WE DID IT! PAIVIKA BUDDIES CAME THROUGH WITH $44,750.00 FOR FAMILIES NEEDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND CAMP.

WE DID IT Over the past six months, dedicated alumni volunteers have written letters and e-mails to former campers and staff, civic organizations and to their own personal friends and relatives, asking for contributions to the Paivika Buddies Campership Campaign.  As expected, friends of Camp Paivika responded generously.  AbilityFirst received dozens of checks in all amounts, earmarked for camperships.  A group of volunteers bagged and redeemed aluminum cans for cash, and one creative person wrote an article about camp for her local newspaper, producing a flood of unexpected donations from the public.  The challenge was to raise $40,000 by June 30, 2010, and that goal has been exceeded.  Thanks to everyone who sent gifts, to those who contributed their efforts, and also to those who held Camp Paivika in their thoughts and prayers.

Providing quality outdoor camping experiences for children and adults with disabilities has been Camp Paivika's mission for over 60 years.  Recently, the majority of campers have been able to attend a summer session at Camp Paivika because of state funding provided through the California Regional Center system.  That funding came to an abrupt end in 2009 due to state budgetary restraints.

Despite the budget cuts, AbilityFirst is planning for a full season of 2010 summer camp.  Paivika.com is cooperating with AbilityFirst (formerly the Crippled Children’s Society of Southern California) to establish a new campership fund to partially replace state funding with private donations.  If successful, this effort will help to ensure that campers with limited means are able to spend a week next summer at Camp Paivika.  AbilityFirst anticipates that 30 to 40 percent of campers will require full or partial financial aid.

In addition to this notice, you may be contacted by one of your fellow camp alumni who will ask if you are able to contribute to the Paivika Buddies Campership Campaign.  This voluntary effort will help keep the Paivika experience alive for children and adults with special needs.

Paivika.com is a social website, and so has no security measures in place.  Information dispatched from our site over the Internet may be detected by others.  For that reason, please do not send credit card numbers to us on the Paivika.com web site.  AbilityFirst provides a secure web site for contributions.  You will find safe and easy links to AbilityFirst’s web site located on the Paivika.com home page and the Camp Director’s page. Or, go to:

AbilityFirst Camp Paivika Programs

Look for the "Donate Now" button and be sure to indicate that your contribution is for Camp Paivika.  Another great way to contribute is to make your check payable to AbilityFirst Camp Paivika, and mail it to:

AbilityFirst Camp Paivika Attn: Juliana Otis Development Manager 1300 E. Green Street Pasadena, CA 91106