Tootsie Rolls, Mid States & 3 Lives Changed!

Once upon a time, in a hotel ballroom in St Charles, Illinois, a community of #camppros set out to change the world.

Let me start from the beginning…

At the opening dinner on Thursday evening, John Coffey, Mid States Volunteer, set four Tootsie Rolls bank canisters on the committee’s table and said “I picked these up at the store. Don’t know if you can use them somehow. ” We picked them up, took to the stage and shared the idea of Mid States sending a kid to camp this summer. After dinner, Carlise poured the contents onto the table to begin counting and we were blown away by the generosity. Over $200 was raised at that first dinner. As I was walking out of the ballroom, I was asked if we could bring them to lunch the next day so they can bring more change. So we did. We raised another $200. We knew if we could reach $500, it would be fantastic. We were so very close.

We decided to try again. So at the closing lunch we passed it around one more time and this time we reached our goal and then some. The banks themselves brought in another $200 and an anonymous donor donated $400 to match the first two days. This meant we raised $1, 093. 56. Mid States is sending 3 kids to camp!  

The Mid States community raised $1,093.56 
and will be sending 3 kids to camp!

Such a simple idea. John saw these on sale and purchased four. John, being the camp person he is thought perhaps we could be creative. Then another person said “let’s pass it around and get some money to send a kid to camp.” From there the generosity of the community grew and grew and grew! 

Some people gave pennies, some nickels, others quarters. Several gave dollars and other forms of cash. By Saturday people were coming with their bags of change. The momentum exploded. The Mid States community set out to send a child to camp this summer and they came through.

You may look at Mid States and see a conference event, but it’s so much more. In that ballroom, a community set a goal and worked together to reach it, each person giving what they can and no one keeping score of who gave what. Each person knew the goal could only come together if all contributed to the cause.

Our closing keynote speaker, Brad Montague spoke about making three choices: Choose People. Choose Awesome. Choose Joy. As he spoke those words, I knew this community had already done that. This community chose to put a child first, give that child an awesome experience and in the end that child will feel joy.

I have never been more proud to be a part of the Mid States community as I am right now, sharing this story with you today. This is truly a #joyfulrebellion 

Thank you to all who deposited money into those canisters. Such a simple act is about change 3 lives this summer.    

With a Full Heart,
Colette M. Marquardt
Executive Director

The Gordie Kaplan Campership Fund is a fund of the American Camp Association, Illinois that sends children and adults to camp each summer.  Learn more and donate today by visiting our website!