CAMP Connect

This may sound hokey but it really is a pleasure to be involved in fund raising in Rehoboth Beach! Both the gay community and the greater Rehoboth community are so very giving, it truly makes me feel that we are working towards a common goal—the betterment of the whole community. Things that have happened over the past week have really reinforced that feeling of being connected to a community that is working together.

First, my hat is off to Barb Thompson and Evie Simmons for their tremendous organizational skills, expertise, hard work, and willing spirit in making the CAMP Rehoboth Golf Classic a smashing success. Working with dedicated sponsors and volunteers, this first year event was great fun for the participants and a financial winner for CAMP Rehoboth’s Founders’ Circle and the Metropolitan Community Church’s building fund. Many of the golfers are talking about which friends they will be including in their foursomes for next year. Always a good sign!

The second example of community spirit centers around Sundance 2006. While staff and volunteers are gearing up for this two day event during Labor Day weekend, we hadn’t counted on the public thinking about us quite yet. We were wrong! Just listen to the first items that have been donated. A wonderful man called to discuss, and subsequently ship, a three foot by four foot framed Brokeback Mountain movie poster autographed by the cast and director. He also sent an additional numbered and framed piece that features photographs of the Brokeback Mountain stars along with 35 mm celluloid strips from the movie. A couple of days later, a second man called to offer CAMP Rehoboth two $750 tickets to Barbra Streisand’s October concert in Washington, DC to be auctioned at Sundance

What is really significant is that these two donors called CAMP Rehoboth to make the offer because they believe in what we do and in what we stand for. It really does feel good to be connected to the spirit of this community!

Founders’ Circle

The community’s generosity certainly has reached to the Founders’ Circle Capital Campaign. To date, an astounding $1,117,523.60 has been pledged with $848,414.30 of those pledges being fulfilled. Remember, after Labor Day weekend the Founders’ Circle will close and your opportunity to become a part of this truly historical happening will be gone. The CAMP Rehoboth board of directors offers its thanks to all who have become recent members of the Founders’ Circle, upgraded their original pledge, or made a pledge payment.

If you have not yet become a member, please consider joining more than 800 of your friends and neighbors. Think about giving an honorary membership in the Founders’ Circle to a family member or friend. Host a summer party and ask for a donation to be made to CAMP Rehoboth in lieu of a host/hostess gift. You will be making an investment in our community, plus it’s a great tax deduction. CAMP Rehoboth is a 501(c)(3) organization and contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

If you would like to support Sundance with an auction item, please give us a call. Last year, there were nearly 500 items donated for the silent and live auction. Again, the community came together by both donating and purchasing a tremendous variety of items ranging from a hot tub to an electric drill and from original art to tableware.