Variety — the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley cut the ribbon on the Sam Staten Jr. Variety Summer Camp at Temple University on earlier this month.
Sam Staten Jr. Variety Summer Camp at Temple University is an extension of Variety’s programmatic offerings. Variety has partnered with Temple University for three nonconsecutive years, providing service to those who cannot access Variety’s Montgomery County campus.
Sending children to camp can be a financial challenge for families of children with disabilities, especially those that are low-income families. Many families who have children with disabilities may have to pay special costs associated with raising a special needs child. To help lift that financial burden, the camp is free for participating children thanks to the support of the Samuel Staten Sr. Charitable Trust.
This year, the camp will service 10 campers each week for two weeks, targeting low-income families with children who have physical and/or intellectual disabilities from the Temple neighborhoods.
“While summer camp options for typically-functioning individuals are abundant, the majority of these camps are unable to accommodate children with disabilities from an accessibility and staff training perspective,” Dominique Bernardo, CEO of Variety, said in a press release. “As a result of these limited accessible options for camp programs, children with disabilities can often miss out on summer programs. This is one area where Variety’s Temple campus has a significant impact by providing a safe and accessible option close to home.”
Sam Staten Jr., manager of Local Laborers’ 332, has been a supporter of Variety for several years. He wanted to ensure that children in the city could experience summer camp.
“It’s all about the kids and providing them with an engaging summer program is priceless,” Staten Jr. said.
At the event, Laborers International Union Local 332 and Laborers District Council of Philadelphia and Vicinity donated $5,000 for an overall gift of $10,000 to support Variety’s mission.
During camp, campers participate in activities such as drama, music, arts and crafts, science and technology, music, dance, nature, and cooking. Variety and the College of Public Health also incorporate an inter-professional education component to the program with students from the Recreational Therapy program to support the camp.
“The Recreational Therapy program in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Temple University is pleased to collaborate with Variety to offer its summer day camp program
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