By John Carter
On Nov. 29th, 2022, the University of Maryland’s chapter of Camp Kesem, a camp that focuses on delivering free summer camp to children affected by a parent’s cancer, participated in the international “GivingTuesday” fundraiser.
Kesem’s fundraising events included a bake sale, tables set up outside of both McKeldin Mall and STAMP Student Union, a Panda Express fundraiser, input from alumni, and finally a “power hour” of donations at the Reckord Armory. Kesem at UMD also heavily leaned on social media, with posts leading up to and throughout the fundraiser, informing the public about Kesem’s goals and methods and boosting visibility within the community.
“For two months leading up to GivingTuesday, we had a brilliant development coordinator team that spent time creating a schedule and workshopping ideas to make sure everyone in the chapter could be successful in their fundraising efforts,” said volunteer and UMD Senior Henry McGrath.
There was a massive outpour of support from students and the greater College Park community alike, adding to a history of success for the fundraiser. Nationally, donations on GivingTuesday have totalled over $5 million since 2013 according to Camp Kesem’s website. The fundraiser, which occurs on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year, is focused on promoting generosity and service across 80 countries and thousands of organizations like Camp Kesem.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like for children with a parent or guardian with cancer, so I wanted to pitch in to such an awesome organization,” said freshman Braden Nowicki, who donated to Kesem. “With $25 I could get a few meals or get something not super meaningful, or I could help more children experience some comfort in difficult times – it’s a no brainer. I even sent out the link to a bunch of people I know and it’s like a chain reaction, more donations flow in and more people are helped”.
That chain reaction paid off in a big way, as news of the fundraiser spread throughout organizations at UMD. Freshman Ayush Kumar found out about the fundraiser through members of his crew team.
“I didn’t really know anything about Camp Kesem prior to donating…but after receiving the donation link, I really empathized with the mission of the organization and felt motivated to donate as much as possible and spread the word,” Kumar said.
This funding goes towards making camp an enjoyable experience for kids without placing added financial strain on families who are already funding costly cancer treatment programs.
“We actually raised $48,864, surpassing our previous best of $43,917 from last year,” said McGrath. “All the money goes straight towards our year round support for our campers, and we can now provide 49 kids with year round assistance, including bringing them to camp free of charge.”
Kesem is not limited to a week-long summer camp. Beneficiaries also receive care packages throughout the year, monthly meetings, birthday cards, and more. Although Kesem’s largest fundraiser of the year is over, their work is far from complete. To get involved with Kesem at UMD, simply follow @kesemumd on Instagram or email the group at maryland@kesem.org for more information.
Featured Image: Reckord Armory, one of many locations of Camp Kesey’s fundraising efforts, on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. Photo by John Carter.