HOST A CHILD FOR THE FRESH AIR FUND
What:The Fresh Air Fund
Who: You can open your home for one or two weeks this summer to an inner city child in New York so that he or she can experience the joys of the “fresh air” in the suburbs.
Founded: Founded in 1877
Website: FreshAir.Org
Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences in the country to more than 1.7 million New York City children from disadvantaged communities. Each year, thousands of children visit volunteer host families in 13 states and Canada through the Friendly Town Program or attend one of five Fresh Air Fund camps.Fresh Air Fund serves about 8,000 children, either in individual, voluntary host families or one of our five camps.FAF
Celebrities such as Tiki Barber, Mariah Carey and Michael Strahan have all been participants of the Fresh Air Fund program.
I can’t put a finger on it, but something about this irks me.
Please put a finger on it because I’m very interested in knowing what it is. To be continued…
I am under the impression that they were taking kids from the inner-city and exposing them to the “fresh air” of the suburb, as if one better or worse than the other. Shouldn’t there be some sort of swap. Each could learn from the experiences. I grew up in the inner-city and now live in the suburbs and I don’t see what is so much greater that it would warrant some sort of magical experience. It’s just the suburbs not like a foreign country.
I think there’s a fine line between seeing what else’s out there and not appreciating what situation you’re in. Like I said, it’s not like they’re taking kids from 3rd world countries; just the ghetto. I grew up lower class and I have visited 3rd world, ad they are vastly different.
But maybe I’m just not completely understanding the program. If I’m wrong, I have no problem being informed.
but there are actually some inner city kids out there who have never experienced the countryside… i knew a few myself, growing up in the city, this means that they’ve never seen nature, thats kinda sad… i see ur point about there being a swap though, if i did have a problem it would be that if it was my child i would NOT be sending them to stay with someone i don’t know, all in all it sounds like a good programme
It’s not the children swap fund….
I remember when i was alittle girl i was in fresh air fund i had so much fun with the family that i was with. I just got alittle home sick but it was cool. Know im 23yrs old living in ATL, Ga. Glad there are things like this in our community
I think it’s a great idea! It may be the only chance some of these children have to see that there are other lifestyles other than a poverty stricken one.
What MC has said about the Fresh Air Fund is that its a camp. I didnt know they wanted us to let kids come live with us.
actually me, my younger sister and brother all went to fresh air fund. I went twice to two seprate families, had a wonderful time and loved it. my sister went to the same family for 6 years, they have a very strong connection and still talk sometimes. my little brother went once to one family and complete loved it. Its a wonderful thing to do for ur kids and i thank all the people who let us “strange” kids into ur house for 2 weeks with out asking for anything in return.
Don’t be idiots. If something is bothering you about this than that is your own ignorance. The camps are totally different from the house programs. The house programs are so kids can experience getting out of the city. Did you know that a higher percentage of inner city kids NEVER LEAVE the city? Half of the kids haven’t even seen TIME SQUARE by the time they are 16. Get your facts straight.
I have worked at the camps and know how much work and love goes into them.
Don’t talk about what you don’t know about.