KIDNEY KAMP FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
We have a great time building great kids. Our programs provide summer camp experiences for children and adolescents with chronic kidney diseases.
About This Cause
The Foundation raises funds for and coordinates and conducts Camp Shining Stars, a camp for children with kidney disease. The camp provides an opportunity for children on dialysis, with transplants, and with other chronic kidney diseases to enjoy typical overnight camping experiences under the watchful eye of volunteer medical staff who oversee medication, treatments, and dietary management. In 2016, Camp Shining Stars will be in its 34th year. The camp originated through the combined efforts of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and The National Kidney Foundation, although over the years there have been many changes in the sponsoring agencies. The Foundation was established in 2003 to provide supplemental financial support for Camp Shining Stars, and took on the leadership role for the camp in 2011. Camp Shining Stars is held in partnership with Camp For All, a 501(c)(3) organization. Camp For All provides the host site for the camp, including meals, lodging, programming, and programming staff. Camp For All also partially underwrites the cost of the camp, effectively splitting the per camper cost with the Foundation. The Kidney Kamp Foundation is responsible for all other aspects of the camp, including the application and selection processes (conducted by the Board of Directors), transportation to and from camp, in-cabin counselors, and medical personnel. The Foundation facilitates the provision of hemodialysis (with donated machines and volunteer nurses) and coordinates camp volunteers (including medical staff, dietitians, social workers, child life specialists, and pharmacists). Children attend Camp Shining Stars free of charge, although families who can afford it are requested to pay transportation costs (for example, each family was asked to pay $30 per child to ride the bus, although several families were unable to do so and were still provided with transportation). Each year there are approximately 50-65 campers, over half of whom are from the Houston, TX area. At least 95% of the children are from lower socioeconomic families and would not be able to attend camp without external financial support. Many of the children are accompanied by a sibling who helps them to feel more comfortable being away from home, often for the first time. Each cabin is staffed by at least two adult counselors and a junior counselor. The junior counselors are generally local high school students, and are trained by both the Foundation and Camp For All staff. The camp also has had a minimum of three medical staff in the infirmary during the week. The typical camp staff total is over 20 people.