GET INVOLVED!

CHS Summer Day Camp

Thanks for checking out our blog! We hope you'll consider participating in this exciting fundraiser - Take Me Out to the Ball Game! On May 15th, a Friday, starting at 5 PM, we will be convening at Ugly's Restaurant on the Northside for some food, drinks and an amazing silent auction before heading over to watch the Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies. By purchasing a ticket you will be supporting the CHS Youth Summer Day Camp - a program that provides all-day supervision, sports, games, academic, support, field trips and social/emotional support to low-income children.

As the director of youth programs, I wanted to share with you what the CHS Summer Day Camp means to some of the parents of our students. Many of our students come from low-income, single-parent families that live in Oakland and the Hill District. While there is a different story for each family, there are some similar themes such as the struggle to make ends meet and make sure their kids are safe and have the opportunity to learn, play and grow in a fun and supervised environment. It is our pleasure and our passion to provide that and we are asking for your support and partnership to continue providing these services.

We have been told by parents that our program, which operates year round, serving many of our families in both the after school program and the summer day camp, is the reason they are able to maintain or look for employment. Parents also love the diversity of our camp - 60% of our students are African American or or mixed race; 15% are Hispanic and were born in Mexico or Venezuela. 15% are Asian and were born in China. 10% of our students are Caucasian. About 30% of our students are learning English as a second language. Some of the neighborhoods our students live in are plagued by violence. Parents have expressed relief that their kids can spend their summers supervised by caring adults in an environment that emphasizes academics, physical activity, teamwork, kindness and fun - rather than hanging out on the street corner, exposed to potentially dangerous activities.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, please email Jessi Marsh, Director of Youth Programs at jmarsh@chscorp.org . If you are interested in volunteering with CHS Youth Programs, please contact Rachel, our volunteer coordinator at wagnerrr1@gmail.com and finally, if you don't have time to get involved but would like to support the summer day camp, you can send checks to CHS Youth Programs, 374 Lawn St., Pittsburgh, PA 15234

FYI - $100 pays for one week of summer camp for one child.