Camp Opportunity – Creating a Circle of Love...One Child at a Time
By Executive Director Patti Raines (pictured)
May 01, 2011
"Camp Opportunity's mission is to provide a variety of supportive services to abused and/or neglected children, offering a respite from the storm of their lives; safe, loving, fun and educational experiences. We call camp — Camp Opportunity."
The organization was founded in 1979 by a small group of volunteers who were concerned by the ever-increasing numbers of children being placed in protective custody of The Greenville County Department of Social Services due to abuse and neglect. They decided to provide these children with a week of summer camp. That first summer, 23 children attended camp. Now, 31 years later, Camp Opportunity serves over 100 children annually with a year-round program of education and enrichment activities that include a week of residential summer camp; a Shared Blessings program at Christmas whereby members of the Greenville community sponsor our children and fill their "wish lists"; trips to the YMCA to swim; parties at Pump It Up; whitewater rafting trips with GOAT (Great Outdoor Adventure Trips); skating outings; circus performances; and other activities.
Currently, the Board of Directors consists of 17 professionals from the Greenville business community whose goal is to develop activities that foster families cannot provide on a daily stipend of $11 to $14 per day, depending on the age of the child. We are fortunate to receive funding from numerous sources: foundation grants, corporate donations, individual donations, churches, schools and in kind donations of materials.
Children are referred to Camp Opportunity's program through their DSS caseworker when they first enter protective custody. Our children range from 6 to 13 years of age.
As a small organization, we are 99 percent volunteer driven, and we are always looking for caring individuals who want to help us mend the self-esteem of these special children and make sure they are able to have the childhood experiences we tend to take for granted, as well as some life skills lessons to ensure that their past does not dictate their future.