"We haven't completely banished 'Special Events' from our vocabulary, but we've put that in quotation marks and we hear Kathy's voice."
~ Paul Furukawa, Ph.D., LMSW - Executive Director/CEO
FAÇADE vs. FOR REAL
Finding the Purpose & Balance of Activities Do you remember your first day at camp? Maybe you were a little nervous, perhaps scared at being away from home for the first time, but excited to be trying something new? Chances are, by the time you were heading home, all the fear and nervousness had melted away, and you were left with the warmth of new friendships and the satisfaction of learning new skills and picking up new hobbies. At CAMP, the staff and volunteers believe every child should have that moment - when nervousness fades, and friendships and opportunities take root. And that "moment" should never be denied to a kid or adult because he or she has special needs. Founded in 1979 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization the following year, Children's Association for Maximum Potential was borne out of the desire to let ALL children - no matter how severe their disability, or their family's financial constraints - experience the joy of summer camp. Now, more than 30 years later, more than 800 children and adults get the opportunity to attend summer camp each year. And, they keep coming back as campers, counselors, volunteers and parents of new campers. It's a cycle that works. Paul Furukawa first went to CAMP in 2005, when he joined the team as the Executive Director and CEO. Four years later, CAMP hosted its 30th Anniversary gala, an event that - while a fundraising success - had a downside. "While we made a lot of money, it consumed a lot of the staff's time," Paul remembers. The CAMP staff also was preparing for CAMPfest, scheduled for just a month and a half later, in November 2009. An event that reunites campers, their families, volunteers, supporters and more, CAMPfest also is an opportunity to reach out to the Kerr County community, which has embraced them and supported them for so long. Obviously, such an event takes a lot of time and effort to organize, and those responsibilities - once again - fell on the staff. "The problem with scheduling CAMPfest in November so soon after our Gala - it was too much, too soon," Paul said. By this time, Furukawa had sought the expertise of Kathy MacNaughton and KMAC & Associates, becoming one of her S.C.O.R.↔E.™ clients. He knew the gala had been a success, and wanted to turn it into an annual fundraising event, but he didn't want it to sap the energy of his staff. "Kathy had so many wonderful recommendations that helped us fine-tune things," Paul said. Among those recommendations... read more | 
