The FRESH AIR FUND needs YOU!

I grew up having a fresh air "sister" who came to my house every summer and before our 3rd child was born, we invited a Fresh Air "son" into our home for two summers in a row. These memories are ones I will never forget! And my children still refer to Shamare as their Fresh Air brother! That was 4 years ago and every now and then he calls to let us know how he is doing. "We made s'mores and hot dogs over the fire. I've never cooked outside before!" Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends. The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes. Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program. What do Fresh Air children enjoy? Playing in the backyard Laughing in the sunshine Catching fireflies Riding bicycles Learning to swim Running barefoot through the grass Gazing at the stars on moonlit nights Building sandcastles Making new friends Simple pleasures of life away from the inner-city For more information CLICK HERE or call (800) 367-0003.