The Charlie’s Heart Foundation Grant Program is designed to help other nonprofit organizations whose missions align with our own in helping families and empowering them to stay together under difficult circumstances.
This year has been particularly difficult for nonprofits, who are seeing increased demand for their services but are experiencing fewer donations than typical due to the tumultuous economy. It was important to us that we help support those doing great work worldwide.
This past summer we received many applications for our first year of the grant program, and it was difficult to narrow all of the incredible organizations down to the nine who were ultimately chosen. You can read more about the application and our selection process here.
Among those applications received, we were introduced to Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge and Winder, Georgia. COVID-19 has been a challenge for everyone we know, but we can only imagine how difficult it’s been for this organization, which runs weekly summer camps during the summer and weekend camps during the school year for children and teens with serious illnesses, disabilities, and life challenges. 
Camp Twin Lakes provides coordinated, fully accessible, and medically supported camps for these children and their families, and they’ve had to change quite a bit this year to continue functioning during the pandemic. This includes increased cleaning, a costly expense, fewer families per cabin (they are currently limited to one), and changes to mealtimes.
Their screening practices are also extensive to ensure no one attends the camp while sick with COVID-19. Due to the nature of Camp Twin Lakes and the groups served, these precautions are particularly important. Families are required to get daily temperature checks while at the camp and submit a 14-day daily health screening record upon arriving.
Camp Twin Lakes has truly gone above and beyond to continue to serve children, teens, and families who look forward to a fun camp experience that they might not find elsewhere, and we’re excited to be a part of supporting that mission. The funding they received from the Charlie’s Heart Foundation Grant Program provided a scholarship for one camper and ten of their family members to attend camp for a week.
We encourage you to learn more about Camp Twin Lakes and the great work they’re doing in Georgia. You can do that and donate to their mission at www.camptwinlakes.org.
