Chapter's W2MF Presents Donation to Gold Star Kids Camp

The chapter's Wounded Warrior and Military Families Endowment Fund Committee had the honor of attending the last day of Echo Hill Ranch Gold Star Kids Camp Session II. Echo Hill Ranch's mission is to provide a safe, fun, relaxing and empowering professional summer camp experience for the children of Gold Star families, immediate family members of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict or those of first responders. Marcie Friedman, the daughter of Echo Hill Ranch founders Thomas and Minnie Samet Friedman, now runs the camp with her brother, Kinky Friedman. The camp seeks to foster a community and a connection among children and families who have had similar life experiences and are taking similar life journeys, Marcie explains.

Jeff Kendall, chapter vice president, Veteran Support and Military Family Outreach, presented a $6,500 check to support their efforts. "This camp enables children from all over the nation to bond with one another despite their current hardship." The camp brings in children from all over the United States and is free for the child attending and is solely run by an all-volunteer staff. Kendall added, "You can visibly see how much fun these kids are having and to bring that kind of joy into their lives is really something special."