Hello, everyone! 

This Tuesday is Giving Tuesday, and you know what that means... I am trying to raise money for a charity I love :D 

I spent my sixth summer at Camp Rising Sun this year, and my fourth summer as a counselor. Actually, to be completely accurate, I didn't spend the whole summer at CRS this year. In 2015, camp was shortened from seven weeks to four as a cost-saving measure.  

Camp is the best gift I've ever been given, and I'd like it if bright, caring teenagers from around the world could continue to spend a life-changing summer at CRS next year and for many years to come. So, I'm putting my money where my mouth is and using my entire salary from my four weeks at camp this summer-- $1,500-- to match your donations for the CRS 2016 season. This means if I raise $1,500 for camp, I will donate another $1,500.

I would so appreciate a donation of any size! And if you don't want to donate to CRS, consider donating to another organization for Giving Tuesday! 

Much love, 

Sarah

UPDATE (at 10pm California time):

WOW! At midday today I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to meet my goal. However, thanks to Christina my little campaign has now been publicised to the whole alumni community! Thanks to your help, with my matching donation we have SMASHED through my goal! A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all the donors I have never met-- please let me know when you're in San Francisco and we'll get tea! Thank you thank you thank you! 

P.S. Anyone want to match the rest? ;)

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More info about CRS:

http://www.lajf.org/curriculum/

Camp Rising Sun is not a normal summer camp. At CRS, sixty teenagers from ~30 different countries work together for two months to build an intentional community. Camp is full-scholarship and campers are selected based on merit rather than ability to pay for camp. Every day, a different camper leads the group; that camper is responsible for every aspect of the day, such as waking everyone up, facilitating assemblies, coordinating meals with the kitchen, welcoming visitors, and making sure everyone is accounted for at all times. Campers propose, plan, and execute on "projects" that improve camp or the broader world in some way. There's also time every day set aside for "instructions," where anyone can teach a 1 1/2 hour class on anything they're passionate about. We encourage campers to voice differing opinions and support deep thinking-- we don't provide easy answers, but instead expect campers to think for themselves. The campers really run the camp; the staff are just there to guide and supervise. This is a huge change for most of these kids, who are running on the education hamster wheel and have never been able to realize their ideas, take responsibility, and discover how much people can accomplish by working together.  

The world needs Camp Rising Sun

There is great need for developing promising leaders when our global community is faced with great uncertainty.

At Camp Rising Sun, we answer that need by inspiring our campers to imagine, achieve their utmost potential and rise boldly to the challenges of the times.

For 85 years, Rising Suns have received a full scholarship to attend Camp. It is your support today that allows this to continue.

It’s not enough to love Camp Rising Sun, you’ve got to support it.

To make an online gift, click the "Donate" button at the top of this page. For other gift options, including check securities and wire transfers, click on this link for more information.

Your gift of…

$10,000 sponsors a camper for the summer
$5,000 feeds a camp for one week
$2,500 builds a new tent for 5 campers
$1,000 funds a camper Project
$500 supplies materials for Instructions
$250 treats all 120 campers to ice cream at Holy Cow

Your generous gift is appreciated in any amount.

Camp Rising Sun isn't just a summer camp - it is an investment.
In 2016 we will be opening doors, and tent flaps, for 120 young men and women from around the world. They will learn from one another while learning about themselves. They will lead and they will follow. They will continue the CRS traditions and values.

Your gift today will make it possible for all 120 campers to receive full scholarships to Camp in 2016 for seven weeks. 

To make an online gift, click the "Donate" button at the top of this page. For other gift options, including check securities and wire transfers, click on this link for more information.