Valentine’s Day is a holiday all about love, and no organization knows that more than Camp Taylor. The summer camp for children born with Congenital Heart Defects, or CHD, plans to host its 13^th Annual Valentine Hearts Fundraiser on Feb. 14 in hopes to raise both money and awareness of CHD.
Camp Taylor is a Salida-based organization that was founded in 2002 by Kimberlie Gamino. When she realized there were no programs for her son who was born with CHD in all of Central and Northern California, Camp Taylor was born.
Through donations and local fundraisers like the Valentine Hearts dinner, Camp Taylor is able to hold annual camps at California State University, Stanislaus for children ages 7-17 and their families. At these camps, children with CHD are able to meet and befriend other children just like themselves, bringing to life Camp Taylor’s motto, “Where kids meet, scars blend.”
The fundraiser, which consists of a formal dinner and auction, will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in Modesto. Both a silent auction with 75 items and a live auction with 20 items will be held, and the heart campers of Camp Taylor will entertain the guests with a special performance.
“The best part about the dinner is that it gives the campers a chance to shine, and it also brings awareness to the number one birth defect in the United States,” Gamino said.
Tickets to the Valentine Hearts dinner can be purchased at kidsheartcamp.org for $85 each, and tables which seat ten can be purchased for $800. If you are unable to attend the dinner and would still like to help, there are many ways you can contribute to Camp Taylor.
From Feb. 11 to 14, Camp Taylor will be holding a “kissing booth” at the Vintage Fair Mall. For every donation received, candy kisses will be given in return. There will also be Valentine’s Day vendors and local radio station KHOP will be there with chances to win Taylor Swift tickets. Another great way to help is to volunteer at Camp Taylor’s summer camps. Applications are available at kidsheartcamp.org.
Future fundraisers include an upcoming dinner in April, which will take place in San Jose and also be attended by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick’s 3rd annual Against All Odds Golf Tournament, which also benefits Camp Taylor, will be held in June at the Del Rio Country Club in Modesto.
Gamino hopes that through both the Valentine Hearts dinner and future events, more Central Valley residents can become aware of CHD and find ways to help.
“The unique thing about Camp Taylor is that we’re local so many people can get involved and see their donations come to life,” Gamino said.