Laughter and friends

Taylor Family Foundation offers fun for kids in need

Kids just want to be kids, believes the Taylor Family Foundation. Each summer, kids with life-threatening illnesses and disabilities who come to Camp Arroyo—run by the foundation in partnership of the East Bay Regional Park District and the YMCA of the East Bay—can meet and create a community with others just like them. Since 2002, the camp has grown to welcome a number of groups: one week for kids with HIV/AIDS, another week for kids with skin diseases, yet another, brain tumors, diabetes or autism. Groups also schedule weekend visits throughout the school year.

“More directors are coming to us with kids with no place to go,” says Meghan Kelly, the foundation’s executive assistant. “Other summer camps weren’t allowing these kids, because the camps couldn’t offer medical staff or support. We’re telling the kids to come ride our horses, come swim in our pool. The impact it has on them is priceless.”

Based in Livermore, the camp’s outreach stretches across six counties of Northern California: Contra Costa (227 kids), Napa (16), Sacramento (207), Solano (43), Sonoma (37) and Yolo (10).

The foundation’s next Annual Day in the Park, which raises funds to keep the camp running, is Aug. 24. For more information, visit ttff.org.

At the foundation's 2007 Day in the Park, singer k.d. lang waves as her auction lot, dinner and five songs performed live, sells for $29.000. (courtesy Tom Tomkinson, Taylor Family Foundation)

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