Camp Kesem hopes for contest win, turns to Internet for victory

For ten summers now, Camp Kesem National has tried to give children affected by their parents’ cancer a chance to be a kid again.

But camp leaders said they hope to reach even more children next summer and are turning to an online contest to get the job done.

The contest is called the American Giving Awards, sponsored by the bank JPMorgan Chase, and will award $1 million to winners in five categories.

Currently, Camp Kesem is fighting for the top spot against five other organizations.

“Right now we’re neck and neck between first and second place,” Camp Kesem IU leader Haley Katz said.

Camp Kesem National is the national organization that oversees overnight summer camps ran by college students all across the country.

The camps are for children ages six through 16 whose parents are suffering from cancer.

There are 38 chapters in all, including one in Indiana operated by IU students.

“It’s a great organization,” Katz said. “It gives kids a chance to be a kid again. If we win, we’d be able to multiply the amount of kids we can send.”

The voting for the contest ends today at noon. Katz said if Camp Kesem manages to hold onto its first place standing, the organization will be able to reach more children than ever before.

“We’ll be changing even more lives, bringing magic to more lives,” Katz said.

— Jake New