The Fresh Air Friend

Founded in 1877, The Fresh Air Fund originally provided country vacations to poor New York City children suffering from tuberculosis. "fresh air" was considered the best cure for the disease at that time, so families in the country hosted children for the summer so they could regain their strength.

The Fresh Air Fund now provides a summer vacation to children in New York that may never have been out of the city. The own 5 camps which allow 3,000 kids attend each year, including a camp for special needs children. The special needs camp had a specially designed pool to allow children in wheelchairs or using crutches to use the pool facility. The 5 camps also share a working farm where kids can learn where exactly it is their food comes from!

(looking for a job over college break? they're hiring camp counselors for the 2009 session)

They also send an additional 5,000 children to visit families in rural and suburban America and Canada. Roughly 65% of children are invited to visit the same host family next year. They spend a few weeks simply enjoying visiting a new town and experiencing nature.



Or host a visiting child. You do NOT have to be near NYC! Canada is okay too!