Dear Friends of Agawam:
As camp closes in on its 90th year, I reach out to you on behalf of Agawam Council, the Board of Directors, our committee members, camp leadership and staff to respectfully ask for your generous participation in the 2008 Agawam Annual Appeal.
When the “Governor”, Appleton A. Mason, founded Camp Agawam in 1919, he believed that a Teddy Rooseveltlike focus on the outdoors and recreation would positively influence the development of young men. While the numerous and varied daily activities at Camp are among the important experiences of the summer, equally so is the Governor’s lasting influence on creating a camp experience attendant to helping boys mature by discovering and nurturing their own positive qualities. Today, Agawam is recognized for its unwavering focus on character development, sportsmanship and teambuilding. Our emphasis on peertopeer support, reinforcement of positive values through counselor and camper role models, personal growth through Katiaki and other goals, and an emotionally safe environment that is conducive to forming lifelong friendships and wonderful memories is a foundation for the leaders of tomorrow. Consider the thoughts expressed recently by the parent of a new camper in 2007:
“I never doubted that a camp with lots of activities, sports, and experiences would be good for my son, but I love your camp for the values you teach. I am trying to get him to focus on role models so that he becomes a humble, respectful, and modest boy that is dually confidant, passionate, and energetic. He has the confidence, energy, and passion down. But I want to round him out and develop inner qualities in him and I am positive that Agawam can do this. I want him to come back to Agawam every year. I want him to keep working on values, have fun, develop deep friendships with other boys his age in an outdoor living environment, and become a great person for life’s bigger decisions that will lie ahead in High School, College, and life afterwards.”
- A First Year Parent
The friends of Camp Agawam – alumni, parents, current and former staff, participants in the Main Idea and supporters who believe in Agawam – have given annually to ensure the Camp Agawam experience that impressed this parent is available to boys of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Your contributions to the Agawam Annual Appeal go to financially support the Main Idea – a fully paid, weeklong Agawam camp experience for over 100 boys from Maine, whose sponsors recommend them as deserving and promising young people whose families do not otherwise have the means to provide such an opportunity. A majority of these wonderful campers return annually and often go on to volunteer as counselors.While the counselors and staff are unpaid volunteers, donations made to the Agawam Annual Appeal, are essential to covering the expenses associated with the Main Idea.
The other main purpose of the Agawam Annual Appeal is to help support our financial aid program. While our tuition is competitive with our peer group of camps, top quality camping programs such as Agawam’s are expensive to operate. We therefore rely on the generosity of Agawam’s friends and supporters to help fund our growing commitment to providing financial aid to boys who contribute richly to our community at Camp, but whose families require tuition assistance. This year, some 20% of our campers in the 7 week Camp Agawam program will benefit from a meaningful financial aid grant, thanks to your support.
On behalf of the hundreds of boys who directly benefit from the Agawam Annual Appeal, I thank you in advance for your generosity.
In Agawam Spirit,
“Bos’n” Frank Anthony President, Agawam Council
