Episode 7

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Published on:

12th Jul 2024

Spreading Smiles: Bringing Joy to Children Fighting Cancer

Camp Kids are Kids is a heartwarming nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing joy and happiness to children battling cancer.

Host Chris Maliszewski and special guest, Ari Stern explore the need to give families beautiful moments as these brave kids and their siblings are given the opportunity to experience the joy of camping and bonding in an urban setting.

Join @Hail Hail Auctions presents: The Appeal in celebrating the resilience and strength of these young warriors as they create lasting memories and friendships.

Help kids and their families fight cancer with great memories and experiences with Camp Kids Are Kids

Transcript
Speaker:

Hello, hello, hello.

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It is a holiday week.

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Summer is in full effect.

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Missy, how are you doing down in Dallas?

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I hope your air conditioning is working.

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Right.

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Yeah, it is.

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It is.

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It is not uncomfortable at all.

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Not at all.

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What's the temperature by you?

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my goodness, Chris.

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It's got to be pushing 100.

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I've been 93 right now.

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So that's it.

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Yeah, it's going to get warmer.

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Not too bad.

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Well, you know Chicago is the best place

on earth for summer.

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So you're always more than welcome here.

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And, well I chill out in the cool breeze

about 72 and sunny.

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Why don't we get that intro started and

we'll kick off today's show.

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Awesome, my friend, let's go.

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you

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sorry.

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You know this is my favorite.

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You know, I get so excited.

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It amps me up for the appeal.

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we can't steal that from Mikkel.

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She's going to get mad at us now if we do

that.

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You know that, right?

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No, shoot.

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Are you kidding?

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No, you kidding?

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She'd be like, everyone needs to dance and

dance.

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So shout out Mikkel.

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Yeah, but only that's not like that.

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That's not like her dance.

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And this is like more like our dancing.

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That's all.

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I know.

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Well, I know it's kind of like more like

this.

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Yeah, that's true.

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That's how you were hopping after Rick

Springfield.

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But anyways, you know, speaking about the

past, we had such a great time last show

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with Reclaim 13 and Ms.

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Jacqueline Saunders and learning all the

great work that they are doing to empower

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youth.

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But today's guests are also doing some

great work in the Chicagoland area in a

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different light to uplift some youth and

some children that really need help at

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given times in their life.

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And so.

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I know kids are a big part of your life in

many forms, Sia.

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So we're getting ready to meet Rich and

Ari from Camp Kids Are Kids.

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But before we do, what are your thoughts

as we get ready to talk to those guys?

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With all of our life experiences, there's

nothing more powerful than the power of

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community and strength and love to support

one another.

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So these families, unfortunately, it's a

club you don't want to be part of.

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if it's something where you're together

and you can help each other through this,

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it's gonna be, it's hard, no two ways

about it, but what joy and what positivity

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you can bring to help families enjoy time,

right?

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So I mean, like, I'm not gonna cry,

because full disclosure, I lost my sister

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cancer.

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So like, this means everything to me under

the sun.

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So shout out, love you guys, thank you for

all that you do.

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Yeah, no, and this actually brings

together several of my passions, right?

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I have kids of my own.

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I've worked with kids in my, basically my

entire career as a professional.

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But I also worked in recreation.

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And so to talk about camp in a light that

is fun and promoting play and things of

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that sort, but also combined with healing

and mental health is just something that I

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just can't wait for others to get to know

about.

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So I haven't had enough of you, but I'm

going to kick you backstage.

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And if you don't mind, let's bring on Rich

Brunridge and

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are Eastern from Can't Kids or Kids

Chicago.

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Awesome.

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Thank you guys.

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I really appreciate.

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And I'm out of here.

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Adios.

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All right, we got to bring them on.

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No one wants to see just me.

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There's Rich.

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All right, and Kassi and Ari, how we

doing, gentlemen?

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And little lady, it is so nice to see the

both of you.

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Ari, I'll say hello to you first.

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We've known each other for quite some

time.

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Real quick, just introduce who you are and

what it is you do for Camp Kids or Kids.

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Of course.

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Thank you for having us on.

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My name's Ari.

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I am the board member for Camp Kids or

Kids Chicago.

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And I'm also the head chair for our Go for

Gold fundraiser this year.

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I've been a part of the board for about a

year now and seeing what we do for this

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camp and the kids.

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And it's just, it's an incredible thing.

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And Rich has really done so much as

executive director and being able to watch

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the smile on these kids' faces when they

go through everything, it's just, it's

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incredible.

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And it's been an amazing time so far and

I'm excited for the future.

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Yeah, no, listen, this is a great

testament too, as well, as I said, you and

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I have known each other for quite some

time and, you know, just the power of

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friendship and collaboration and working

together and combining networks for good.

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And we'll talk a little bit more about

that later.

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But Rich, I wanted to get to you, Rich,

you know, please, if you don't mind, most

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importantly, introduce that beautiful

little lady with you and yourself as well.

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Yes, hi, my name is Rich Brundage and this

is my daughter, Cassie, who

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is going to be going down for a nap soon,

but she's still up.

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And so she's joining me for, for, for a

guy who works from home.

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This is pretty much my life.

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Lots of zoom calls and live streams with

like, Hey, so I got a kid and thank you

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for letting me be present with her as she

hopefully will fall asleep during this.

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Yeah.

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Tell us please yourself, right?

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you know, a little bit about who you are,

your organization, all the good stuff,

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that you're doing right now.

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Yeah.

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So, I've been a on college camps, ca with

and beyond cancer sin I got to cut my

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teeth on t I was run by the American in

New York where I'm from to really explore

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the on with a number of other camp

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And through that, I made a few friends

that invited me to the first ever hotel

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urban based camp in Chicago back in 2014.

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So I've been part of Camp Kizikiz Chicago

since then.

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And I just got back to Penske.

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Is that a tired or sick voice?

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Nope.

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It's a lost my voice singing songs last

week in Baltimore as we opened up our

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newest camp there.

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So yeah.

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I get to be a kid.

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It's amazing.

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We talked a little bit about the growth of

Camp Kids are Kids behind the scenes, but

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most importantly, let's talk about

quickly, Rich, if you don't mind, exactly

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what it is you guys are built for.

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What is the mission?

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What you provide?

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Who you serve?

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Let someone that may not know who you

folks are, give them that elevator pitch,

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if you will, please.

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Yeah.

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So it's a camp for kids who have cancer or

I say living with and beyond cancer

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because they

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don't necessarily need to be in treatment.

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They could have been out of treatment for

a while.

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Some of these kids may not even remember

their treatment, yet the long -term

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effects of that treatment, whether it's

physically or emotionally or even

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mentally, go on for probably most of their

lives.

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And it's also open for siblings.

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Our camp's a little unique because we're

able to do patients and SIDS at the same

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time, and we give them two different

locations.

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So this year, the Palmer House will be our

home.

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for our patient campers a be our home for

our sibling got confirmation of that.

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August, which is the fifth kiddos are to

be enjoying of doing all your normal a

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arts and crafts music and s a whole lot of

songs.

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an on extursion.

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So they spen doing this in the morning,

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we go out and explore the city.

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So this year we have on the docket a trip

to the museum.

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It's a mystery theme.

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So Riddle Me This is our theme.

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So we try to add some fun activities in

there.

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We do a beach day in the middle of the

week.

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So thanks to the Chicago Fire Department,

they've been able to come out and be our

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lifeguards and allow our kiddos to kind of

enjoy a day on the shore.

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And it ends on that Friday with a talent

show and a

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just an amazing display of both camps

together.

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It's just camp, it's really just camp.

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Lots of songs, we even have s'mores.

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I love it.

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Location development.

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Now, wait a minute, Rich, I gotta ask, as

you know, I've known Ari for quite some

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time, and to become a board member, do you

have to be able to sing?

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Ari, what is your favorite camp song?

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You know, I haven't had to sing yet,

but...

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You don't know.

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Thankfully, we're trying to raise money.

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We don't want to turn people away.

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But rich, real quick, you know, that's a

great explanation.

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As you know, I have a great affection for

recreation.

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I worked in parks and rec for 10 years and

camp was always my jam for the most part.

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And, you know, knowing all the activities

that you provide for children living with

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cancer, as you said, but talk a little bit

about the safety precautions and the

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health risks and the

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the efforts that you folks have to put

forth to ensure that this is a safe

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environment and that the kids go home as

healthy as possible?

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Yeah, we have a full -fledged medical

team, both the sibling and our patient

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side, and they review all camper

applications, make sure that our campers

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are eligible to come to camp.

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Of course, their doctors will also do

their health forms and say, give the

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thumbs up.

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But our medical team calls.

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including our mental health specialists.

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So that usually a child life specialist

will reach out, touch base with the

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families.

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Both camp directors will reach out and

touch base with the families to make sure

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these campers are ready for camp.

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But our medical team reviews everything,

gets their MARS together, their medication

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administration records, make sure that

there's nothing that they're not prepared

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for.

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And because we're in a city, because we're

so close to the hospitals, we're able to

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take campers that might need to go leave

midweek to go

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do treatments and get it and come right

back.

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So, or they can leave camp and c kind of

unique and specie where we're out an hour

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a hospital here, just go a our team is

ready to ro our proximity, we were a more

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kiddos and a lot of feel a lot more comfor

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are certain families that get used to

sending their kids to camp.

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And there are other camps in the

Chicagoland area.

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Most of them are a distance away.

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There's day camp, there's overnight camps,

and we're the one in the city that they

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go, let's try this first.

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And then, hey, here are three other camps

that you should go do, because we want

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kids to enjoy camp all summer long if

possible.

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Amazing, I love it.

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All right, here's what I'm gonna do for

you, Rich, real quick.

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That beautiful daughter, Kassie, of yours,

she looks to be asleep.

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If you'd like, you can go put her down.

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And I'll ask Ari a few questions.

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If you could run right back, that would be

awesome.

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But it was amazing meeting your beautiful

little one.

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She's adorable.

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And Ari, yeah, Rich, please go put her

down if you want, if you want to keep her.

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But please come on back.

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Ari, talk to us a little bit about how you

became aware of Camp Kids Are Kids.

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You know, you, as I said, and I have known

each other for quite some time, and we met

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through some philanthropic work.

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you were a member of a different board

quite some time ago that we worked

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together on some functions.

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And now you're putting all your attention

here in the Camp Kids Are Kids.

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So, you know, talk a little bit about how

you came aware and why you're volunteering

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and doing all the work you are for them.

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Yeah.

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So I became aware, one of my good friends

used to sit on the board.

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He was the one that actually ran this

fundraiser.

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He sat on the board for multiple years and

I took over this year.

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He just had too much on his plate.

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And I got involved in just, you know, kind

of as you were saying, I went to camp my

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entire life.

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my, my dream one day is to own a summer

camp.

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So as soon as I heard of what he was

doing, I had to get involved.

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and so I sat on the board last year and I

helped him run the fundraiser last year

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and I'm on all the board meetings and just

see everything that they're doing.

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And I did want to give a shout out to the

Drake and the Palmer house for what they

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do.

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I know Rich didn't really say it, but.

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Just so everyone understands, these hotels

magically transform their rooms into bunk

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cabins.

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So they're not just hotel rooms, they

transform into basically like a bunk cabin

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for the kids.

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And the kids get to enjoy, just like any

other camp, they do campfires, talent

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shows, arts and crafts, all sorts of

games.

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And then they go to different attractions

around the city.

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So it really is a true urban camp for

these kids.

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And...

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I was able to actually take my middle

daughter last year to one of the events so

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she could meet the kids and she could see

what we were doing.

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And it was just so incredible to see how

happy these kids were and how they're out

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of, you know, their normal day to day

life.

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And at camp.

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And my son's at camp right now and I just

know that he's having a great time and I

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can see it on these other kids faces that

they're having a great time as well.

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Yeah, I got involved last year and I loved

it.

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I loved the mission.

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I loved what they do.

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And unfortunately, my friend had to take a

step down and I decided to take over.

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It's been amazing and having you as a

friend and helping out has been incredible

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too.

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Yeah.

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Well, thank you for that.

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And it's been a natural fit, right?

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Like you said, you were so fortunate to

take your middle daughter to one of the

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activities and see the camaraderie and the

happiness and excitement and just

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you know, likely she takes away an

appreciation for things herself a little

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bit differently.

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And one of the other things you and I both

have in common is we both have, you know,

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young children ourselves and being dads as

we are.

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And seeing the work that Camp Kids are

Kids does for kids with living with, you

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know, cancer is so inspiring because we're

fortunate, right?

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Our kids are right now healthy as it may

be and seeing, you know, all the

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activities they're able to participate in.

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as a parent is just so inspiring, but

knowing that others are able to,

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regardless of their health, is just so, so

uplifting.

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And knowing all the work that is needed to

make sure that that happens, you know,

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could seem insurmountable, but the work

that you're doing and Rich is doing is

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just so inspiring.

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So talk about the role of a board member.

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This is a great opportunity for somebody

tuning in today to learn a little bit more

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about the other side of an organization

and the volunteerism.

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and the role you have not only as the

chair, which we'll talk about shortly here

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in a minute, but just your role as a board

member.

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Sure.

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So yeah, you know, as a board member, it's

kind of like we're running the camp as

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well.

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Obviously, Rich is the one that runs it.

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But, you know, we're we're talking, you

know, weekly, monthly about raising money

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and about, you know, all the different

things that happen with camp.

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So getting all the meals together, you

know, we get a lot of our meals donated

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for lunch.

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or sorry for breakfast, lunch, dinner

activities on rich and talk about this.

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But on Wednesday of the camp, which is the

midweek, we have one big activity and

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that's the one day that the siblings and

the patients get to all meet together.

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And we do a big activity the past couple

of years.

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We did a boat cruise off Navy Pier, like a

dinner boat cruise.

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It was incredible.

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We're looking at a couple of different

options this year, but that's a big night

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for the kids.

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They get to watch the fireworks and.

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you know, all be together with their

siblings.

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And so as a board member, we're kind of

just setting up camp, getting everything

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going, making sure that we have all the

meals together for each time.

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And, you know, just making sure that camp

runs smoothly.

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Obviously, as I said before, Rich's

executive director is in charge of the day

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to day, but we're helping out on the back

end to make sure that everything's there

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that they need.

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Yeah, exactly.

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And if I may, you know, just to wrap it

up, I think

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getting to know you as I have and you

know, just to state what I believe a board

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member does and what I know you're so

great at doing essentially is leveraging

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your own network for the benefit of an

organization that you believe so strongly

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in, right?

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And you're one of the greater networks I

know, I've known of getting a group of

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people together to support a cause that

you yourself believe in and that's because

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you're such a good person yourself, Ari.

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But, you know, but getting to talking

about bringing a group of people to

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support a mission and an organization you

support.

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As you said, you are the chair of the Go

for Gold event on September 7th.

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You know, as you said, you took over for a

friend of yours.

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But, you know, talk a little bit more

about that event, what it's intended for.

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Obviously, all the work that Camp Kids are

Kids and the camps in the four cities and

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particularly Chicago doesn't come free.

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You know, so talk about this fundraiser,

your role.

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you know, the sponsors, all that good

stuff.

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Let folks know how they can support Camp

Kids or Kids Chicago.

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Absolutely.

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So the fundraiser we're doing is on

Saturday, September 7th.

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We're doing a day party.

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It's from 11 to 3 o 'clock PM.

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It's at 28 Mile Distillery in Highwood.

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A great place.

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We've done it there the past couple of

years.

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Amazing restaurant and party venue, I

guess you could call it.

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we're actually this year, which we haven't

done before.

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We're doing a family event.

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So in the past, it's been, you know, a

nighttime fundraiser with adults.

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Only this year we decided to flip it

around and do it for kids.

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especially cause we are doing it for camp

for kids.

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we're going to have all types of games and

events and food and beverage.

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we're going to have music.

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We're going to have everything.

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It's going to be an amazing, incredible

time.

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and you know, it's something to do on a

Saturday with your kiddos.

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Obviously you could come as just adults as

well.

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And we have a couple different options.

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So Banner Plumbing is our presenting

sponsor.

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They've been kind enough to get involved

and they're really excited to do that.

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So shout out to them.

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We'll get them involved as well more as we

go.

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But yeah, I mean, it's gonna be a great

event and we have a couple different.

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options if people are looking to donate or

to sponsor.

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One of our main sponsorships is sending

kids to camp.

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So it costs around $2 ,500 a kid.

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So we're looking for anybody and anybody

to send kids to camp.

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But going back to the event, it's going to

be incredible, a lot of fun.

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We have a lot of good surprises.

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And again, Chris, having you has just been

amazing.

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And I think we're going to do really well

together.

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and make it a lot of fun for the families

and the kids.

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Yeah, no, thank you for that.

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And it's been an honor to work with you in

all the capacities which we have, but most

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importantly on this event.

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And part of what you said that's been

really exciting to see, and as I said

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earlier, while I'm not a board member, but

leveraging our networks to support a cause

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and an organization we both support in

Camp Kids Are Kids and Banner Kitchen and

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Bath Showroom.

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And my good friend, Gene Hara, who I

introduced you to was so kind and quick.

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to support this event and support Camp

Kids or Kids Chicago.

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And that's really what it takes to uplift

an organization that does such good is

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really finding resources, leveraging your

network, taking an opportunity for

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promotion of organizations and businesses,

but to promote a good cause and

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organizations that are doing great in the

world.

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And having your presenting sponsor like

them is just so, so integral to having an

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event like this and we can't thank them

enough.

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And talk a little bit about the

relationship that you are having with some

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:

of your other vendors.

383

:

Like you said, 28 Mile is so kind to host

the event and I've done other functions

384

:

there as well.

385

:

And it's a beautiful space, but talk a

little bit about what's gonna be there for

386

:

adults as well, because you did say it's a

day party, a DARTy as we're calling it.

387

:

There's options for kids, but talk about

if there's just a couple that wants to

388

:

come support the event as adults, what

will be there for them as well?

389

:

So yeah, for adults, there's obviously

gonna be,

390

:

much food as you want, alcoholic

beverages, regular beverages.

391

:

And there's going to be some really good

auction items as well.

392

:

We're looking at doing a silent auction as

well as a live auction.

393

:

And Chris, from what you told me, we're

going to do a paddle race.

394

:

But the auctions are going to be really

good.

395

:

I think there's going to be a lot of stuff

for adults to choose from between trips

396

:

and signed jerseys and a lot of

397

:

fun stuff.

398

:

But yeah, I mean for adults, music, food,

drinks, and just we're hopefully going to

399

:

have a few of the campers there that are

going to speak so you'll be able to meet

400

:

the campers as well and really hear from

them about what we do.

401

:

Yeah, no, it's going to be a great, great

time.

402

:

I'm so excited to work an event in the

middle of the day and, you know, have a

403

:

darty if you will and really have an

experience that I could bring my kids to,

404

:

right?

405

:

It's not often

406

:

that I could bring my own children to an

event and they could see me do what it is

407

:

I do now in terms of being an auctioneer

and supporting good causes.

408

:

And so I'm so excited to bring them as

well.

409

:

And I just hope they don't spend too much

of my money on some of the auction items.

410

:

But if they do, that's okay, because it's

going to a good cause.

411

:

That was kind of the whole point too.

412

:

You know, when we ask people to come to

fundraisers, especially families with

413

:

kids, you know, a lot of the time it's at

night and you have to come just adults,

414

:

which means you have to get a babysitter.

415

:

decided why not make it with the whole

family, right?

416

:

You don't have to get a babysitter.

417

:

You're gonna do something on a Saturday

during the day anyways, and why not come

418

:

and support these kids?

419

:

And you can also show your kids how

important it is to support organizations

420

:

like Camp Kids Are Kids.

421

:

Yeah, that to me is what has stood out the

most about what you said earlier, taking

422

:

your daughter, me being able to take

Josephine and Lucas to the event and learn

423

:

about organizations like Camp Kids Are

Kids and really understand and appreciate

424

:

what it is they have.

425

:

Right?

426

:

As I said, our kids are fairly healthy.

427

:

And as they grow up, we're trying as

fathers to teach them an appreciation for

428

:

all things, but health being maybe the

most important of all and seeing some

429

:

other children of their age who don't have

that luxury, but then how to support and

430

:

uplift them and use our resources as a

community to do good in the world is just

431

:

so important.

432

:

And obviously he's back rich.

433

:

That beautiful daughter of yours seems to

be down.

434

:

And as you being a father yourself, we

were just talking briefly about

435

:

you know, bringing our children and the

luxury we have as Ari and I as young

436

:

fathers, bringing our kids to the event on

September 7th, the Go for Gold event.

437

:

And we'll talk why it's called Go for

Gold, but I would love to hear how you as

438

:

a father as well, your perspective of this

entire experience of being the executive

439

:

director of Camp Kids or Kids has shaped

who you are today.

440

:

I'm a new dad.

441

:

She's six and a half months old.

442

:

So I've been living this camp life for

443

:

nearly 20 years and as al our campers like

my other kind of call camp home and it's

444

:

ever growing and as a parent now, I I

still have nothing to compare to when

445

:

they're going through t All I know is that

we're ab

446

:

and give those kids and I've seen it so

many years, year after year after year,

447

:

give those kids a chance just to kind of

be kids again for a week where our medical

448

:

team's taking care of the medical aspect,

our counselors and our Child Life team and

449

:

I are, we're working on just kind of

giving them that real kid experience as

450

:

much as possible, as much as safely as

possible.

451

:

And we sometimes send them back home and

they're like, yeah, my son or daughter

452

:

doesn't do that, Mike.

453

:

Well, they're here this week, you know.

454

:

they would or they defini even though you

said they know, we were safe and we

455

:

amazing what camp offers.

456

:

a kid for a week and give t a bit of

respite.

457

:

You kno to do.

458

:

Thanks to the Hilg night out.

459

:

So they get a

460

:

a different hotel from wh see a play and

and have a time or fiscal reasons o

461

:

they've only known the on last 10, 8,

five, whatever they usually have been So

462

:

yeah, camp's really a place and I I don't

know.

463

:

I don't

464

:

I don't have that relation.

465

:

All I know is that I like camp.

466

:

I like to have fun.

467

:

I'm here to give the kids a fun time and

give our families a break.

468

:

Yeah, I love that perspective as well.

469

:

We haven't touched on that.

470

:

But, you know, I assume your daughter is

healthy.

471

:

We didn't talk backstage.

472

:

I hope she is.

473

:

And as, you know, Ari and my children go,

you know, we're very fortunate as fathers

474

:

and we know how hard it is to get a break

with healthy children.

475

:

And there are single mothers and single

fathers in this chat who are just tuning

476

:

in and saying the same thing, Raquel,

right?

477

:

It's hard enough as a parent to get time

away, but when your child is ill or your

478

:

child has a diagnosis that is so

concerning that you don't wanna leave your

479

:

child's side or that there's health

considerations that you can't, as an

480

:

adult, you need that time away.

481

:

And just to respite as you called it, that

you're providing in that camp alone is so

482

:

beneficial to the family unit.

483

:

not just to the child participants.

484

:

So thank you for all of that.

485

:

But that said, you know, quickly Rich,

before we start to tune off, sign off

486

:

here, all the work you do, as we said,

doesn't come free, right?

487

:

And events like the Go for Gold fundraiser

on September 7th are so integral in

488

:

supporting your mission.

489

:

So talk briefly about the fiscal

responsibilities that are incumbent upon

490

:

your organization to do all it is you do

and why, excuse me, and why fundraisers

491

:

and events like the Go for Gold event are

so important.

492

:

Yes, we say it's about an average of $2

,500 to send a kid to camp.

493

:

And we are going to be probably hitting

our limit of 60 kids at camp this year.

494

:

30 patients, 30 siblings is what we can

fit right now at both of our hotels.

495

:

So it is not cheap.

496

:

It is not cheap because where we are.

497

:

But thankfully, we've gotten a lot of good

support from our hotel friends and from

498

:

Major donors and our board members who are

also asked that they give so thankfully

499

:

Ari is doing a big Job of helping us with

this event coming up and yes, you can

500

:

sponsor because there's sponsorships on

our website You can just outright donate

501

:

you can you can give to our wish list on

Amazon There's many different ways

502

:

everyone can give and for those of you

that like how you know, how can I also be

503

:

a part of camp?

504

:

How can I join in the fun Ari came?

505

:

last year with some of his peeps to show

them what camp looks like during our

506

:

carnival.

507

:

So for those that want to give, give like

physically give, we do a COVID test before

508

:

you get there and all that fun stuff and

actually you don't show up sick, but you

509

:

can actually be a part of the camp action

because we're always looking for a couple

510

:

of extra hands here or there.

511

:

So many different ways to give.

512

:

Monetarily, we would love that because

it's not cheap.

513

:

Yes.

514

:

And we've done a lot to.

515

:

bring the most bang to the buck for our

campers.

516

:

So the more you can give, the more we can

do for them.

517

:

Yeah, I love it.

518

:

And please, as you see, scan that QR code.

519

:

It'll take you directly to the website.

520

:

You can find out all the information on

Camp Kids or Kids Chicago and the

521

:

different ways to support their amazing,

amazing organization and their mission.

522

:

And you touched on it, Rich.

523

:

We have not yet had on the appeal a Tandem

Executive Director Board member.

524

:

Right?

525

:

And I think this is so important to

highlight the relationship, the healthy

526

:

relationship it takes to have, to run an

organization.

527

:

Because as Ari said, as you were putting

your beautiful daughter down for her nap,

528

:

you know, you're just one person as the

executive director and your network only

529

:

expands so far.

530

:

You can only do so many things in a day.

531

:

You can only have so much attention

focused being a young dad as you are.

532

:

Right?

533

:

So talk about the relationship really

quickly that it takes to run an

534

:

organization like yours with somebody like

Ari, who's a volunteer board member.

535

:

Yes, our board is a mix of the Chicago

land area tha community and thanks to

536

:

people are willing to make those people in

for big fundrais reach out and find food d

537

:

looking for meals so we c our staff.

538

:

We look for act we can go like the museum.

539

:

simple things like wh

540

:

physically, it wasn't fit in the budget

this year to do it back on the boat.

541

:

So we're looking for a new place and

always really stepped up, being as

542

:

connected as he is.

543

:

And a lot of our board members are doing

their part to step up.

544

:

And for those of you, they're like, how

else can I help?

545

:

Please, you know, send us your

connections, send us your ideas, come join

546

:

our team.

547

:

you know, you can, you can interview to be

a part of our board if you want to really

548

:

give, in that sense, or you can interview

to be a part of our team at camp.

549

:

If you want to give back.

550

:

during the WECA camp, or you can just

donate online, come to the fundraiser.

551

:

So there's a lot.

552

:

Our board members are asked a lot of them

and they're able to give, but we can

553

:

always use more connections so we can,

again, do more for our kids.

554

:

Love it.

555

:

You know, Rich, the one thing I will say

is you forgot to highlight the biggest

556

:

benefit of all of working on the board,

and that's getting to work with Ari.

557

:

And, you know, Ari, as I said, you know,

I've gotten to know you for the last few

558

:

years and, and being a board member as you

are for Camp Kids with Kids Chicago

559

:

doesn't surprise me because that's who you

are as a person and who I've always known

560

:

you to be very giving, very, you know,

welcoming and all those things, but very

561

:

supportive of organizations.

562

:

And so talk about your perspective as a

board member, what it's taken to support

563

:

somebody like Rich, you know, and the work

he has to put in to support an

564

:

organization and a mission that you

believe in.

565

:

Absolutely.

566

:

Yeah, I mean, it's, it's, you know, it's,

it's not the easiest thing in the world to

567

:

try to find places, not to work with Rich,

but to try to find places.

568

:

my gosh, you just threw him under the bus

on live podcasting.

569

:

Rich is great.

570

:

What I'm trying to say is, you know,

trying to find restaurants, for example,

571

:

that, that are willing to donate for

lunches or dinners or breakfasts.

572

:

So you really do have to tap into your

connections for that.

573

:

But I think once you start talking about

it and you're able to show them what the

574

:

camp is, they're more than willing to.

575

:

But, you know, I think it's been helping

Rich out a lot.

576

:

As you said, Chris, as Rich said, he's

only one person, right?

577

:

So he's doing all the day to day.

578

:

He really relies on us to help out with

that.

579

:

But he's involved in every aspect.

580

:

He's the easiest guy to get a hold of.

581

:

If we need anything, if I...

582

:

you know, have an idea, I run it by him.

583

:

And during this whole planning for the

fundraiser, you know, obviously I've only

584

:

been on the board for a year, but Rich put

his trust in me to really just take it

585

:

over.

586

:

There was no saying no to anything.

587

:

He was just happy with everything we've

done.

588

:

As soon as I told him about you, Chris, he

was very excited about that.

589

:

Just knowing that we're really pushing

this and him believing that what we're

590

:

doing is really going to help the camp a

lot.

591

:

but you know, it's, it's been great

working with rich so far and he, does a

592

:

great job.

593

:

You know, I, we, I saw him in live action,

as he said at the, carnival event that I

594

:

went to last year, as well as the boat

cruise that I took my daughter on.

595

:

and he introduced me right away to all the

campers in front of everybody and my

596

:

daughter.

597

:

It was, it was great.

598

:

but it has been a tremendous time working

with rich and seeing what, what we can do

599

:

together and hopefully everything we can

do in the future.

600

:

Yeah, no, I love it.

601

:

Just the relationship that it takes

between, you know, the two

602

:

responsibilities and roles you guys have

to really make a camp thrive as camp kids

603

:

or kids in the Chicagoland area has is

just so, so inspiring.

604

:

So I can't thank the two of you enough.

605

:

And, you know, as it is for me being able

to support the Go for Gold event, you

606

:

know, Ari, we're calling it Go for Gold,

the Summer Olympics.

607

:

We're going to attribute it to that.

608

:

We're going to try to win the gold medal

for the most money raised in the history

609

:

of Camp Kids Are Kids.

610

:

But I just can't thank you two enough for

trusting me to be your partner in

611

:

fundraising, your auctioneer for the day

of, helping find sponsors as we did

612

:

together, Ari and Rich.

613

:

It's been just so fun.

614

:

And as you guys both know, I have a strong

affection for recreation and camp myself.

615

:

And so I consider myself a part of your

team as well.

616

:

And just knowing all the great work you

guys are doing makes me feel.

617

:

very happy, so thank you.

618

:

But before we sign off, Ari, I want you

one more time, let people know where they

619

:

can connect with you a little bit more

about the event if you want to say one

620

:

last thing and we'll get about our day.

621

:

Sure.

622

:

Connect with me through email, through

LinkedIn.

623

:

I've sent out a few emails with directions

on how to purchase tickets, how to donate.

624

:

That should also be in this.

625

:

And yeah, it's Saturday, September 7th, 11

at three at 28 Mount Distillery in

626

:

Highwood.

627

:

Looking forward to seeing everybody there.

628

:

Yeah.

629

:

And thanks again to Banner Kitchen and

Bath Showroom, our presenting sponsor for

630

:

the event.

631

:

And Rich, you know, one more time, thank

you for all the work you do.

632

:

You know, if there isn't what we call

proof in the pudding about your passion

633

:

for camp, it's your voice, right?

634

:

You talked a lot about losing your voice

today.

635

:

in singing the camp songs as you did in

Baltimore, I think it was.

636

:

But, you know, please one last time, you

know, where can people connect with you?

637

:

How can they support you?

638

:

Anything you want to tell folks about Camp

Kids or Kids?

639

:

You have your shot.

640

:

Yes, definitely go to the website.

641

:

It's being updated constantly.

642

:

So even the links that Ari sent out

already will be on our website.

643

:

We'll have a landing page there for the

upcoming events.

644

:

There's info at campkidskids .org.

645

:

We'll get directly.

646

:

directly to me.

647

:

The phone number that's on there will come

directly to me.

648

:

So you can send me messages there.

649

:

I'm as Ari said, quick and easy to get on

the phone unless I'm in the middle of

650

:

running camp.

651

:

And then I'll get back to you the

following day after camp is done.

652

:

Yet it's it's an amazing place.

653

:

And I want to point out the gold for gold

is also the gold ribbon, which is the

654

:

symbol for pediatric oncology awareness

awareness.

655

:

So kids cancer, gold ribbon, and September

is pediatric oncology cancer awareness

656

:

month.

657

:

So perfect month for this fundraiser.

658

:

It's the month right after camp.

659

:

So plenty of stories to share and

hopefully campers will be there to share

660

:

their adventures and pictures as well.

661

:

So keep posted on social, all our handles

and you can see what we're doing, what

662

:

we're planning.

663

:

And then during the week of camp, check

out all the fun madness that we get to

664

:

plan.

665

:

Love it, love it, love it, love it.

666

:

But you know, the fact that that number

goes directly to you, people should be

667

:

respectful.

668

:

You have a young daughter that's napping

at various times and you need sleep

669

:

yourself.

670

:

So Rich, we'll let you get back to that.

671

:

But before we sign off, you guys should

both know we have a great support system

672

:

here on The Appeal and a great sponsor of

our show.

673

:

So really quickly see ya.

674

:

If you could run that ad and then we'll

sign off here guys.

675

:

So stick around for 30 seconds.

676

:

Thanks.

677

:

Great.

678

:

Falling asleep with your head in the wrong

position is a pain in the neck.

679

:

You deserve Tausi Comfort for head, neck

and back support.

680

:

Go to TowsieBrands .com and get your

comfort on.

681

:

I do get my comfort on most days with my

Tausi, but they're a great support system

682

:

and sponsor of this show and Hail Hail

Auctions and all it is that I do.

683

:

And as a matter of fact, they provide

great options for silent auction items and

684

:

things of that sort.

685

:

So if you're looking for various unique

outside the box items, please look at

686

:

Tausi Brands and Janice Shokran.

687

:

She's a great friend of mine and I highly

recommend her product.

688

:

Gentlemen, I just can't thank you enough

for allowing me to highlight who you each

689

:

are as individuals, all the work you do

together, Camp Kids Are Kids, all the

690

:

amazing work it is that goes into

uplifting kids living with cancer and

691

:

their family members.

692

:

If you want to get ahold of me, Chris with

Hail Hail Auctions, I'm on LinkedIn.

693

:

We have our website, hailhailauctions

.com, our socials are all there.

694

:

You can find all the partnerships we've

created with great organizations like Camp

695

:

Kids Are Kids, and I'd love a way to find

it.

696

:

an option and an opportunity to support

your great organization.

697

:

So please reach out.

698

:

Gentlemen, it's been an honor.

699

:

Thank you so much for all the work you do.

700

:

Ari and Rich, I can't wait to get to hang

out with you guys September 7th.

701

:

And for those that haven't yet, please buy

your ticket.

702

:

28 Mile Banner Kitchen and Bath are

presenting sponsor.

703

:

It's gonna be a whole hell of a lot of

fun.

704

:

September Children's Oncology Cancer

Awareness Month.

705

:

I hope I said that right, Rich.

706

:

But guys,

707

:

Rock on, thank you so much for joining me.

708

:

Have a great rest of your day and have a

safe, safe 4th of July holiday.

709

:

Thanks for having us on, Chris.

710

:

Appreciate it.

711

:

Thanks guys.

712

:

See ya.

713

:

Take care.

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