January 22, 2016

Grant Will Promote the Social and Motor Development of Children with Disabilities

Camp Shriver at UMass Boston is entering into a new three-year partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®) of Eastern New England.

The $60,000 grant award from RMHC of Eastern New England will help support the 100 to 120 campers hosted each summer at Camp Shriver, a four-week inclusion camp that promotes the health and welfare of children with and without disabilities, held at no charge to families.

“The support of RMHC of Eastern New England is important to the continued success of Camp Shriver and we couldn’t be more grateful,” said Gary Siperstein, director of the Center for Social Development Education and founder of Camp Shriver at UMass Boston.

Camp Shriver’s partnership with the RMHC of Eastern New England dates back to 2011 and features more than funding: for a second time last summer, Camp Shriver hosted a visit from Ronald McDonald, who put on a magic show with interactive parts for the campers, while teaching them about teamwork and working together. Afterwards, McDonald’s in Dorchester, owned and operated by Jeff Brewster, a long-time RMHC of Eastern New England board member, donated hamburgers and apple slices for lunch so that campers could enjoy a treat after Ronald’s visit.

“For over 29 years, RMHC of Eastern New England has created, identified, and supported programs which directly improve the health and well being of thousands and thousands of local children and families every year,” said Karen McEachern, executive director of the organization. “We are impressed with the work that Camp Shriver has done to serve the children in our community over the last 10 years. This new three-year partnership with Camp Shriver aligns with our mission to support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.”

About Camp Shriver at UMass Boston
For the past ten years, Camp Shriver at the University of Massachusetts Boston has welcomed more than 1,000 children, both with and without disabilities, ages 8-12, from low income families in the Boston area to a free and fully inclusive summer recreation camp. Camp Shriver’s mission is to use sports as a vehicle to bring children with and without disabilities together so that they have the opportunity to develop their motor and social skills, create positive peer relationships and make new friends. Learn more at https://www.umb.edu/csde/camp_shriver.

Article By The Office of Communications at UMass Boston