I Thought Kesem Was a Summer Camp. It’s So Much More.

Camp Fun!

When I first started working with Kesem, I thought I understood the organization.

Their flagship program, Camp Kesem, provides free summer camps for children who are facing a parent’s cancer. They have chapters across the country. It sounded like an incredible mission.

Then I learned who makes it happen, college students.

Not paid counselors or seasonal employees.

College students volunteer to recruit campers, raise money, organize events, coordinate logistics, complete extensive training, and then spend a week creating an experience that thousands of children will remember for the rest of their lives.

I have spent more than 20 years working with nonprofits. I've seen a lot of organizations doing incredible work. I've never seen anything quite like this.

Today, Camp Kesem has over 115 chapters across the United States. This summer alone, more than 10,000 children attended Kesem programs. Over the past 25 years, more than 100,000 children have found a place where they could simply be kids, even while carrying the weight of a parent's cancer. It’s remarkable.

There’s an internal company channel that shares “mission moments” and these stories stick with you.

Here’s a recent story:

A camper had attended Camp Kesem every summer since he was eight years old. When his counselor graduated years ago, they passed down a Kesem hat to him. He wore that hat every summer afterward.

This year, he returned as a counselor.

One of his campers was having a difficult week. They built a strong connection, and by the end of camp he handed that same hat to the camper. The tradition continues!

There are so many incredible stories like that.  And if these stories were not enough to melt your heart, the parent surveys will.

One parent shared something I'll never forget:

"Kesem has provided my kids with a community and a sense of not being alone while dealing with a parent's cancer journey... Before Kesem, they struggled because their peers couldn't understand what they were experiencing. Through Kesem, they found others who truly understood. They left camp feeling empowered, included, and safe."

Graduating camper quotes are even more powerful:

"Coming to camp has healed something in me that I didn't know was broken."

"There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about Kesem."

"I don't think I would be who I am today without camp."

Those aren't comments about a week at summer camp. They're comments about belonging. And Kesem is not just changing the lives of campers, it's developing an incredible generation of young leaders.

These college students leave with real-world experience in fundraising, leadership, communication, project management, event planning, volunteer management, public speaking, and teamwork. They learn how to solve problems, lead under pressure, and care deeply about people.

If I were hiring and saw Camp Kesem on someone's résumé, that candidate would immediately move to the interview pile.

The passion doesn't end at graduation. Many employees first became involved with Kesem as college students. The Head of Human Resources has been with the organization for 18 years. The Chief Operating Officer also worked as a student volunteer.

My favorite story is CEO Jay Stilwell's.

His daughter attended Camp Kesem. He experienced the impact as a parent, became involved as a volunteer, later served as Board Chair, and today leads the entire organization.

That's what happens when people believe in a mission.

As remarkable as Kesem's impact has been, millions of children in the United States are still navigating the unimaginable reality of a parent's cancer diagnosis. Kesem's goal is to serve 50% more children over the next three years.

That isn't just a growth goal. It's thousands more children finding a place where they don't have to explain what it feels like to have a parent with cancer.

Thousands more parents knowing their children have a community that understands.

Thousands more college students learning what leadership looks like.

Kesem has reminded me that sometimes the organizations making the biggest difference aren't the ones with the biggest budgets or the most recognizable names.

They're the ones quietly changing lives, one child and one student leader at a time.

If you'd like to learn more about Kesem or help bring this experience to more children, visit kesem.org.

And please share this with someone who might need some Kesem magic too.

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I help nonprofits raise more money through education, coaching, and strategic planning. I also lead high-impact professional development, coaching programs, and retreats for companies of all sizes. If you're ready to strengthen your fundraising strategy, turn board members into advocates, or build a comprehensive legacy giving program, let's talk.