Camp Shining Stars Uses Crowdfunding to Cover Tuition

DURHAM, NC, May 18, 2011 (Press-News.org) Taking a new approach to paying for a summer of weight loss, donations to cover camp tuition are being raised through the crowdfunding site IndieGogo.

Johnson, a Camp Shining Stars alumnus who wants another summer at camp, was born without her left arm. She's appeared on The Rachael Ray Show, worked out with the Harlem Globetrotters, and spent last summer at camp where she learned drama from volunteer instructor, actress and frequent Oprah guest Stacey Halprin. Johnson loved her summer at Camp Shining Stars and wants to return with a friend who is also struggling with their weight.

Hunter, an overweight seventh grader, is an avid volunteer and teaches art to autistic children. She wants to attend Camp Shining Stars and get a jump start on her weight loss journey, but her family can't afford to send her. When Camp Shining Stars received a letter from Hunter's parents, they knew she deserved to spend her summer with other teens making better food and activity choices. One of Hunter's brothers has heart complications and his surgeries have capped insurance out at over $5 million—twice. Hunter's brother endured 9 heart surgeries, 2 strokes and is on his third pacemaker.

"There are lots of ways to pay for weight loss camp. Scholarships, HSAs, there are even loans available," said Camp Director Ira Green. Camp kicks off next month and the tight time frame prompted Green to launch the crowdsourced tuition model on Indiegogo. The site allows anyone from anywhere in the world to donate as little or as much as they desire toward causes that they're passionate about. Green hopes spreading the word through IndieGogo, Facebook, Twitter, family and friends will raise enough funds to send Hunter, Johnson and another overweight teen to camp. More about their stories and a link to donate toward tuition are available here http://www.indiegogo.com/CAMPSHININGSTARS.

About Camp Shining Stars
Camp Shining Stars "Where Winners LOSE" is a non-profit, co-educational summer weight loss camp for teens hosted on the Barton College campus. They believe every child has inherent qualities of importance, beauty, and the capacity to enrich and be enriched by the world in which they live, regardless race, sex, ethnic heritage, income or socio-economic class. Camp Shining Stars promotes the welfare and healthy development of children and grants an environment of acceptance, discipline and affection. Unique in size, privacy and independence, Camp Shining Stars is smaller than traditional summer camps, offers a private residence life with two campers to a room, and is the only weight loss camp that allows campers to choose their own activities. Focused on teaching young adults the habits necessary for leading a healthy life, raising self esteem and losing weight, Camp Shining Stars is supported by a distinguished medical advisory board and offers a menu influenced by nutrition majors at Cornell University, University of North Carolina and East Carolina University. http://www.campshiningstars.org