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The Fresh Air Fund is an independent, not-for-profit
agency that has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million
disadvantaged New York City children since 1877.
Approximately 7,000 children visit volunteer host families in rural and
suburban areas, generally in states on the eastern seaboard from Virginia
to Maine - and Canada. There are also five Fresh Air camps servicing more
than 3,000 children on a 3,000 acre site in Fishkill, New York. In
addition, there is a year-round camping program that serves more than
1,000
disadvantaged teenagers each year. Children are selected based on
financial need. Over 65% of children staying with host families are
re-invited year after year. While the original visits are for two weeks,
children may continue with the Fund through the age of 18, and many of the
re-invited children wind up spending the entire summer with their host
families.
I am particularly interested in the new Career Awareness Program which is
designed to help New York City youngsters, 12-14 years old, understand the
relationship between school and work and how to make choices that will
determine their futures. They participate in job shadowings that offer
close-up views of business; a career fair, and assistance by volunteer
mentors. This year-round program includes weekend camping trips and an
intensive four week summer session at Camp Mariah - named in honor of
singer Mariah Carey for her dedication, support and commitment to Fresh
Air youngsters.
The Pine Walk Fair was started in Fair Harbor more than twenty-five years
ago by a small group of artisans that lived on the ocean side of Pine
Walk. They sold their wares on the walk - but by the third summer of this
tiny fair, they determined to direct the proceeds of the fair to a
charity. The Fresh Air Fund was chosen and for years the fair remained on
Pine Walk. It grew so much that the Fire Department requested that the
location be changed to "downtown" Fair Harbor.
Each vendor writes a check directly to The Fresh Air Fund. Additional
money for the Fund is raised by donations which are sold at a table in
front of the firehouse.
In 1998, we began an official silent auction which was a huge success.
This year
many more prizes have been donated, primarily restaurant meals, and we
hope to set a new record of dollars donated to the Fresh Air Fund. We'd
like to invite everyone in Fair Harbor, Saltaire, Kismet, Dunewood,
Lonelyville, Ocean Beach, etc. to come to the Pine Walk Fair, which will
be held on - TBA -.
Helen Kornblau
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