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Camp
Heartland
Dear
Administrators
and
Staff,
Through
this
donation,
it is
my great
pleasure
to sponsor
my respected
and
esteemed
friend,
Bob
Bowers,
who
will
be joining
you
this
summer.
Bob
is a
very
dear
friend
of mine,
one
who
not
only
makes
a difference
in many
lives
but
especially
has
made
a significant
difference
in mine.
Bob’s
achievements
are
not
what
interest
me most
about
him,
however.
What
I find
of incredible
value
is his
human-ness
with
all
who
come
in contact
with
him.
He is
a man
of great
love
and
courage.
Though
I wish
I could
stop
in for
a day
and
have
some
potato
salad
with
you,
please
just
enjoy
summer
camp
this
year
and
know
that
you
are
loved
from
half
way
around
the
world
here
in Saudi
Arabia.
Thank
you
to all
the
Camp
Heartland
staff
for
doing
the
tremendous
job
that
you
do year
after
year
for
all
the
participants
at your
wonderful
camp.
With
much
Love,
Mark
M.
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I
highly encourage you to
learn more and or become
involved with Camp Heartland.
Please visit their site
at:
www.campheartland.org
Thank you to the most compassionate
and dedicated group of young
adults who make up the administrative
and camp staff! A heartfelt
thank you to all
of you who donated to help
make my camp experience
possible!
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>
Back to Photos of Da Pirate
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**Please note.
Due to confidentiality, I am only able to show a few of
the campers. I truly hope you enjoy the 'glimpse.' **
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Please enjoy
the slide show
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It has been another
awe-inspiring year to work with the amazing
administration team, counselors, staff and campers
of Camp Heartland. I have found an extended
family of extraordinary proportions. It is with
great pleasure that I share these photos and
experiences with you all. I drove directly to
camp in Minnesota after speaking at my friend
Mike McKinney's memorial service. It was a difficult
time emotionally to say the least. However,
the love, compassion and understanding I was
welcomed with, was nothing short of healing
and very much needed. I absolutely can't say
enough about this organization and all involved.
You could not find more compassionate and selfless
folks. This year I was the boy's youth counselor
for the 8-10 year olds. We were in cabin 5 and
named "The X-Men." Our cabin had two individuals
in wheelchairs. Their courage and determination
alone, was enough to deeply humble and inspire
me. The brave stories and smiling faces are
endless and etched in my heart and soul. One
of the many highlights of my stay in Minnesota
was packing both kids to the top of the climbing
tower (over 30 feet up) with my co-counselor
Johnnie. My other co-counselors were Chauncey
and Logan. I was grateful to spend time with
these awesome young men. They are long time
returnees to camp. Our cabin was co-winner of
the cleanest cabin and we were treated to ice
cream with all the works in the camp parlor.
Cleanest cabin is no small feat and bribing
the cleaning team inspectors (mop and glow)
doesn't hurt. As many of you know, we were in
the grips of a horrific heat spell during July.
Needless to say, I was quite pleased to have
canoeing as my skill to teach. There is truly
something calming and magical about "Lake Noodle"
which is named after Founder and CEO, Neil Willenson.
I was also quite excited to re-unite with my
special friend Kalee Garland once again. I had
helped her to connect with MTV for the upcoming
special on August 18th, "Think HIV--This is
Me." It was way too fun to film footage of her
for it while at camp. I can now add videographer
to my resume. :) This was also my first live
radio spot for my monthly show on WORT Radio,
"In the Know." Marlena did a spectacular job
being interviewed live and I'm quite grateful
for her willingness and the admin staff for
accommodating the time. She
described to listeners how vital Camp Heartland
has been in her young life. Thank you Marlena
for being such an eloquent spokesperson for
us! Amongst her other accomplishments, Marlena
is also pictured on the cover of "A Journey
of Hope." I highly recommend that you procure
a copy of this priceless book! It lends a touching
insight to the campers and Neil Willenson's
inspiration for founding camp. You can click
on the photo (right) to learn more or purchase
a copy. She is also a passionate speaker for
The Journey of Hope tour. Before I had even
arrived at camp, the admin staff had sent me
some amazingly wonderful e-mails. The love,
gratitude and excitement they shared prompted
me to accomplish another long time goal of attending
camp in Malibu, California. So, my journey this
year will continue with many more photos and
stories from Malibu. I will also be reporting
live again from camp for "In The Know." I'd
like to extend a special thanks to my friend
Mitch Weber of ABC's channel 27 for reporting
on camp and our dear friend and fellow counselor
Dylan Ferhman. Again, my deepest thanks to the
entire Camp Heartland family for their
tireless commitment to improve the young lives
of those impacted by this dreadful pandemic
called AIDS. Namaste you fearless warriors! |
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Bob,
Thanks for all of your hard work,
humor, dedication and compassion.
The gates of Camp Heartland will
always be open for you.
Take care! Neil
Neil Willenson
Founder & CEO
Camp Heartland
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With Neil Willenson a.k.a. "Noodle"
(Camp Heartland Founder)
Thank you for the opportunity
to be of service Neil!
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Luke and La Toya
havin fun w/ campers at carnival |
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And I LOVE Camp
Heartland! Thank you Vanessa! |
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It's good to be
a Pirate-At the Under the Sea dance with La
Toya and "Queen" |
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I'm truly humbled!
Thank you LIT's! |
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It's mutiny
time at Camp Heartland!
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Neil Willenson
showing campers how break dancing is done!
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Da Pirate chillin
on Lake Noodle during canoe skill period
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O.K. Izzy and Lynsey
are a little afraid!
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AIDS-LOVE-PEACE-UNITY
Thank you Lucas!
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Thank you
Dar and Jeanne for your tireless commitment to Camp Heartland!
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Pierre is
amazing! He has gone from camper to counselor and it's a
pleasure to know him!
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Da Pirate
enjoyin a mug with one of our cabin 5 gang. We were the
X-Men this year!
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An inspiring
story and amazing young man I was fortunate to have in our
cabin!
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"We are not lepers or indispensable; we are brothers,
sister, sons, daughters, parents, and yes, even
grandparents who for one reason or another were
infected with the AIDS virus. The “H” in HIV stands
for Human. If we can unite to end AIDS, we will
hopefully put right many other divisions that face
us as a world."
~Bob Bowers a.k.a. Da Pirate
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Hi Bob,
Please do not take my slowness to respond as any
damper on my enthusiasm of finally meeting da pirate.
It is really amazing that our paths have never crossed.
I've known about you, but just never in the same
place at the same time. Crazy, huh? Well finally
we meet and I look forward to spending some time
together up in Malibu.
Thanks for all you do....I am in awe of your boundless
energy and the organization and website you run.
For sure let's work together on something.
Peace,
Joel |
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Da Pirate with Joel
from Camp Heartland's Board of Directors. Thank
you Joel! |
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Campers doin'
some slip and slide during cabin time together
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I think
this camper exceeds the size and age limit? What's a
Pirate to do?!
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It's all
about da Scooby snacks...Thanks Zon
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Who says
real men don't cross dress?!
Cross dress dinner is always a riot!
Thx Luke & Ben
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One awe-inspiring you man from our cabin!
Thank you Camp Heartland!
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A
friend featured on OTP is
Ms. Kalee Garland.
I met Kalee while at
Camp Heartland's Youth
Retreat last Fall. I couldn't be
prouder to say she was featured in length on the
recent MTV special
"Think HIV-This is Me." The show was amazing
and if you missed it, you can
click here to view it online.
Just click "Channels" then "News" and then click
on the title of the show. I'd like to extend a special
thanks to David Gale, Executive-Vice President of
MTV Films for being so gracious with Kalee, me and
others at camp! Thank you is not nearly enough. |
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Click above
banner to see some amazing Time photos from
Camp Heartland
Click here to read a story from
Time about Camp Heartland
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On Sale Now!
A Journey of Hope:
Inspiring Stories of Courage and Unconditional Love
This powerful and beautiful 132 page full color
book by Camp Heartland founder Neil Willenson includes
a collection of more than 100 gorgeous photographs
by award winning photographer Katja Heinemann. Edited
by journalist Kurt Chandler, "A Journey of Hope"
features the stories, poems and reflections by and
about the children of Camp Heartland.
Click photo (left)
to read more and or purchase.
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