This morning, I heard a segment on Valentine in the Morning’s 104.3 MYfm radio show that caught my attention. They featured a locally-based charity for its Val’s Pals initiative that showcases one Southern California organization each week.
Val’s Pals teamed up with Southern California Nissan Dealers to bring awareness to local organizations that are doing good. Every Friday, the program highlights a worthy cause on Valentine in the Morning.
This segment is all leading up to the big moment in December when one of the featured charities has a chance to win a $20,000 donation from the car dealers.
Today, Val’s Pals highlighted Camp Kesem at USC. The nonprofit was founded by students at Stanford University more than 16 years ago. The University of Southern California chapter was founded by USC students in 2013.
Camp Kesem’s mission is “To support children through and beyond their parent’s cancer with innovative, fun-filled programs that foster a lasting community.”
The Southern California chapters are just a small sector of the nationwide initiative to ensure that children whose parents are diagnosed with cancer are not left alone. One look at the nonprofit’s map shows the powerful reach this organization has across our country.
Camp Kesem at USC supports children in the Los Angeles area by providing a week-long summer camp along with a year-long peer support group. It’s operated by 35 student volunteers and serves 75 campers ages 6-16 per year.
The programs provided by the charity provide free support and enrichment opportunities to children with parents affected by cancer.
In 2015, Camp Kesem as a whole served over 5,000 children across the country.
If there’s a Southern California charity that you want to features on Val’s Pals, the nomination phase runs through November 20th. The winner of the $20K donation will be announced on Valentine in the Morning on December 16.
Photo Credit: Instagram (@go4valentine)