Katie Lynn
Robert Zeller, Larry Neuhaus, Vicki LaRue, Paul Gerson and Peter Boudreaux
On January 27, Camp For All hosted its sold-out “Under The Big Top Gala” at The Revaire, which welcomed nearly 600 guests. The gala raised more than $1 million which will continue to support its mission of transforming the world for children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs through barrier-free experiences.
The evening honored Ginger Bertrand, her late mother Sybil Roos, and their families for their longtime support and dedication to Camp For All.
Co-chairs Yésely Love, Stephanie Magers and Caroline Walter excitedly welcomed guests for a wonderful evening that featured inspiring personal stories from past and current Camp For All campers, a silent auction, wine pull and a fabulous live auction boasting once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including a luxurious vacation retreat to Aspen, a four-night stay at the exquisite Sedona Piñon Woods, and an extraordinary opportunity to tour contemporary artist Hunt Slonem’s studio in Manhattan. Slonem is known for his bunny paintings, one of which was part of the auction.
Katie Lynn
Pat Sorrells and Julie Taetz
Throughout the evening, Masters of Ceremonies Ilona Carson kept the energy level of the crowd high. In a moving moment during the gala, Kristen Moreno, the mother of longtime camper Claire Moreno, shared touching memories of her daughter’s six years as a Shriner’s Hospital camper at Camp For All. Claire is non-verbal and lives with cerebral palsy as a result of having been born premature.
“Camp For All provides so much more than a week of summer fun for its campers. It provided Claire the opportunity to be out from my watchful eye. To prove to both of us that we can survive without being tethered to each other,” said Kristen. “Claire always came home a little more mature, more verbal, and more outgoing. There is not a year that goes by now without Claire asking when and where she’s going to camp thanks to those first successful summers at Camp For All.”
Funds raised during the gala go toward helping Camp For All welcome the nearly 9,000 campers that visit its 206-acre campsite each year. Working in partnership with more than 65 other nonprofit organizations, Camp For All enriches the lives of children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs and their families. Over the past 30 years, the organization has empowered more than 185,000 campers, helping them realize their challenges do not define them.
"Our donors and supporters show up for Camp in such meaningful ways day after day, year after year," said Pat Prior Sorrells, President and CEO of Camp For All. “Their generosity not only means we can continue to deliver innovative and barrier-free programming thanks to our highly-skilled and passionate staff at our beautiful, expansive Campgrounds, but most importantly, that we can bring the magic of Camp to even more campers who deserve just that.”
To learn more about Camp For All, visit campforall.org. For media inquiries, please contact Julia Bernstein at julia@likemindstalk.com.
ABOUT CAMP FOR ALL
For more than 30 years, Camp For All has transformed the world for children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs. Founded in 1993 by two Houston physicians and a father of a child with cancer, Camp For All is recognized as a national leader in creating and providing proven life-changing experiences through a passionate and professional staff, cutting-edge facilities and innovative programming. Camp For All enriches the lives of nearly 9,000 children, adults and families, mostly from the greater Houston area, throughout the year through collaborations and partnerships with more than 65 other nonprofits. Programming includes Camp For All 2U, the award-winning outreach program that brings activities and programming to hospital-bound patients.
Courtesy of Julia Bernstein
