CAMP FUNDING
The following organizations give some funding towards summer camp for children with special needs. You may apply to numerous organizations—it all adds up! Call each one individually to ask for their requirements.
Please be aware that children who are approved by the Board of Education for 12 month educational programs can often get some funding for approved camps that provide educational services.
Some state agencies, such as the OPWDD (OMRDD) in New York do give some respite funding for camp either directly or through agencies.
Many Bikur Cholims will also give some funding towards camp for children with special needs.
Agudath Israel of America
212-797-9000 ext 279
212-363-8940
Camp fund for all income eligible children. You may apply for a number of children in the family, for both day camp & sleep away camp.
Sara Baila Kornreich Camp Fund (Ahavas Chesed)
718-377-5185
Camp funding for all income eligible children. Applications available after Pessach.
Autism Care Today
877-9-ACT-TODAY, 818-340-4010
https://www.act-today.org/our-funds/autism-care-today/
Autism Care Today grants are designed to provide access to individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Grant payments will be made directly to pre-approved treatment providers, assessors or materials vendors. Their Quarterly Assistance Program provides families with real help by directly paying their child’s service provider for services they would otherwise not be able to afford. Areas of support include but are not limited to: Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy, speech and occupational therapy, bio-medical testing, supplements, assistive technologies (i.e.- iPad, communication apps), safety equipment (such as safety fencing, GPS tracking devices and autism service dogs), social skills groups, special needs summer camps, and many more.
NY Families for Autistic Children
718-641-3441 Ex.7
Psychological and psycho social done within last 3 years, LOC if older. Apply once a fiscal year from July –June. $500 the most. Don’t reimburse for food, therapy or overnight respite. Reimburse for clothing, recreation/social skill program, respite, evaluation for waiver program-psychosocial & psychological. For camp send in July.
For Brooklyn and Queens residents only.
Evelyn Douglin Center
718-965-1998 Ex 185 Cheryl Pierre
241 37th Street, Suite 604
Brooklyn, New York 11232
Documents needed: current psychological within 3 years, annual physical, personal letter. Need original receipt signed or stamped by camp.
For Brooklyn and Queens residents only.
HeartShare
718-422-3290
Fill out full application in February, current psychological or LOC , state amount family responsible to pay after Board of Education and other agencies give.
For Brooklyn and Queens residents only.
OK Laboratiries
718-756-7500
Brooklyn, New York
Funding for Crown Heights residents only.
United Cerebral Palsy of New York City
Office of Consumer and Family Advocacy
212-979-9700 ext 716 Guido Hontensio
120 East 23rd Street
New York, New York 10010
Documents needed: Psychological done within the last 3 years, psychosocial, original receipt (not copy).
GHO
125-10 Queens Blvd.
Suite 2705
Kew Gardens Hills, New York 11415
Att: Jerry Yan
Documents needed: psychological/LOC, psychosocial, DDP1, original dated receipts.
AHRC
2488 Grand Concourse #404
Bronx, New York 10458
Documents needed: DDP1, DDP4, income, psychological, original dated receipts.
Sinergia
2082 Lexington Avenue 4th Floor
New York, New York 10035
Att: Monica De La Cruz
Documents needed: psychological and adaptive behavior
Original receipt.
For Manhattan residents only
The Center for Family Support
718-667-4263 ext 112 Blanca Olaya
80 New Drop Plaza, Suite 101
Staten Island, New York 10306
Documents needed: psych dated within a year, original dated receipts
PSCH
30-50 Whitestone Expressway
Flushing, New York 11354
Att: Althea Williams
Send info supporting diagnosis.
NYS Institute on Disability
718-494-6457 Tina Granato
930 Willowbrook Road, Building 41 A
Staten island, New York 10314
Send psychological.
For NYC residents only.
Empowerment For Social Change
185 MacDonough Street, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11216
Documents needed: DDP1, current psych, original receipts.
Elmys Special Services
718-789-7539
Family Reimbursement Program
163 Van Buren Street
Brooklyn, New York 11221
Documents needed: psychological, NOD/LOC, original receipt.
For NYC residents only.
YAI
460 West 34th Street, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10001
Queens Center For Progress
718-374-0002
Queens residents only
Community Resources and Services For Children
718-206-3400, Juana
For NYC residents only.
Life Spire
212-741-0100, ext 4587, 646-279-0571 Bernadette Blocker
Need original receipts, psychological with Vineland within 3 years. Apply every 2 years. Do not leave blanks on any of the application, write N/A if nothing else. Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, Jan 1 – March 31
Human First
516-823-9500 ext. 227
Ask for Tatiana (after camp):
Need psychological eval, psychosocial within 3 years, a letter from the Service Coordinator explaining the need for the reimbursement, original receipts. State in the cover letter who the check should be made out to. This can be used for other non-covered items besides camp, such as a therapy ball, or any item used for therapy.
For Brooklyn and Queens residents only.
Perform Care
877-652-7624
The Children's System of Care (CSOC) provides eligible New Jersey children, youth and young adults financial support toward summer camp tuition. Financial support is based on available resources in a given fiscal year. The amount available per child, youth or young adult is capped and may vary by year and by the number of families that apply.
Baltimore County
410-877-3725
Nancy Thiess or Coleen Freeman
Funding for Baltimore Maryland residents with a 12 month IEP to help with camp expenses. Out of area sleep away camps are OK.
Chaim Meir Camp Fund
718-972-1800
A fund for local children who are attending day camps in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn NY. They can also often arrange additional discounts through the local camps.
JFGP Needs-based Overnight Camp Scholarship
215-832-0530 Shannon Greenstein
http://www.jewishphilly.org/campscholarships
This need-based scholarship fron the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is available to residents of the greater Philadelphia area (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties only) without restriction based on Jewish Day School enrollment. Applications will be available for download at https://www.jewishphilly.org/programs-services/jewish-camping/overnight-camp-scholarships in late fall/early winter. You may also call or email below for an application
Jewish Summer Camp Experience
845-562-7860 Sharon Ball
Applicants must be members of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County (NY) with a minumum gift of $36. Deadline for application is March 31st. We offer partial scholarships for Jewish summer camps, available for Jewish children residing in Orange County, NY. You are required to apply to the camp for a scholarship as well. We must know up front the maximum amount that you are able to contribute. This amount should be based on the child, parents and other relatives who are willing to contribute. The committee feels it is important that each child contribute. This amount can be based on money the child has already saved, or what they anticipate earning between now and camp, the amount they will be able to earn doing chores, baby-sitting, etc.
In return for the scholarship money, each recipient will be asked to write a one-page essay about their camp experience to be published either in the Federation newspaper or online. Each recipient will also be asked to give back three hours of Jewish Community Service for summer camp as a volunteer at their respective congregation, Jewish Family Service, the Newburgh JCC or within an approved organization or with the Federation. This project must include some sort of mitzvah (good deed) component that would not otherwise happen unless the applicant made it happen.
Jewish Federation of Central NY
315-445-2040 ext. 114 Judith Stander
http://www.jewishfederationcny.org
Needs-Based Scholarships are AVAILABLE ONLY TO RESIDENTS OF SYRACUSE AND CENTRAL NEW YORK RESIDING IN THE 130, 131 OF 132 ZIP CODE AREAS. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this.
CJP Boston
617-457-8548 Reuben Posner
CJP gives out needs based scholarships to the families in greatest financial need. We work in partnership with the camps to identify these families/ campers. We do not accept applications directly from families (expect in particular cases).
ONE HAPPY CAMPER GRANT--Los Angeles
The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish are proud to offer Incentive Grants for first time campers to Jewish overnight camps:
- Up to $750-first time campers attending a 2 week session (12+ days)
- Up to $1,250-first time campers attending a 3+ week session (19+days)
Eligibility:
In order to qualify for an incentive grant, campers must
- Never have previously attended Jewish overnight camp for any length of time (not including weekend and family camps)
- Reside in Greater Los Angeles as determined by the Federation
- Enter grades 2-12 (after their summer at camp)
- Register at a Jewish residential camp in California as listed at www.jewishcamp.org/camps
- Not currently receive an immersive, daily, Jewish experience (ie: children who attend Jewish day school or yeshiva are not eligible for this program)
United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York Summer/Israel Scholarship Committee
518-783-7800 Deborah Goldstein
Scholarships are available to residents of the area served by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York which includes Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga and Glens Falls. These scholarships are given based on financial need
JFS Seattle Camp Scholarship Program
206-461-3240 Lauren Fabella
http://www.jfsseattle.org/ycamp
Small scholarship program for low-income Washington State families sending their child(ren) to Jewish day or overnight camp. Award is usually around $200.
Hyman, Blanche, Rita and Norma Gurland Fund for Special Needs Students
216-371 0446 Helen Wolf
Jewish Education Center of Cleveland's fund for first and second timers with special needs going to camp. Cleveland residents only.
Madeline Moore Summer Camp Grant
Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health
https://dbhids.org/summer-camp/Madeline-Moore-Grant
Children who are residents of Philadelphia with behavioral health challenges may be eligible for a $400.00 grant toward a participating summer camp.
The child must be a Philadelphia resident with a mental health diagnosis between the ages of 6 to 17, currently receiving publicly funded mental health and/or behavioral health services (paid for by Community Behavioral Health or The Office of Mental Health) through the summer.
Funds are limited and granted on a first come, first served basis.
One Happy Camper Grant---New Jersey
https://www.onehappycampernj.org/financial-incentives/1000-one-happy-camper-grant/
973-929-2970
You can get up to $1,000 incentive grant for camp if your child has never been to Jewish overnight camp. This gift, known as the One Happy Camper grant, is available toward 150+ overnight camps and teen programs across North America.
Criteria – The One Happy Camper grant is a non-needs based gift available to Jewish children who:
- reside in Greater MetroWest, NJ(Essex, Morris, Sussex, Union and parts of Somerset counties) and attend public school or secular private-school
- are enrolled in a Jewish residential summer program that is part of the Foundation for Jewish Camp network, and
- will be attending camp during Summer 2020 for the first time for 12 consecutive days or more (a prior shorter stay does not preclude eligibility)
- the first child in the family to receive a One Happy Camper grant will receive a grant of $1,000 for 19+ consecutive days or $700 for 12-18 consecutive days
- campers who have a sibling that received a One Happy Camper grant in a previous summer or a sibling that is receiving a One Happy Camper grant for summer 2020 will receive a $500 grant for 12+ consecutive days
Availability is limited.
If your child is a Jewish day school student, contact them for information on grant opportunities that may be available.
PJ Goes To Camp Grant
https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pj-goes-to-camp
PJ Goes to Camp provides incentive grants in the amount of $700 for campers who attend overnight camp for 12-18 days, or $1,000 for campers who attend camp for 19 days or longer. An access code can be obtained in the following two ways: one for students who attend Jewish Day School, and one for students who attend public school or a non-Jewish private school. Grants are distributed to students who attend a Jewish day school by lottery.To be eligible to receive a grant from PJ Goes to Camp, a camper must be ALL of the following:
- A current or former PJ Library* subscriber, or the sibling of a current or former PJ Library subscriber who was enrolled in PJ Library on or before September 1st.
- Attending a non-profit Jewish overnight camp** in the U.S. or Canada that participates in the national One Happy Camper program.
- Attending overnight camp for the first time. First-time campers are children who have never attended a Jewish overnight camp for 12 or more consecutive days. Campers who attended a one-week “taste of camp” program are eligible to receive a grant.
- Attending camp for 12 or more consecutive days.
- A resident of the United States or Canada