Mission Linens, Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel, Dole Packaged
Foods, Panavision International, Southbay Apparel/Aeropostal,
Southwest Airlines, Fred Sassoon/Thousand Oaks Beauty
Collection, Advance School of Massage, Miami Tan, The Harold
McAlister Foundation, The James M. & Frieda E. Montgomery
Foundation, The Wilsey Foundation, Chumash Casino/Santa Ynez
Band of Chumash Indians
Celebrities: Taylor Dayne, Hunter Gomez, Ashley Gomez, Brandon
Williams, Amy Smart, Lauren Mayhew, and Sara Gilbert
Numerous other individuals
and organizations, you know who you are.
I am writing to inform
you that I thoroughly enjoyed my experience(s) at Camp Keepsake
during this past weekend. It was very rewarding, inspiring, and
spiritual for me and my family. I hope with all me heart that my
presence touched even but one person as they have touched me. I
hope that I will be able to attend Camp Keepsake in future
years, whether as a camper or a helper of any kind. I feel that
my experiences with cancer, along with my experiences at Camp
Keepsake, could be valuable in helping other families who are in
need of relief from the mental and physical anguish that comes
from dealing with cancer and the typical treatments involved.
Please consider me for next year’s camp! The “planes, trains,
and automobiles” it takes to get there is very much worth it!
Sincerely,
Ryan K.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Dear Chris:
Oh, what a wonderful time we had. It was oohhh and ahhh as we
entered this hidden scenic valley. The "mountains" on the east and
the west are rather rugged looking but I am sure that they can be
conquered by some strong willed "kid". As far away as it seems and
looks one can see the string of cars high on the road.
The staff put a lot of work into transforming the camp into
Hollywood (to match this year's Hollywood theme). Our thanks to each
and everyone of them for all their work and the time they spent
assuring us of a good time.
The Red Carpet was out to welcome us and the smiles were as big as
the Cheshire Cat. There has to be some kind of a line where when one
crosses it, one starts smiling, for everybody was smiling all the
time we were there.
We were reduced to kids and we acted like kids with not a care or a
responsibility. Our counselor, Lupe, was Johnny on the Spot before
we'd have a need or a want. She took our luggage to our room gave us
the whole layout of the cabin then took us for a tour of the
Campground. She was assisted by Ani, another counselor. We were very
fortunate to have two lovely ladies taking care of us. We were kept
aware of our appointments, meals and what ever program we wanted to
see. We are sure that the best counselors were given to us and so
now they are family as we have adopted them.
Dr. Debbie was there for me when I needed help and always with a
smile. She might be 5' tall but her smile is 10' - her patients are
lucky to have her.
The celebrities certainly were big hearted to spend the time with us
and they were so down to earth just as if we'd been friends always.
It was especially nice to see all ages of children and hear their
laughter and see them playing. I am sure that the parents were happy
to see their children being children and that they too could be a
couple without a care for a precious weekend.
The Spa treatments have now been introduced to us sixty years too
late. The programs at the Main Theater/Hall and Fire Pit areas were
enjoyed by all family members and were such fun. The hike with Buzz
and Holly was the best start for the day and I only wish we could
have gone on more of the hikes.
The crafts section had a good selection of things to do. We did not
participate in it as we are reducing intake of crafts at home and
donating our craft tools and supplies.
The Main Dining Hall is a 4 star but our eyes were bigger than our
stomachs.
Our thanks to those who prepared the food and delivered. We
sometimes forget the many services common to us.
Our only wish would be that we could have met and talked with
everyone there. Jokingly, we also hope that next year you'll have
Face Lifts as we would love to see a large before and after poster
of Mr. Chang (Ha, Ha), who really seemed to enjoy the facial he
received.
We took off early so that we might see a son of ours who was leaving
to Massachusetts so we left and did not get an evaluation sheet. We
were to exchange addresses with Lupe and Ani but in our haste to
leave did not get theirs.
On a scale of one to ten without question everyone and everything
was above a 10.
We remain in anticipation of being invited next year,
