GREENSBORO, N.C. — $2 million dollars! That’s how much billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott awarded Camp HOPE America’s parent non-profit, Alliance for Hope International. They will be allocating those funds to help both expand and improve Camp HOPE locations across the nation.
“For Camp HOPE America, the initial application was, the understanding was it was going to be a million dollars. And because some of the grants were written so well, because some of the needs and the social impact of organizations were so significant, and for the impact that Camp HOPE America has in the lives of children who have been impacted by trauma and abuse, the grant award was doubled," said Catherine Johnson.
Johnson not only serves as the local director of Guilford County Family Justice Center, but also as Interim Director of Camp HOPE America -- representing 50 different sites across 26 states.
“I was aware of the grant application process; it was a lengthy process. I think several thousand organizations applied for it, so it's very competitive, and the foundation was really looking at organizations that had big social change capacity, and that's what Camp HOPE America and The Alliance for Hope International is," Johnson reiterated.
While that momentous check wasn’t made out to the local chapter of Camp HOPE, that doesn’t mean Guilford County won’t see the benefits.
“Camp HOPE America, the National Office, provides technical assistance to our local Guilford County program. Each year they release toolkits and curriculum. They do a lot of research at the national level on Hope Heroes, and that's what we teach our children about over the summer, other people who've been through adversity and how they can navigate pathways to hope and healing. And so, we'll look to that national office to provide us with those tools and resources so that we can do good work here locally in our community," said Johnson.
Whoever it was made out to, this is a gift to celebrate, not only for Camp HOPE America, but for the Guilford County community.
“To receive that level of thinking that you're going to get a million dollars and ends up being $2 million. But I think it really speaks to the quality of work that's happening through Camp HOPE America nationally and how that work is replicated in our local community,"
In total, MacKenzie Scott donated $640 million across 361 organizations. Prior non-profits to receive donations include the United Way of Greater Greensboro, Children's Home Society of North Carolina, and NCA&T.