Swift Youth Foundation has been transforming the lives of Phoenix’s most vulnerable children for almost 40 years. The concept was always straightforward: give kids facing the worst effects of poverty a break by providing food, fun, and shelter at no cost. From the start, this has meant 5 days of overnight summer camp in Northern Arizona fully staffed by role-model high school student volunteers. Camp is truly the happiest place on earth filled with sports, splash fights, canoeing, and all-you-can-eat grilled cheese.
While camp is simple, the impact of camper-counselor relationships is profound. The teens work tirelessly to make sure that all campers try something new, discover their potential, and learn how to conquer life’s obstacles (even if it’s just the steepest rock-climbing wall). In return, the teens become effective leaders and lifelong advocates of social justice. In my 10 years with Swift, I’ve seen hundreds of campers and counselors come for the fun and leave with sense of self-fulfillment that will never wear off.
These days, Swift Youth Foundation is expanding. Your donation here will help support our mission to make camp accessible to even more children by increasing the number of afterschool programs offered and ensuring that our donation-based model will be sustained for decades to come.
$100 – Provides a cabin of campers the chance to go canoeing
$50 – Buys supplies for a week of Swift After School
$25 – Gives a sleeping bag to a camper in need
$1 – One perfect grilled cheese sandwich