Cash For Camp: Camp Onyahsa fundraiser helps with costs, honors camp supporters
From left, Judy and Bruce Butler, Camp Onyahsa awardees, are pictured with Camp Onyahsa’s long-term director Jon O’Brian at the Cash for Camp Fundraiser held at 5411 E. Lake Road, Oct. 10. Funds raised during this event will offset rising tuition fees for local children to be able to attend camp at a reduced rate. Submitted photo.
YMCA Camp Onyahsa held a fundraiser at 5411 E. Lake Road on Oct. 10. Funds raised during the event will offset rising tuition fees so local children can attend camp at a reduced rate. The event also honored Judy and Bruce Butler for their various contributions to Camp Onyahsa and the community.
From left, Judy and Bruce Butler, Camp Onyahsa awardees, are pictured with Camp Onyahsa’s long-term director Jon O’Brian at the Cash for Camp Fundraiser held at 5411 E. Lake Road, Oct. 10. Funds raised during this event will offset rising tuition fees for local children to be able to attend camp at a reduced rate. Submitted photo.
YMCA Camp Onyahsa held a fundraiser at 5411 E. Lake Road on Oct. 10. Funds raised during the event will offset rising tuition fees so local children can attend camp at a reduced rate. The event also honored Judy and Bruce Butler for their various contributions to Camp Onyahsa and the community.
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DEWITTVILLE – Two county residents were honored recently during a fundraiser for Camp Onyahsa day camps.
Across the breadth of Chautauqua County, residential camps and nonprofits often pursue various fundraising efforts to keep their programs and services affordable for consumers and program attendees.
YMCA Camp Onyahsa, located at 5411 E. Lake Road, hosted its annual fundraiser entitled 'Cash for Camp ' recently while honoring community members with a history of service to the camp while raising operational funds.
"In its third year, YMCA Camp Onyahsa’s annual fundraising event was very successful, with over 100 attendees for hors d’oeuvres, live music by Randy Graham, a basket raffle, and a cash prize. Jim Swanson, a long-term Camp volunteer, served as the emcee," said Camp Onyahsa Director Jon O'Brian. "I also presented the YMCA Camp Onyahsa Award for Distinguished Service.
O'Brian said that the program included tours of the camp’s new health lodge. He said the lodge would enhance the camp’s inclusivity and remove potential barriers that had previously kept campers with special needs from participating in a traditional, outdoor-based camping program.
"Following the meal, tours of the new lakefront year-round Young and Battler Families Health Center were provided. This modern facility will provide enhanced health care for summer campers, including those with special or medical needs, while also empowering partner programs from late August through May annually for medical, bereavement, caregiver, developmentally
disabled, veterans’ and other special programs for participants who have not traditionally attended general camp experiences," he said.
The event also honored Camp "O'" alumni and people who have done various things to support the community at large and Camp Onayahs in general.
"The event honored Onyahsa and community supporters Bruce and Judy Battler. Judy grew up near Onyahsa, and Bruce was a YMCA member and Onyahsa camper as a youth. Their grandchildren now attend," said O'Brian.
Additionally, all proceeds from this year's fundraiser would help keep camp attendance costs down for local families and children, and several board members and staff dedicated up to nine months to planning the event, explained O'Brian
"Operating quality youth resident camps is increasingly expensive, especially amid inflation coupled with pressure on household budgets. This year’s proceeds will be directed toward operational expenses to keep tuition to a manageable level for local families," reported O'Brian. "Small youth-serving not-for-profits rely on fundraising events and donor support for camper scholarships, capital improvements, and--this year--to meet operational expenses. The Camp Fundraising Committee, led by Sandy Calalesina, and Onyahsa Administration Director, Eva Jackson, worked for nine months to plan this crucial fundraiser."