Dear friends and family,
Camp has been a part of my life since I was 8 years old. 2025 was my 15th year volunteering as a counselor and my 6th year leading the Grad Program. To lead the Grad Program is one of the greatest honors of my life and it shapes how I move through the world. Every year, I feel like I gain a new set of younger siblings through our Grads. So I strive to live in a way that allows me to be the best role model I can be for them.
Growing up at camp shaped my life in countless positive ways. It taught me that my heart disease does not define me, what matters most is how I choose to move through the world with heart. My hope for our Grads is that they discover similar truths: that they are deeply capable, that camp’s “challenge by choice” philosophy is a guide for continued growth, that they have the courage to live authentically, and to recognize the importance of the people they surround themselves with. Camp is a community built on kindness, and I believe that by experiencing it, each of our Grads carries that spirit back home and turns the world around.
This year, in honor of the counselors I had who helped me believe in myself and in honor of the Grads that I believe in, I am raising funds to send the next generation to camp.
How can you help?
- Make a donation to help the Grad Team reach our 10k Goal
- Share this link with your friends and family.
- Join the Grad Team by clicking Register now. Set your own goal and raise money with us.
Love,
Rhombie
Additional thank you to Whisper and Echo, counselors who believed in me so much that it helped me believe in myself. And to Gumby and Thumper for training me to lead the Grad Program.
Learn more about camp and the grad program below:
Camp del Corazon is a free summer camp on Catalina Island for children ages 7–17 living with congenital heart disease. Each year, across three sessions, hundreds of volunteers come together to create what can best be described as a world of kindness. Counselors empower campers to challenge themselves, always by choice, through activities many might assume are out of reach for someone with heart disease. At camp the belief in one’s own abilities is nurtured and celebrated, creating a positive impact that last far longer than just the 5 days they are at camp.
The Grad Program is designed for our 17-year-old campers, some who have grown up with us for nearly a decade, and others experiencing camp for their very first and final year. No matter how long camp has been part of their journey, the last day as a camper often brings worry about leaving the place they’ve come to call home to return to the “real world.” For many, camp is a space where they feel safe, supported, and free to be their most authentic selves.
The Grad Program honors a camper’s final year by offering meaningful opportunities to grow as leaders. Whether facilitating cabin closings for younger campers or hosting skit night, they take the lead while we, as counselors, step back and celebrate their discovery of just how capable they are. Our goal is that they leave camp knowing they have gained the tools to boldly embrace their authentic selves wherever life takes them. And no matter where they go, we’ll always be cheering them on.
Each year, we’re grateful to welcome a new group of camp graduates, join us and make a donation to support the next generation. Your donation makes an impact on their lives, creating a bright future for us all.