The Cohen Camps’ Annual Campaign
Meet Your Match Capital Campaign a Success
Fund in Honor of Hadassah and Ben Blocker to Benefit Camp Pembroke
The Cohen Camps’ Annual Campaign
Recently you received a solicitation, if we have your correct mailing address, signed by fellow alumnae asking for you to contribute to an annual campaign. This is the first part of a nascent fundraising effort started by the Cohen Camps (Camps Pembroke, Tel Noar and Tevya). We have begun reaching out to our alumnae to help the Cohen Camps to fund scholarships for Camp Pembroke – which have hitherto been funded out of tuition income – so we can keep tuition affordable in order to continue to provide the memorable, life-changing experiences to others you had as campers.
Shortly before that mailing a team of students from MIT’s Sloan School of Business, with our permission, studied the Cohen Camps and its fundraising initiative for a course project. Many of you participated in a survey which was part of the project. One survey finding was that many alumni are not aware of the scholarships given or the extent that scholarships have always been a part of the Cohen Camps’ history. The availability of financial assistance is advertised, but obviously not strongly enough, so we thought it deserved some explanation.
Scholarships
Eli and Bessie Cohen had the foresight to establish the camps as non-profit organizations from their very beginnings. They were interested in creating strong Jewish connections and believed summer camping was one way to achieve that. The first camp, Camp Pembroke, was started in 1935 as an all-girls equivalent camp to an all-boys camp Eli was involved in founding with four YMHA's (antecedents of the Jewish Community Centers) from the north shore of Boston. When the board didn't want to be involved in doing for girls what they did for boys, Eli did it on his own. Camp Tevya followed in 1940 as a true 'fresh air camp' to get poor Jewish kids out of the city during a time when the country was still in the Depression, which ended with the advent of the Second World War. Tevya's original tuition was $8 per week for a two-week session. Camp Tel Noar was founded in 1945, as Tel Noar Lodge, to teach young adults about Zionism before the founding of the State of Israel – its faculty included some leading educators in the American Jewish world.
Eventually all three camps evolved into a similar format of informal Jewish education woven into a well-rounded camp program of land and water sports, and creative and performing arts which you experienced as alumni, and which children continue to experience today. The Cohens believed strongly then, and still do now, in the mission the camps pursue. No child is turned away because their family cannot afford the tuition.
Scholarships are awarded based on proven financial need and each family’s situation is evaluated separately. All three Cohen Camps have always given generous scholarships – currently up to two-thirds of tuition, based on a family's ability to pay – with occasional full scholarships. Parents need only to request the forms to apply for financial aid.
Unlike other organizations, no budget is set to limit the amount of assistance given. Everyone who applies and qualifies receives what is warranted. Also unlike some other organizations, the only people who know about the scholarships are the families and the committee determining the award. No one in camp knows who is on scholarship – not even the Director. (Whether parents tell their children is an individual family decision.) At camp everyone is treated equally regardless of means.
Why Start Fundraising?
The camps, which have tuitions far lower than those of private camps, have always been funded mostly out of tuition income. However, with no specific scholarship fund, the aid given reduces the total income to operate the camp. Today it has become more and more expensive to run first-class, affordable camp programs. Not only is there more regulation and cost to keep facilities up-to-date, but it is increasingly harder and more expensive to find qualified staff and develop innovative programs. The Cohen Camps organization continuously strives to make the camps the best they can be and is never satisfied to rest on its past reputation.
So, we are starting down this path, like many other non-profit camps have done, to continue to provide memorable experiences like our alumni had. Raising money for scholarships is just one part of the overall fundraising effort, and funds raised for scholarship will allow more money to be reinvested in the camp facilities and programs.
Some alumni have asked whether donations can be designated for a specific camp or a specific purpose. Such requests are, of course, honored. The connection that alumni have to their camps is undoubtedly strong and there will be opportunities for alumni donations to benefit their particular camp. The Annual Campaign has been launched for all three Cohen Camps together because the organization treats the camps as parents do their children: equally, but sometimes one requires additional attention. All support is appreciated and welcomed.
Annual Campaign Status
Results of our inaugural annual campaign have been encouraging. Camp Pembroke greatly appreciates Nancy and Suzanne for lending their support in this effort and signing the initial letter.
| Funds Raised | |
| Camp Pembroke | $9,306 |
| Camp Tel Noar | $5,553 |
| Camp Tevya | $5,847 |
For those alumnae who would still like to contribute, go to www.camppembroke.org/AlumniSupport.php to download the Donation Form for a contribution by check, or contribute online using a credit card. Contributions by check are preferred since they allow for your full gift to benefit Camp Pembroke.
Meet Your Match Capital Campaign a Success
The Cohen Camps are happy to announce that it has raised over $125,000 in gifts and pledges from alumni and friends, which resulted in $60,000 in matching funds from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation through the Meet Your Match Program which ended in June, 2006.
The Meet Your Match campaign was a success for all three of the Cohen Camps. As our first formal fundraising activity, we met our financial goals, but more importantly we learned much that will help us in the future. We are very thankful for everyone who contributed to the campaign for all three camps, and appreciate their support. See MYM Donor List.
As important as the contributions, we are enormously grateful for the alumni volunteers who gave their time and energy to this campaign: organizing, writing letters and making telephone calls. Without them, we would have been unable to achieve our goals. We look forward to increased involvement of our alumni in the future.
| Camp Pembroke | $ 40,114 |
| Camp Tel Noar | $ 44,816 |
| Camp Tevya | $ 40,085 |
The Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy launched the Meet Your Match program to motivate non-profit Jewish camps to find and inspire donors for overnight Jewish camps. The Institute focuses on generating energy around the importance of Jewish camping in shaping Jewish identity and fostering continuity for today’s Jewish youth.
The aim of the Meet Your Match program was to raise money for capital improvements, and to that end we were busy in the spring of 2006 with a number of capital projects. We built two new head counselor cabins at Camp Tevya with three bedrooms and an office in each, and at Camp Pembroke we installed a sports floor in the new recreation building, and rebuilt the septic system for the Horseshoe. Planning is underway for future projects at all three camps.
Again, thank you to everyone who contributed to this campaign and especially to the alumni who gave their precious time to this effort.
Fund in Honor of Hadassah and Ben Blocker to Benefit Camp Pembroke
The Cohen Camps are proud to announce the establishment of a new fund in honor of Hadassah Blocker and her husband Ben Blocker. The fund will be used for innovative camp programs like Chazak, Chazak: The S-Team Project, now in its fourth season at Camp Pembroke. The S-Team Project focuses on promoting self esteem in older campers through a series of speakers, activities and discussion groups exploring topics relevant to today’s Jewish young women. Hadassah served as Camp Pembroke Director from 1946 to 1977 ably supported by her husband Ben and became a role model for both Pembroke campers and staff, and other Jewish women all over New England whom she taught and mentored.
Cohen Camps President Arnold Cohen shared that “Hadassah’s influence on Camp Pembroke and Jewish women is immeasurable. She guided young women to feel confident, to seek education, and to reach for the stars. The establishment of this fund in her honor will ensure that every future Camp Pembroke camper will be touched by the magic that is Hadassah Blocker.” The fund will be officially known as “The Hadassah and Ben Blocker Fund”, the earnings of which will support creative programming focused on women and Judaism at Camp Pembroke.
Hadassah’s impact has been legendary and she was recognized by the Jewish Women’s Archive in 2004 as a “Woman Who Dared” for being a pioneer of Conservative Jewish Women’s full participation in religious life. Hadassah’s father, a well-known cantor, gave her the tools to learn not only to chant Torah and Haftorah, but also to teach it to other girls and women, after a visit to Camp Pembroke during the summer. Hadassah’s love for Torah, for teaching others, and for encouraging women to accomplish anything they set their minds to was nurtured and perpetuated during her thirty-two years at Camp Pembroke.
Click to read the full press release.
CAMP FRIENDS CD Release Party
The CD Release Party for “Camp Friends” was a huge success! Over 100 Pembroke alumnae attended an afternoon of camp songs and fun. Pembroke Director Ellen Felcher reported “The afternoon was filled with laughter, singing, hugging and reminiscing – it was like being at Camp Pembroke, but in the winter.” As a special surprise, Haddasah Blocker made an appearance and was welcomed with a warm, loud traditional rendition of Havenu.
The CD was recorded by Camp Pembroke alumnae Judy (Shore) Stone, Suzanne (Sherman) Propp, and Jo Werther. They describe the CD as a reflection of some of their fondest memories of Pembroke in the 1970's and 1980's. The CD consists of a selection of Camp Pembroke favorites from that era and includes a recent recording of Hadassah singing “Taps”. Many of you will remember that the evening wasn’t complete until she sang it for the camp. Some of the camp’s neighbors also told us they used that as the signal for their own children to go to bed during those summers.
To order the CD, visit www.forgoodmusic.com; especially if you need a bit of warming during the winter or want to bring back your own fond memories of Pembroke (regardless of when you attended). Proceeds go to the Pembroke Scholarship Fund.
