Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We are writing to share some exciting news about the Bishops' Fund for Children and the new direction it is taking.
At the November 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Bishops' Fund for Children, the board decided to end its tenure as a separate board and transfer its current and future programs and assets to Camp Washington for activities serving children at risk. The Board of Camp Washington enthusiastically welcomed this new direction for the Bishops' Fund for Children and committed to exploring new and exciting ways to continue the Bishops' Fund's commitment to children at risk, particularly in relation to the great work already being done for children through the camp ministry.
In January 2016, the Bishops' Fund for Children "moved" to Camp Washington, the year-round camp and conference center of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, located in Morris, Connecticut. With a reenergized Board of Directors, chaired by Suzy Burke and under the oversight of Bishop Laura, and the appointment of a new executive director, Bart Geissinger, Camp Washington is becoming an exciting, year-round resource for forming disciples of Jesus.
As the Camp Washington board works to reimagine the future of the Bishops' Fund for Children, it will explore new opportunities for children at risk in collaboration with the work already being done at Camp Washington. New partnerships, new opportunities for children to explore and experience camp, and new, innovative ways to meet God by bringing camp out into the neighborhood. Because of this transition in the Bishops' Fund there will not be a grant cycle during 2016 but rather an opportunity to review the past and explore where God is calling us to go next. The board will also explore new community opportunities to replace the Bishops' 5K Run that enjoyed a long "run" and was ready for a rest.
We are deeply blessed by the good work of the Bishops' Fund for Children, its Board of Trustees, volunteers and all the parishes and individual donors that support it. Since 1994, the Bishops' Fund for Children has granted over $3 million to underwrite social service agencies that aid children.
We look forward to the new life and new possibilities for the work of the Bishops' Fund for Children in its association with Camp Washington. Please stay tuned for exciting new developments for the Bishops' Fund for Children in 2016 and into the future.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens
Bishop Diocesan Bishop Suffragan