment with an even greater diversity of backgrounds and experiences among our camper group. We also have a responsibility to broaden the representation of our community through our campership program. We are committed to maintaining the value Timanous has always provided and to ensuring everyone can benefit from understanding and appreciating a greater level of diversity. Please give as generously as you can to help ensure that all boys get the assistance they need to come to Timanous in 2020. If you have given to the Al Furniss Fund in past years, the Annual Fund for Camperships plays the same role: to financially assist families in sending their sons to Timanous for the upcoming summer. Each and every donation helps in this effort, whether it’s a full or half-session campership or any other gift amount you are able to make. Help us make a difference in the lives of deserving boys. Donate online here. Reasons to Give: For parents: give in honor of your son’s cabin or favorite counselor, or to help another boy have the same opportunities as your son had. For alumni: give in honor of your cabinmates or fellow counselors, and for the things your learned going to Timanous. For friends and supporters: help more boys gain from the camp experience, and so that Timanous can better represent the diversity of the broader world. |
