The New Jersey-based non-profit caters specifically to children diagnosed with congenital heart disease
Waldwick, NJ, February 7, 2023 ‒ Today, Hope With Heart (HWH) announced the opening of camper applications for its 2023 summer camp session. Located in Warren County, NJ, HWH is a medically-supervised week-long sleep-away camp for children ages 7-17 who have been diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD). The 2023 camp session will run from Sunday, August 6 through Saturday, August 12.
The CDC estimates that CHD affects nearly one percent – about 40,000 – of births per year in the United States. Fortunately, babies born with CHD are living longer lives thanks to continued advances in medical care. However, families of children with CHD report facing greater medical costs for ongoing treatments. In addition, these children tend to miss more days of school and participate less in extracurricular activities than children without heart problems.
For more than 30 years, HWH has offered a fun-filled summer camp experience for children who live with heart disease at no cost to their families. The organization creates a safe haven where – regardless of their diagnosis – kids can be kids. During every six-night and seven-day session, campers connect and form bonds with their cabins by participating in engaging new experiences seldom offered to them. Campers can also find comfort in knowing that a majority of the volunteer counselors and staff are past campers themselves or know someone closely living with a heart condition.
“We founded Hope With Heart with the goal of creating a safe space outside of a hospital setting for children living with CHD to interact,” said June Griffin, President of Hope With Heart. “The families we work with are often overwhelmed with medical bills, so we wanted to offer this experience to them completely free of charge.”
New campers, who come from across the country, often leave HWH eager to return the next year. Most importantly, parents report that their children return home from camp more resilient, expressing an inner peace with their long-term condition and showing a greater willingness to take on the daily struggles placed on them by their disease.
“Hope With Heart is a place where kids can be themselves without judgement,” said Alissa Gretina, Director of HWH. “It’s like a second home for many campers, counselors, and staff alike.”
If you or someone you know has a child interested in applying to Hope With Heart’s 2023 Summer Camp Session running August 6 through 12, please visit www.hopewithheart.org today.
About Hope With Heart
Hope With Heart is a 501c3 organization founded in 1989 to provide an enriching summer camp experience for children diagnosed with congenital heart disease. The Board of Trustees includes a pediatric cardiologist who oversees the camp. Daily camp operations are facilitated by the camp director, two cardiac care nurses, two activities coordinators and a team of seasoned counselors. Hope With Heart is a place for you to be included.
MEDIA CONTACT
Jamie Corter, Activities Director and Public Relations Manager
hopewithheartmedia@gmail.com
(862) 273-5645
CONTACT:
Alissa Gretina, Camp Director
hopewithheartcamp@gmail.com
(973) 568-1217
George Kipel, Camp Cardiologist
glkipel@gmail.com
(201) 741-0683
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