Dear Friends:
We at the Vineyard want to thank all of
you who have supported us with your gifts and prayers over
this past year. You have
-
Propelled us into many nations
-
Helped us expand our communications
and outreach world-wide
-
Supported us as we have offered a
place of growth and spiritual development for our
campers
-
Helped us to sow faithfully into the
families whose children would not otherwise be able to
afford such a diverse, international experience of
camping
On the home front, over 400 camper spots
have already been filled with US campers. Campers from New
York to Florida have registered for one, two, three and
four week sessions. But in 2010 we are embarking on a new
emphasis to bring new US campers to camp, especially from
area-wide public and private schools who have never heard
of us. During my times in the US, my thrust will be
preparing our camp facilities for the new season,
continuing to raise awareness of the opportunity to give
to our Scholarship Fund, and to invite you to participate
in our Capital Campaign.
At the time of this writing in February
2010, I have already traveled to France, Ecuador, Mexico,
Bolivia and Spain to enroll campers and staff. The
response has been staggering. We offered the French
campers, for example, 100 places and yet 500 requested
spots! During our first trip to Ecuador in years, over 250
children came to presentations about our camp. In Spain,
more campers have already applied than in any other
previous year. In early spring, I will travel to Hungary,
Brazil and perhaps Singapore.
All in all, we continue to see excitement
for the Vineyard experience building world wide and more
and more people wanting their children to be here as
campers or as summer staffers. This is a ministry that is
clearly touching people from all over the world and the
letters we continually receive attest to this.
Again, we appreciate you so much and thank
you for being so committed to us. As you consider
supporting us, please also consider, as I have, what we
must sacrifice in order to give more. And as I have given
this thought, I realize that I am inclined to give more
this year knowing I have already received from Him
abundantly more than I could ever give back.
Warmly,
Dean Barley
Founder/President
Dean@vineyardcamp.com
Scholarships
As we prepare for 2010 summer, we can look
back at 2009 as our best summer yet. Even in the midst of
worldwide economic and political upheavals, we had our
best year ever. One of the things we are the most proud of
is our policy to turn no child away due to lack of funds.
Last year alone, we provided scholarships to over 111
campers from surrounding counties in the US. This amounted
to over $90,000 of funds made available to local youth. In
addition, we discount the tuitions for hundreds of
international campers each year to help offset the high
cost of travel to the US.
This has been made possible because people
like you have given generously year after year to make our
camp open to people of all incomes and nationalities. Your
generosity has been most appreciated and is continually
needed. Our goal this year is to raise $250,000 for this
purpose.
Capital Campaign
Our capital campaign is focused on three projects: The completion of the lake, and the creation of a chapel and a guest lodge. The lake has been planned in stages, the first stage creating a six to eight acre lake for canoeing and fishing. To date, the land has already been cleared for this purpose and the foundation for the dam has been constructed. We still need $10,000 for this year and $40,000 over the next three years to bring Phase I into reality.
An important component to our planning improvements is our desire to provide a new space dedicated for worship. The Vines Chapel has been designed to serve as an open and inviting place of worship. It will be the only Chapel in the area dedicated to international, interdenominational gathering and it is designed to accommodate 400 people. The estimated cost to provide the open air chapel is $350,000. Several churches have offered to support the creation of the chapel by pledging $1000 per year for three years. We are now seeking Lead Gifts to secure a strong foundation for the building of this chapel.
On the drawing boards is also the building of a lodge. As you
might imagine, the completion of these three projects will not only benefit the program and operation of our camp, it will raise our visibility regionally for retreats and conferences.
General Campaign
The goal for our 2010 General Campaign is $100,000. These funds are used to reduce the camp’s mortgage, for emergency expenditures, and for other items already in our 2010 budget projections.
We also greatly appreciate your in-kind donations such as volunteer time, building supplies and materials, landscaping items, sports equipment of all kinds, and frequent flyer points for international campers, staff or marketing. You may call the office to find out what current needs we have for donated supplies and items.
As always, we ask that you keep us in your prayers as we provide a special place for ministry to children from all over the world.
|
