As spring break ends and summer looms on the horizon, many parents have begun the search for a good summer camp–they want their children to learn, grow, and get out of the house a little bit. Bug bites and early mornings build character; canoeing and hiking build strength; campfires and cabins build friendships. Unfortunately, many lower-income families are unable to send their children to summer camp, it can seem frivolous to spend money on “extras” when you can barely make rent. As a result, many children miss out on these enriching and character-building experiences. Happy Hollow Children’s Camp is changing that.
Since its inception 60 years ago, Happy Hollow has hosted over 40,000 lower-income students. The camp, hosts a variety of activities, including: archery, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and swimming. The fees to participate are based on a sliding scale, and students who qualify for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program qualify for a significantly reduced rate. To subsidize the cost of these programs, Happy Hollow puts on a number of fundraising events including an annual wine tasting, a bowling night, and a painting class. Their most popular event, the “Under the Stars” Gala, will be held on April 13th.
Anyone who attends the 28th Annual “Under the Stars” Gala will certainly be over the moon. A black-tie affair, the gala will be full of both luxury and charity: several local Indianapolis businesses have donated items for the silent auction, and the list of potential prizes is astonishing. This year, some of the most coveted items include: a trip to Napa, an autographed Colts helmet, some date night packages for restaurants around the city, a few $500-1,00 Visa gift cards, and a wine tasting experience.
Silent auctions not your style? Try your luck with the diamond raffle: 100 tickets will be sold at $50 apiece, and the winner gets to select one of the two items donated by Reis Nichols (with an approximate value between $6,000-8,000.) The gala itself raises between $125,000-150,000 and has been hosted at a variety of venues, including: Marriott North, Crane Bay, and the Crown Plaza Union Station—where the event will be held this year.
Interested in getting involved? Happy Hollow has a unique “junior board” program, “Giveback,” aimed at young professionals looking to get involved in non-profit philanthropy. Anyone can join, and the program aims to train young professionals in the hopes that they become future board members. The time commitment is minimal; only meeting once per month and hosting fundraising events every other month. If you’re looking for a way to get involved in the Indy community, this could be it. For information on how to join please contact Jennifer Dant, Development Director, at (317) 638-3849 or by email at jdant@happyhollowcamp.net.
Tickets for the 28th Annual “Under the Stars” Gala can be purchased on the Happy Hollow Children’s Camp Facebook page, or online here. See you there!
Alexandra (“Alex”) Sumner is a Chicago native who relocated to The Indy City. A current 3L at IU McKinney School of Law, she loves reading, writing, and binge-watching the Food Network. When she’s not nose-deep in a textbook, you can find her thrift shopping, sleeping, or wishing she was at brunch. @baby_lawyer_alex_
