The Hospice Foundation of WNY Receives Grant for Camp Blue Skies 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cheektowaga, NY – June 27, 2019
#CampBlueSkies
The Hospice Foundation of WNY has received a grant in the amount of $5,000 from the Children's Foundation of Erie County to help support the Wilson Support Center's Camp Blue Skies, a weekend camp for children who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

“We are most grateful to the trustees of the Children’s Foundation of Erie County for the generous grant supporting Camp Blue Skies, our children’s bereavement camp. For the past several years the Children’s Foundation of Erie County has provided necessary funding to support Camp Blue Skies, which welcomes grieving children and teens in Western New York. The Children’s Foundation’s support of this program will make a world of difference to children in our community who are grieving the loss of someone they love."
~Patrick Flynn, President of the Hospice Foundation of WNY

The Wilson Support Center hosts Camp Blue Skies for children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one. “Camp Blue Skies is a weekend bereavement camp for children and teens to share memories of their loved one, identify supports, and learn coping strategies that assist them with their grief,” stated Abby Unger, Camp Director. “They are encouraged to express their feelings and responses related to grief through various therapeutic arts activities. Campers leave with treasured resources, new friendships, and cherished memories of tribute to their loved ones.”

The camp welcomes children and teens, ages 7-17, who have experienced the death of a loved one at least three months prior to the beginning of camp. Highlights include team building, adventure activities, art, music, theater, bonfires, and more!

“Camp Blue Skies has helped my daughter find her voice in relation to her grief. The first summer she was 10 and still had a hard time talking about the loss of her father. We were all still in shock. Art and memory-making at Camp helped her with that. She asked to return to Camp last summer and immediately went and hugged all of her friends. She knows these kids ‘get’ her in a way most her age do not. They know what to say when she talks about her Dad or how to comfort her if she cries. She is so excited to be with all of her friends again this summer and is looking forward to being the “experienced one” new campers can lean on.” ~Mother of a 3 year “graduate” of Camp Blue Skies

2019 Camp Application
FEE: $50
WHEN: September 13 – 15
WHERE: Cradle Beach Camp
8038 Old Lake Shore Road, Angola, NY 14006
OPEN HOUSE

Want to learn more? Stop by our community Open House.

WHEN: Thursday, August 15
TIME: 12-2 p.m. or 5-7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hospice Buffalo’s Education Center,
225 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga
For more information:
• Call 716-901-0289
• Email GriefSupport@palliativecare.org
Registration ends August 30

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