Send a Kid to Camp: Gregory, 11, would like to return to camp

Gregory had a bad start in life.

He was a drug baby bo to parents who were on methamphetamine and crack cocaine. His health was in such danger he had to be kept in the hospital for detoxification.

Gregory, now 11, has been adopted and is starting to lead a more normal life.

As a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach, he was able to go to summer camp last year.

“He enjoyed camp where he went hiking and socialized with his peers, things he has difficulty with in school,” his counselor said. “He can’t play outside in his neighborhood because of local gang activity.”

Gregory wants to go back to camp this summer but needs financial help.

You can help him and other kids by donating to the Press-Telegram’s Send-a-Kid-to-Camp Fund.

The Press-Telegram and the Long Beach Community Foundation have partnered to send kids to mountain camps operated by Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, Camp Fire USA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

The average cost of sending a child to one week at summer camp is $400.

Time is important for you to send in your donation because camps are about to get started. The youth agencies are in the final process of filling out their camps for this summer.

It was to help kids like Gregory that motivated Tom Heessy, the Press-Telegram’s longtime columnist, to start the Kid-to-Camp Fund 17 years ago.

To honor Heessy, who died April 2, all of this year’s campers will be called “Tom’s Kids.”

Thank you for your generosity in sending one of “Tom’s Kids” to camp and making a difference in the life of a child.

Total for June 23 - June 30: $1,385

Total this campaign: $58,655

This week’s donors:

Maria Alarcon

Francille Dailey

Mary Granger

Rebecca Hoey

Yvoe Jauman

Charles and Jo Ellen Kerr

Chris & Vivian Miller

Jean Plante

Deborah A. Reed

Jonathan Rich

Tim Rosbottom

Edith Serhan

Jean Bixby Smith

John Wright

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