This summer marks our 125th anniversary of serving children from New York City. In 1877, the Rev. Willard Parsons, a minister of a small, rural parish in Sherman, Pa., asked members of his congregation to provide country vacations as volunteer host families for New York City’s neediest children. This was the beginning of The Fresh Air Fund.
Today, the fund continues its tradition of caring and provides children with a much-needed respite from the inner-city streets. Thousands of youngsters enjoy summer vacations with volunteer hosts or attend one of five fund camps in upstate New York. The simplicity of our program is its strength.
As we celebrate this momentous occasion, it is time to reflect on how much has changed and how much has stayed the same. The fund began with a small group of youngsters heading for the country and went on to benefit more than 1.7 million needy children.
As this year’s children begin to board buses headed for summer fun, we would like to thank our heroes, the local families who demonstrate their compassion and concern for the well-being of others by their commitment to disadvantaged youngsters from New York City.
Caring members of your community open their homes and share the everyday joys of summer visits. Other local volunteers, many of whom are also hosts, give by serving on Friendly Town Committees, planning summer activities, raising funds for special events, publicizing the program and interviewing prospective host families.
The Fresh Air Fund is an independent, not-for-profit agency that provides free summer vacations to disadvantaged New York City children. For more information on how you can help to continue this wonderful tradition of volunteering, please call The Fresh Air Fund at (800) 367-0003.
Jenny Morgenthau
executive director
The Fresh Air Fund
New York