Children’s Cancer Camps of Nebraska

dba Camp CoHoLo

2008 Annual Report

 

Mission Statement and Goals

Children’s Cancer Camps of Nebraska’s (Camp CoHoLo) mission is to provide a recreational experience for children with cancer and blood related illnesses to allow them an opportunity to participate in the normal activities of children.

 

Camp CoHoLo’s goals are:

 

Friendship:                    Helping to promote relationships for children and families who are facing the same challenges;

Recreation:                    Providing a fun and safe environment for children to participate in regular camping activities;

Education/Awareness:             Informing the public about the psychosocial aspects of oncology and the special needs of the patients and their families;

Support:                        Building a network of support for our children and their families.

 

Accomplishments

Camp CoHoLo 2008

The annual Camp CoHoLo was held on July 13 – 16 (Session 1, ages 6 – 11 years old) and July 16 – 20 (Session 2, ages 12 – 17 years old) at the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center near Gretna, Nebraska.  The 2008 camp marked the 24th consecutive year that Camp CoHoLo has been held, and the 4-H Center has been the home of the camp since its inception.

 

Camp CoHoLo hosted 139 campers at two sessions in 2008, compared to 130 in 2007, 117 in both 2006 and 2005, 120 in 2004, 113 in 2003 and 125 in 2002.  There were 31 camp counselors who remained at camp for Session I and 21 camp counselors in residence for Session 2.  In 2007, 38% (19 of 50) of the in-residence cabin counselors were former CoHoLo campers.  In total, over 7,000 volunteer hours were donated to Camp CoHoLo during 2008, including:

 

Planning hours

Board of Directors and Operations Committee

Camp Director

 

Camp session hours

In-residence camp counselors

In-residence volunteers  

Photography and DVD production volunteers

Volunteers from other civic organizations

 

Other camp-related volunteer hours

Winter carnival volunteer time

CoHoLo volunteer time at Cox Classic events

 

Total volunteer hours

2008

478

96

 

 

4,062

1,656

150

38

 

 

127

   577

 

7,184

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2008 camp had a ‘Mardi Gras’ theme, and the campers enjoyed making Mardi Gras masks and banners, building a miniature float, participating in a Mardi Gras scavenger hunt, and celebrating at a Mardi Gras-themed ‘ball.’  Major activities during camp included an afternoon at Papio Bay waterpark and a carnival with games and a roving magician.  For the second consecutive year, high winds thwarted the campers’ opportunity to ride in a tethered hot air balloon.  The 2008 camp marked the introduction of a giant inflatable water slide, which will spare future campers from sliding into a pool of 50-degree water (a feature of the old slide).  Of course, camp was also filled with the staples of camp life, including laser tag games in the woods, crafts, indoor and outdoor games, high-wire and zip-line challenges, and campfires. 

 

The weather for the 2008 camp was typical for a week in July, and with only a touch of rain, most activities went on as planned.  With ample supplies of bottled water, bug spray and sunscreen lotion, the medical staff and cabin counselors were able to keep the campers hydrated and healthy.  The introduction of air conditioners in the camper cabins several years ago has been a welcome addition.  Of the 139 campers who attended, 22% were ‘on treatment’ during camp and an additional 41% took medication for their condition, but nearly all of those children participated in every activity offered at camp.  In 2007, 28% were on treatment during camp and an additional 28% took medication for their condition.  In 2006, 27% were on treatment during camp and an additional 26% took medication for their condition. 

 

The 2008 camp marked Cindy Reilly’s fifth year as camp director.  The camp director is also the leader of the Operations Team that, in 2008, consisted of 9 volunteers who were responsible for planning and getting ready for Camp.  This Camp Director appoints and works closely with chairpersons for the following committees: programming, staffing, training, public relations, registration and recruitment, and support services. The Operations Team meets monthly throughout the year to ensure that camp operations flow smoothly.  Because of these extraordinary efforts, the evaluations from campers, parents and counselors all reflected that the 2008 camp was extremely successful and well-organized. 

 

Winter Carnival

In an effort to keep camp friendships alive through the year, Camp CoHoLo presented a Winter Carnival on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center.  Campers and their entire families were invited to attend, along with volunteers and their families.  A total of 130 adults and children attended the event.  The Carnival was staffed with volunteers who were primarily members, friends and family of the Program Committee and Board of Directors. 

 

Cox Classic charity recipient

For nearly a decade, Camp CoHoLo has been fortunate to be a ‘named charity’ that benefits from the proceeds of the weeklong Cox Classic, a Nationwide Tour golf tournament that is held each year in Omaha in late July or early August.  Over one thousand members of the community pay a $40 fee to volunteer at the Cox Classic each year, and Camp CoHoLo supporters have had a strong showing at the event for several years.  This year 40 CoHoLo volunteers devoted 577 hours of time to support the event.  In 2008, the Cox Classic distributed $150,000 in charitable contributions to its twelve named charities. 

 

Officers and Board Members

The Officers and Board Members of Camp CoHoLo, as of January 1, 2009, are as follows:

 

President

Jay Slagle, CPA*

Midwest Eye Care

 

Vice President

Berta Ackerson

OPPD

Public Relations Director

Jane Williams

CSG Systems

Chief Financial Officer

Steve Roberts, CPA*

Godfather’s Pizza

 

Secretary (non-voting member)

Heidi Smith

 

Camp Director

Cindy Reilly

 

 

Fund Developer

Chris Pudenz, CPA*

ConAgra

At-Large Members

Jeff Baldwin, PharmD

UNMC College of Pharmacy

 

Kellie Beresh, Parent Advisor

 

 

Sharon Knudsen, Parent Advisor

Elkhorn Public Schools

 

Mike Skogland

Patterson Dental

 

Galen Meysenburg

HDR

 

Johnathon Schuster, RN

Children’s Hospital

 

Bill Lastovica

First State Bank – Yutan

 

* CPA in inactive status

 

Lisa Runco

UMA Dept. of Internal Medicine

 

Dan Fischer, JD

Koley Jessen

 

Eric Hoie, PharmD

Creighton University

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Data

The information below reflects the financial results of Camp CoHoLo for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004.  Camp CoHoLo has no employees or paid staffers, and thus no salary or benefit expense is included in the financial summary.  In addition, Camp CoHoLo relies heavily on in-kind donations that are not reported as either income or expenses on the financial statements.  During the five-year period presented below, 92.0% of all expenses were spent directly on programming expenses, with an additional 7.1% of expenses devoted to administrative functions in support of those programs.  Fundraising expenses represent 0.9% of expenses over the past five years.

 


2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Income

 

 

 

 

 

  Donations

$70,538

$94,994

$81,613

$68,516

$44,514

  Registration fees

1,840

1,655

1,495

1,380

1,575

  Product sales

919

2,084

358

491

1,707

  Total revenues

73,297

98,733

83,466

70,387

47,796

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program expenses

 

 

 

 

 

  Camp food and lodging

27,865

23,938

23,388

21,453

24,854

  Camp activities

23,374

12,973

15,493

6,659

12,429

  Camper gifts, videos and apparel

10,730

0

1,795

2,072

10,442

  Camp alumni scholarships

1,000

4,000

6,500

3,000

1,500

  Volunteer processing/education

485

3,063

1,493

768

851

    Subtotal program expenses

63,454

43,974

48,669

33,952

50,076

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administrative expenses

 

 

 

 

 

  Printing

608

538

669

545

1,856

  Postage

465

244

440

106

456

  Insurance

1477

1,725

1,442

970

645

  Storage

2,446

888

1,125

585

780

  Miscellaneous

377

31

0

180

168

    Subtotal administrative expenses

5,373

3,426

3,676

2,386

3,905

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fundraising expenses

 

 

 

 

 

  Public relations

0

320

166

200

322

  Printing

0

0

1,239

0

0

  Postage

0

0

0

0

0

    Subtotal fundraising expenses

0

320

1,405

200

322

      Total expenses

68,827

47,720

53,750

36,538

54,303

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease) in

 

 

 

 

 

  fund balance from operations

4,470

51,013

29,716

33,849

(6,507)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment activity

 

 

 

 

 

  Realized investment gain/(loss)

15,165

940

347

870

(23,319)

  Unrealized investment gain/(loss)

(69,225)

44,096

10,641

19,060

36,781

  Investment fees

(2,824)

0

0

0

0

  Depreciation on capital assets

(1,785)

0

0

0

0

    Subtotal investment activity

(58,669)

45,036

10,988

19,930

13,462

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total net increase/(decrease) in

 

 

 

 

 

  fund balance

(54,199)

96,049

40,704

53,779

6,955

Beginning fund balance, Oct. 1

336,694

240,645

199,941

146,162

139,207

  Ending fund balance, Sept. 30

282,495

$336,694

$240,645

$199,941

$146,162

 

IRS Form 990 tax returns are available for Camp CoHoLo upon request.

 

 

Additional Information

Additional information regarding Camp CoHoLo and its operations can be requested by accessing the Camp CoHoLo website at www.campcoholo.com, or alternatively:

 

By phone:

Jay Slagle, BOD President

(402) 552-2806

By mail: Camp CoHoLo

PO Box 24466

Omaha, NE  68124

By e-mail:

jslagle@midwesteyecare.com

coholodirector@cox.net