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September's Charity of the Month:
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association — Camp Riley

The climbing wall at Camp Riley.

Throughout life, we all have our own personal hills to climb. For many of the children with disabilities who attended the 50th anniversary of Camp Riley for Children with Disabilities (CRCD) this summer, climbing the hills of Bradford Woods in Indiana took on a literal meaning of reaching new heights of personal triumphs.

The MDRT Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association which was used to provide assistance to families with physically disabled children who could not afford the fees at Camp Riley. This grant was sponsored by Brian Moldt, CLU, LUTCF, a 2-year member from Carmel, Indiana.

Camp Riley’s goal is to instill the self-confidence and skills needed for successful independent living. Caleb Baker, a 15 year-old boy with cerebral palsy, is one such camper who has excelled in his personal and physical development as a result of the development programs offered at Camp Riley. Despite living with a disease that can significantly impair Caleb’s control over his body movements, he has acquired a positive and determined attitude and has climbed the camp’s steepest hill four times.

“Caleb is confident, outgoing and independent, and he’s always trying to outdo himself,” said Cindy Barker, Caleb’s mother.

In the summer of 2005, there were 255 campers from 61 Indiana counties who participated in daily camp programs designed to promote independent living, environmental awareness, communication and teamwork. Some of the activities that campers enjoyed included nature programs, outdoor living skills, water activities, arts and crafts and sports such as baseball and swimming.

Camp Riley is a program coordinated by the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children Foundation, which was founded nearly 80 years ago as a living tribute to famed poet James Whitcomb Riley. Since 1955, trained camp counselors and Riley Hospital physicians have helped motivate and encourage more than 11,000 children to push themselves to their own personal highest level of achievement.

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