San Gabriel Valley YMCA

We'd like you to meet Tony.

Like many of our campers, Tony was referred to us by the state's department of family services. Tony had been kicked out of several group homes and was a very angry boy when he reached our camp.

Over a few summers at Camp E.L.K., Tony learned what it meant to be part of a family, to be really cared about. Instead of punishing him when he acted out, staff listened to Tony and helped him learn alternate behaviors and healthy ways to express himself.

Now, we've learned that Tony's behavior has stabilized enough for him to be placed in a foster home, one step closer to finding a forever family.

For many of our campers from troubled homes, one week a summer at Camp E.L.K. or Camp Coulter Pines is the only chance they get to experience what so many of us take for granted--the fun of playing with new friends, of being part of a group, of just being a kid.

Will you help us change lives through camping?

For a pledge to our Y of just $25 per month, you can send a foster child like Tony to camp this summer.

For $250 a month, you can send a team of 20 teens who have "graduated" from our camping programs through our Counselor-In-Training program and help them learn to be of service to younger kids at camp.

Any size gift is welcome; please consider making a monthly gift to help Tony and children like him learn a lifetime of values in just one short week.

Call our main office at 626-339-6221 to get started.