Society of St. Vincent de Paul to Hold "Campership" Event this Friday, June 17, 2011, First Application Deadline for Circle V Ranch Camp Weeks

LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles Dodger Outfielder Tony Gwynn, Jr. will be signing baseballs and autographs this Friday at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and helping kids prepare their forms and scholarship applications for St. Vincent's Circle V Ranch Camp, which opens to summer campers later this month.  There will also be a drawing for tickets to this Sunday's Father's Day game between the Dodgers and the Houston Astros. 

Only a few spots remain open for the first weeks of camp which start this month. The Society is asking the media's help to let the public know that they can still get children enrolled in camp – but this is the week to do it!

"The scholarships or 'camperships' as we call them allow kids from the city to spend a great week at our Circle V Ranch Camp in the Santa Ynez Valley.  We have just a few spots left open.  We appreciate Tony being with us on Friday to help kids and their parents take the first step in getting to camp by completing an application.  They can also take advantage of our Father's Day sale going on in our store that day, where we have great gifts for dads and grandads," says David Fields, the executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. 

Mr. Gwynn and Mr. Fields will be available for interviews from 12 to 1:30 PM this Friday, June 17, 2011 at the Society's huge 95,000 square foot store, located at 210 N Avenue 21 in the Lincoln Heights section of Los Angeles, just north of downtown. 

Located just a few hours from Los Angeles but a world away for inner city kids the Circle V Ranch is offering "themed camp weeks" in June, July and August.  Application deadlines for the first weeks of camp are approaching. 

Nine one-week sessions will be held this year including:

Session 1: June 22-27 / Theme: Wild, Wild West Week

Session 2: June 27-July 2 / Theme: Pirate Week

Session 3: July 5-10 / Theme: Holiday Week

Session 4: July 10-15 / Theme: Knights of the Round table (Medieval Times)

Session 5: July 18-23 / Theme: Carnival Week

Session 6: July 23-28 / Theme: Hawaiian Vacation Week

Session 7: Aug 1-6 / Theme: Circle V's Got Talent Week

Session 8: Aug 6-11 / Theme: Disney Week

Session 9: Aug 12-17 / Theme: Safari Adventure Week

There is still time for parents and guardians to fill out applications to send children to camp this summer. For registration and information parents or guardians should call 323-224-6213.

Cost for a six day, five night stay at the camp is just $350 for all activities, meals and a field trip.  Ages for children eligible to attend the camp is 7 to 13 years of age. Scholarships and assistance for paying for the camp is available through the generosity of donors to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. 

Mr. Gwynn will sign autographs and pose for photos with fans from 12-1:30 p.m., while the Society's 50 percent off sale on men and boys clothing, as well as recliners so that dad can relax on Father's Day Sunday, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Proceeds from the sale will provide funds for the Circle V Ranch Camp, the Cardinal Manning Center for homeless men and women with children and the Society's various local charitable services.  

Mr. Gwynn is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and, as a defensive star for the Dodgers, has made two spectacular full-out, game-ending backhanded catches to help Los Angeles win two games this season.  He was born in Long Beach and played his college ball at San Diego State University.

About the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

For over 100 years, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles has provided programs and services for children, the homeless and the poor within the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara that are free of charge regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, handicap or national origin.  On any given night in Los Angeles, over 43,000 people are homeless. Almost 20% of these families include children - the highest homeless population for any major metropolitan area in the country.  For more than 50 years, the Cardinal Manning Center, operated by the Society, has enabled homeless men and women with children to stabilize their life circumstances, regain their self-sufficiency and find permanent housing and employment. The Center provides its clients with countless services, including individual therapy, employment, budgeting and financial counseling, case-management and a computer learning center.  For more information visit http://www.svdpla.org or contact Brian Pickering by phone (323) 224-6273 or email [email protected].

SOURCE Society of St. Vincent de Paul