Neighbor News
Camp Rainbow Inc. Calls on County to Donate as part of Ice Bucket Challenge
Montgomery County-owned Camp Rainbow Inc. challenges the Montgomery County Commissioners to restore funding to this local resource.
Who needs a bucket of icy water when a backhoe full will do?
In hopes of inspiring Montgomery County Commissioners Josh Shapiro, Leslie Richards and Bruce Castor, as well as Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman to donate to the county-owned Camp Rainbow Inc., board member Tom Johnson drenched himself. (SEE THE VIDEO HERE)
The so-called ice bucket challenge is of course a spinoff of the ALS Foundation’s challenge gone viral, which has so far netted the organization more than $41 million.
Find out what's happening in Perkiomen Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“If we had one-fortieth of that money we’d be set for life,” said Johnson, of Horsham Township. “It’s kids we’re focusing on. We know where every dollar is going.”
Generating donations to help fund future camping seasons at the 63-year-old camp is the goal, but the over-arching objective is to have some, or all of the $50,000 in county funding restored. Since 2012 when Montgomery County eliminated its contributions, the camp has been forced to come up with the roughly $160,000 budget needed to offer a week-long overnight camping experience to hundreds of deserving Montgomery County children.
Find out what's happening in Perkiomen Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Montgomery County-based camp, which was established in 1951, is located on the Perkiomen Creek. The camp and its organizers have struggled the last few years to make ends meet following funding cuts and dwindling donations. It costs $267 for each camper’s week-long overnight camping experience. The camp subsidizes the bulk of those fees in addition to covering regular maintenance, salaries and the cost of camping supplies and equipment.
About Camp Rainbow Inc.
Camp Rainbow Inc. was founded in 1951 by the Harold G. Knight Foundations. Camp Rainbow, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to offering deserving children of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania a week-long, overnight summer camping experience at a low cost to the family. The camp, which is located on beautiful acres on the Perkiomen Creek in Lower Salford Township, serves children between the ages of 7 and 16. Camp Rainbow Inc. prides itself on teaching children valuing behavior, how to give and receive honest feedback and take responsibility for one’s actions. To learn more about
Camp Rainbow Inc., or to make a contribution, visit www.camprainbowinc.com.
