April 25, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

On behalf of the children and families from our Pediatric and Adolescent HIV Program, I want to share with you the overwhelming response of appreciation that I received from our families whose children attended Camp Safe Haven over the past several years. Each year Dave Butler, Chief Executive Officer, tells me how many slots he has available for Chicago campers. I know that Dave works really hard to find the funding for the children to attend camp. We have been able to send 18 youth to camp in the past year.

Let me tell you a little bit about our children and why we think it is important for them to attend Camp Safe Haven. Camp Safe Haven offers our youth a chance to be accepted, build friendships, and develop higher self-esteems. As our children reach adolescence, they tend to start feeling isolated from other youth because they feel different, which can lead to lower self-esteem. Adolescence is a period where youth want to “fit in” and be “normal”. One reason an adolescent can feel abnormal is they begin to realize they have to take medicines and go to the doctor for the rest of their life, and if they do not they can get sick and die. We have seen our youth experience an extremely difficult time adjusting to their illness during adolescence and beyond.

Our medical team has taken an aggressive approach to helping our younger children make an easier transition into adolescence. We believe that by providing a community for our younger children will help them not feel as isolated or different. We also continue to encourage community building through the adolescent years. Attending Camp Safe Haven gives our youth a sense of community and a chance to see that there are other children just like them, even outside of Chicago. Camp Safe Haven also encourages the children to develop their knowledge of wellness, which is also very important for their ongoing health and attitudes toward life.

We really appreciate that Camp Safe Haven continues to enhance the lives of the children we serve. There are not many HIV camps available to our children. We are very grateful to the people and organizations who contribute to Camp Safe Haven. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of children living with HIV/AIDS.

Another exciting aspect of attending Camp Safe Haven is the children get to be outside and experience nature. Most of our children live in the inner city of Chicago and this is a chance for the youth to go on nature walks and paddle a canoe. This adventure allows our youth a refuge from their daily struggles, learn about nature, and experience a supportive environment. The parents and caregivers also have a week of respite while their child is enjoying camp.

Kindest regards,
Jamie E. Kinder
Child Life Specialist
Special Infectious Diseases
Children's Memorial Hospital
Chicago