4th Annual Camp Champions Celebration to Honor Anna Gould, Founder of Camp Sunshine, on November 21st at Fenway Park

4th Annual Camp Champions Celebration to Honor Anna Gould, Founder of Camp Sunshine, on November 21st at Fenway Park

Event to Send Children-In-Need to Camp by Raising Money for the American Camp Association, New England Campership Fund

Boston, MA–The American Camp Association, New England (ACA New England) is ramping up for its 4th Annual Camp Champions Celebration honoring the founder of Camp Sunshine, Anna Gould, on Friday, November 21st at the State Street Pavilion at Fenway Park. The evening celebrates the true spirit of camp, and all net proceeds will help to bring the summer camp experience to the area’s children-in-need through ACA New England’s Campership Fund.

More than 200 children age 6-16 had the chance to attend day and overnight camps in all six New England states because of the fundraising success of the Camp Champions Celebration last year, which honored actress and camp activist, Eliza Dushku.

The 2014 celebration will honor Anna Gould of Bedford, MA and Casco, ME for her extraordinary work developing a program for the families of children with life-threatening illnesses at ACA-Accredited Camp Sunshine on Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine. Gould will be recognized for her camp philanthropy and commitment to spreading the message of the importance of summer camp in a young person’s life. Camp Sunshine is a year-round retreat, with 30 one-week sessions, that provides respite, support, joy, and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families through various stages of the child’s illness. The program is free of charge to all families, and includes 24-hour on-site medical and psychosocial support.

“At ACA New England, we believe there is a camp for everyone and that all children deserve the chance to have a summer camp experience. Anna Gould truly embodies our mission,” says Bette Bussel, Executive Director of ACA New England. “We are honored to be able to present such a worthy, generous woman – someone who truly ‘walks the walk’ -- with our Camp Champion Award for 2014.”

Bussel continues, “Through the ACA New England Campership Fund, campers have the opportunity to attend every type of ACA accredited camp available in all six New England states: day and overnight, traditional general and specialty (from computer programming to outdoor wilderness to sports to fine and performing arts, and so much more. Thetrue spirit of our Campership Fund is about providing campership for children in need… because camp is for everyone.”

The evening kicks off at 7:00pm and includes hors d’oeuvres, a delicious dinner buffet overlooking the field, a raffle and silent auction, photo ops with Red Sox mascot Wally– an overall fun program designed to delight and inspire a camp committed crowd of guests. The host for the evening is Emmy award-winning journalist and co-anchor of WCVB-TV’s NewsCenter 5, Phil Lipof.

Co-chairing the Camp Champions Committee are Jeff Hacker of Lincoln, MA, owner and director of Camp Cedar in Casco, ME, Dan Isdaner of Jupiter,FL, owner and director of Camp Mataponi in Naples, ME, and Jason Silberman of Needham, MA, owner and director of Camp Matoaka in Smithfield, ME. Sarah Seaward, owner and director of Camp Nashoba North in Raymond, ME chairs the auction committee.

The Camp Champions Celebration is open to the public. Adult tickets are $150; children 12 and under are $75. Event details including ticket sales, sponsorship, and donation information can be found at www.acanewengland.org/camp-champions.

The American Camp Association, New England is a501(c)3 organization that accredit summer camps and serves asthe leading source for camp information and resources in New England. ACA New England is a community of camp professionals who, for more than 100 years, have joined together to share knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs throughout the region.Please visit www.acanewengland.org or call (781) 541-6080 for more information on the organization, the Camp Champions Celebration, the Campership Fund and the camp search process.