FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2016
Contact: 
Barbara Wilkov
91614042
Campers from Scarsdale’s Camp Hillard recently created beautiful birthday cards while raising money for Friends of Karen (www.FriendsofKaren.org), a local organization that, since 1978, has been providing financial, emotional and practical day-to-day support, at no cost, to families in the New York Tri-State area who are caring for a child with cancer or another life-threatening illness.
 
Camp Hillard, which was founded in 1929 by Morris and Hannah Libman and, four generations later, is still owned and run by the Libman family, has been doing a charity fundraiser each summer for the past 21 years. “We started doing this…as a way of involving our campers and staff in some type of community service, focusing primarily on helping children less fortunate than [themselves]. It worked very well the first year and we’ve been doing it ever since,” says camp director, Jon Libman.
 
On Wednesday, August 17 a check for over $22,000 was presented by the camp to Executive Director of Friends of Karen, Judith Factor, and Gwen Salmo, Special Events Coordinator. The celebration included songs sung by the campers and much excitement. 
 
Friends of Karen helps families with a child battling cancer or another life-threatening illness in NY, NJ and CT. The organization is unique in that it customizes the assistance they provide. When a child is seriously ill, it affects the entire family so Friends of Karen social workers work with each family member. This includes child life specialists and creative arts therapists who provide sibling support to the other children in the family. Treatment can last many months or even years, but Friends of Karen is there with an individualized program of emotional, financial and day-to-day practical support. No family is ever the same after a diagnosis like this, but they can remain strong and functioning if they are not alone. Friends of Karen is there every step of the way.
 
For more information about Friends of Karen, visit www.friendsofkaren.org or call (914) 617-4042.
Camp Hillard info: www.CampHillard.com