I remember the first time I heard the words “Camp Swift” as an eleven year old girl waiting to pick up her brother up after his first summer volunteering. “Camp Swift,” the place where I had the opportunity four years later to be counselor for four different groups. “Camp Swift,” the place where I found my passion for helping economically disadvantaged youth. “Camp Swift” the two words that I say when people ask me why I changed my major to Education to become a teacher at a Title 1 school.
           
When I was a senior in high school, I dedicated a month of my year towards raising money for the Swift Youth Foundation through the AZ Gives campaign. When I made a fundraising page I was not only raising money to give children a fun and safe summer, but also a fair and equal chance in this world. While receiving help from my friends, family and community, I was able to raise enough money to send three campers to camp. When I returned to camp the following year, I came across three twelve-year-old campers that influenced my life.

Three children, that due to the money that I helped raise, were able to receive influential and life changing experiences. Three children that inspired me to want to change lives in an educational environment as my everyday job. Three children amongst a group of ten boys that put aside their pride by showing true happiness when they lost a soccer game to a cabin of girls who played hard achieve their dream of winning. Ten boys among many children that had their lives changed because of the Swift Youth Foundation. Thousands of children that we can now rely on to change the world and turn it into an inclusive and positive one.  ​

To donate and/or get involved in AZ Gives Day, visit AZ Gives!

Each year before the holidays, the Swift Youth Foundation community adopts a class at partner school Palomino Elementary.  Gifts are collected for the students, and the day before school lets out for winter break, Swift volunteers spend the afternoon with the kids doing fun activities with them and giving them their gifts.

HUGE shout out to the Chaparral Swift Club who coordinated, donated, and wrapped all of the gifts for the 3rd grade class we adopted this year, and a special thanks to The Happily Ever After League for supplementing the gifts for our class, and providing over 8 bags of toys for families in need in the Palomino community.

We are thrilled to announce the dates of Camp Swift 2017. Keep a lookout for applications in our February newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter click here or fill out the form below.