Camp History ..

Camp Quality came to Illinois in 1995. Ed Leverenz had served as a volunteer at a Camp Quality in another state in spring 1995 and returned home determined to offer this opportunity to cancer patients in his home region.

The Lansing Lions Club offers its services at the Spring Reunion.

Ed lived in Lansing, Illinois, which is southeast of Chicago and right on the Indiana border. His first step was to contact friends at the Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana. Penny Heinzman, RN and Diane Nowaczyk, RN were inspired by the program and agreed to help. The Camp Quality main office was contacted for guidelines. With seed money provided by the Community Hospital, the first camp was held August 13-19, 1995. Thirty-one children attended. The goal was to provide these children and their families with new energy, new enthusiasm and above all, new hope.

The first camp was held during the 100 degree heat wave of 1995. The staff and volunteers were inexperienced and yet everyone had a great time.

1996 Diane Nowaczyk became camp director. Forty-one children attended.

1997 Forty-two children attended.

1998 A very difficult decision had to be made. When a child has cancer the entire family is affected, and so the Illinois camp accepted applications from cancer patients and their siblings. As word of this camp spread, more applications were received than the facilities could accommodate. Beginning in 1998, applications were accepted from cancer patients only. Forty-two children attended.

1999 Forty-seven children attended.

2000 Fifty-four children attended. We were at maximum capacity and are considering several alternatives for next year, including alternative camps for teenagers.We hope to never have to refuse a child because of lack of space.

2001 Scheduled for August 12-18.

During the six years that camp has been in Illinois, many friends have been made. Six of those very dear young friends are no longer with us. But they continue on in our hearts.