In addition to drinks and hors d'oeuvres, the event will include short presentations by Camp Firefly campers and parents, a raffle, caricatures, a silent auction and live music performed by the Naturals.Īrt for the silent auction was donated by a local artist with Autism, and the Naturals band features two incredibly talented musicians on the Autism spectrum and formed after the members got to know one another through music therapy.

This year, Give for the Glow will take place at a new venue: The Chicago Athletic Association. ' is something that we believe every kid should be able to do regardless of their family's financial situation.' 'We don't want kinds to be unable to come to camp because of the price,' Robbin said.

On average, 20 percent of Camp Firefly families rely on these scholarships annually. 4, Camp Firefly will host its annual Give for the Glow event and fundraiser, the proceeds of which will provide scholarships to campers whose families would otherwise be unable to afford to send their children to camp. In the words of a Camp Firefly parent after her son returned home from camp, 'I know that has grown as a person and that Camp Firefly gave him a place to belong.' 'At camp, you learn how to navigate social situations, problem-solve, and build self-confidence.' 'At camp, you do more than make friends,' Feldman said. The kids share a common experience because they have similar abilities and similar needs, which Robbin says is a critical component of making friends, especially for kids with heightened social needs.Īs lifelong Chi campers, Robbin and Feldman are grateful to be able to share their love of camp with kids for whom such an experience would otherwise be out of reach. 'For many of our campers, Camp Firefly is the first time they feel safe letting down their guard, trying new things, and making friends,' Robbin said. As a result, many children with such diagnoses are not successful in traditional summer camp settings.Ĭamp Firefly was developed to address this very need by providing a fun, social and supportive overnight camp experience for youth ages 7-18. A major challenge for children with Autism and similar social disorders is connecting with their peers and learning the social skills to make friends.

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