SFC awarded more than $200,000 in MO tax credits
The Missouri Department of Economic Development has awarded Sherwood Forest Camp $206,330 in Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) tax credits for 2010 and 2011. Sherwood Forest Camp will use the tax credits to provide residential summer camp to at-risk youth in St. Louis City and County. Administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Youth Opportunities Program provides tax credits to organizations that administer positive youth development or crime prevention projects. Under the program, donors who support Sherwood Forest Camp with a contribution valued at $1,000 or more receive a 50% state tax credit. Contributions eligible for YOP tax credits include cash, stocks and bonds.
In November 2009 volunteers from General Electric Real Estate presented Sherwood Forest with $10,000. They also visited our Sherwood Forest campsite and helped to deconstruct a defunct cabin.
Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis presented Sherwood Forest with a new Sunshine Coach Van valued at over $28,000. The van was presented in honor of Ameren, American Airlines, Anheuser-Busch, Bank of America, Chase Park Plaza, Edward Jones, Emerson, Imo’s, KMOV, Momentum, NestlePurina Pet Care Co., St. Louis Post-Dispatch, World Wide Technology, and Lucia Rodriguez, Champion for Kids. It was awarded at Variety’s 43rd annual Champions for Children Allocations Luncheon in November 2009.
The Optimist Club of St. Louis awarded $2,500 in September 2009 to help children from families living in poverty gain the benefits of attending our Summer Camp program.
Thanks to the Joseph James Gamlin Memorial Fund and the Employees Community Fund of Boeing St. Louis for helping to purchase a new utility vehicle for our campsite. Boeing ECF has given $7,500 in the past two years, and the Joseph James Gamlin Memorial Fund has given and pledged a total of $12,000 for the next two years.
In July 2009 we received $15,000 from the Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. to help support Sherwood Forest’s Summer Camp Literacy program.
REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) donated $5,000 in July 2009 to support extended wilderness camping experiences for our summer campers.
The Emerson Charitable Trust has donated $7,500 in 2009 to help at-risk teenagers from the St. Louis area to experience continuing success through our Leadership Training program.
The Harvey Kornblum Foundation donated $5,000 in May 2009 to support economically disadvantaged families whose children benefit from our Summer Camp program.
The Herman T. and Phenie R. Pott Foundation awarded a $4,000 grant in May 2009 to help our disadvantaged campers build vital skills and relationships that last a lifetime.
The Gannett Foundation has provided $3,000 in scholarships to help children from economically disadvantaged families attend Summer Camp.
In April 2009 the Philpott Family Foundation provided $3,000 in support for camping, life skills, and Leadership Training to low-income children and youth.
The St. Louis Service Bureau Foundation provided $4,000 in April 2009 for camperships for the Summer Camp Leadership Training program.
Students at Clayton High School wanted to give back to the community, and raised over $2,000 to help send kids to camp.