NEW YORK, March 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SeriousFun Children's Network announced that Niagara Cares, in its inaugural cycle of grant awards, has granted $300,000 to enhance aquatic and hospital outreach programming at its camps across the country. The funding will support swimming, boating and fishing programs at seven (7) U.S. camps, while four (4) of the camps will receive additional funds to expand their outreach programs to children in local hospitals.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Niagara Cares and are grateful for their commitment to strengthening our camp programs," said Mary Beth Powers, CEO, SeriousFun Children's Network. "Niagara's funding is significant and will enable us to make site improvements, hire and train staff, and purchase necessary supplies – all of which will greatly expand and enhance the experiences for our campers and their families."
Camps in SeriousFun Children's Network receiving grant funds include the following:
- Camp Korey – Carnation, Wash.
- Double H Ranch - Lake Luzerne, N.Y.
- Flying Horse Farms - Mt. Gilead, Ohio
- North Star Reach – Pinckney, Mich.
- The Painted Turtle - Lake Hughes, Calif.
- Roundup River Ranch - Gypsum, Colo.
- Victory Junction – Randleman, N.C.
"This is an exciting time for all of us at Niagara as we award our first grant through Niagara Cares to SeriousFun," said Kristen Venick, Niagara Cares Director. "Niagara and its employees are committed to investing in programs that align closely with our mission and commitment to support children and families who often face insurmountable challenges. We feel obliged as a corporate citizen to help make a difference in communities where our employees live and work."
Designed around the principle of purposeful play, SeriousFun camps adapt activities, equipment and facilities to meet special needs so that all campers, despite different abilities, can fully participate. Moreover, every activity is intentional and provides therapeutic benefits to campers' health and quality of life. The experience allows children to experience success and gain the confidence to try new and exciting things in a supportive environment. SeriousFun camps feature a diverse range of programs including high and low ropes courses, snow skiing, horseback riding, as well as the traditional camp activities like swimming, boating, arts and crafts, and campfires.
Many SeriousFun Camps extend the experience of camp through outreach programming for children directly in local hospitals. These innovative programs bring the playful spirit of camp to children in hospitals, helping to build confidence and restore joy during times that can be scary, uncertain and lonely. The funding provided by Niagara will allow four of the camps (Camp Korey, Double H Ranch, The Painted Turtle and Victory Junction) to expand programming and services by providing for supplies, transportation and staffing.
About Niagara Cares
Niagara Cares, a program of Niagara Bottling, is committed to supporting local and national community initiatives by engaging stakeholders and investing its resources for disadvantaged children and their families. Niagara Cares initiatives include national strategic partnerships, local community grants, employee engagement and volunteerism and the Andrew D. Peykoff, Sr. Scholarship Program. For more information, visit www.niagarawater.com/niagara-cares.
About Niagara Bottling, LLC
Niagara Bottling, LLC has been family owned and operated since 1963. Headquartered in Ontario, CA, we continue to expand our current production capabilities in 20 plants located in 14 states. As the leading manufacturer of private brand bottled water in the country, we work closely with the largest retailers, grocers, club and convenience stores throughout the country. Niagara produces a variety of beverages including water, tea, sports drinks, vitamin waters and sparkling beverages. For more information, visit www.niagarawater.com.
About SeriousFun Children's Network
SeriousFun Children's Network is a growing global community of 30 camps and programs serving children with serious illnesses and their families, always free of charge. Founded by Paul Newman in 1988, SeriousFun has served more than 518,000 children and families from more than 50 countries. Each member camp is an independent, not-for-profit organization dependent upon private funding to serve all children at no cost to their families. A Support Center raises funds and provides central standards and services for all SeriousFun camps and programs. To learn more about SeriousFun, visit www.seriousfunnetwork.org.