FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 23, 2013

Speaker Silver Applauds Free Summer Camp for
Children Devastated by Hurricane Sandy
Sumer Camp Scholarships in Store for Eligible Youngsters from
Lower Manhattan and other Areas Affected by Superstorm


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Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (at podium) participated in the Heal the Children Program's Summer Camp Scholarship offer to eligible children affected by superstorm Hurricane Sandy. Senate Majority Coalition Leader Dean Skelos (right of Silver) also took part in the news conference in Albany that explained the free summer camp program, which is sponsored by the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today credited the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey for making available, through their Heal the Children Program, summer camp scholarships to the children of the many families hit hard by the unprecedented and widespread destruction caused by superstorm Hurricane Sandy.

"I commend the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey and its member organizations for their leadership and their tremendous generosity in establishing the Heal the Children Program," said Silver. "Representing a community that was devastated by Hurricane Sandy, I know, firsthand, the suffering New Yorkers endured, particularly our children. By providing free camp time, the Association is giving children something wonderful to which they can look forward, and giving their parents the freedom to focus on recovering and rebuilding."

Scott Ralls, the president of the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, said his organization felt compelled to establish the Heal the Children Program to help children affected by the horrific September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and they again recognized a similar need following Hurricane Sandy.

"In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we once again saw children in our communities suffering great loss, and once again the Summer Camp community responded by giving these children a safe and wonderful summer at camp, allowing them to leave their troubles behind, even if just for a short time," said Ralls.

The Heal the Children Program will be working with local relief agencies in the most devastated regions to identify children that would benefit from the free summer camp experience which is being offered at more than 90 day and sleepaway camps.

"Thanks to this program, many children from Lower Manhattan and the other areas of the state that are still dealing with the havoc brought by Hurricane Sandy will now have an opportunity to enjoy all the excitement and fun of summer camp. They will get a break from the constant disruptions and rebuilding challenges that have consumed their daily lives since last October's superstorm," said Silver.

For further information about Heal the Children and the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, contact Jess Michaels at 212-391-5208.