Usdan Summer Camp For The Arts Launches The Reimagine Fund

NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts (www.usdan.org), the nation's preeminent arts summer day camp, today announces the launch of The Reimagine Fund - a new campaign designed to gather financial support in response to damage sustained during a recent lightning strike and fire on the 140-acre Wheatley Heights campus. Usdan estimates a financial need of at least $250,000 to rebuild the Visual Art Department and upgrade the camp's overall infrastructure.

On Tuesday, August 14, a lightning strike sparked the blaze that ultimately destroyed two studios —A17 and A18— in the Visual Art Department and caused additional damage to other buildings in the area. No one was injured, and no students were affected as camp had concluded its 50th Anniversary season the previous Friday.

Usdan was built on the dream of young artists exploring their creativity and individuality in a natural environment. Since opening in 1968, over 40,000 students have attended the popular day camp.  This summer, Usdan welcomed close to 1,600 campers from across Long Island and New York City. Offering over 100 classes in disciplines from dance and art to music, theater and chess to writing and recreation, Usdan continues its philosophy  to help children to "lose themselves for a summer, and find themselves for a lifetime."

"I was awed as I visited the damaged studios to see that, through the charred remains, spiders had begun spinning webs and butterflies explored the new terrain," says Lauren Brandt Schloss, Usdan's Executive Director. "Now, as we begin to see the leaves turning brown and gold, I am confident in nature's ability to renew and Usdan's promise to inspire. I am so thankful for the support of our community and know that, together, we can not just rebuild but reimagine and continue to grow a place where kids draw from nature and their own creativity to be who they really are."

To learn more and to donate to The Reimagine Fund, please go to www.usdan.org/support-us/donate-now.

About Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts
Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts (usdan.org) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018. The nation's preeminent not-for-profit day camp for the arts, Usdan has been named a "Best Of" camp by TimeOutNY/Kids, and by NY Metro Parents. Diverse and playfully rigorous from the start, Usdan has brought world-class teachers and visiting artists – actors, directors, playwrights, painters, sculptors, musicians, composers, dancers, poets and novelists – to teach and collaborate with Usdan campers ages 4 to 18. Usdan ignites each child's artistic spirit in a fun, welcoming environment. We believe art making is brave making, friend making, freedom making and future making. Usdan is an agency of the UJA-Federation of New York. All programs will take place at the camp's magnificent 140-acre woodland campus, located at 185 Colonial Springs Road in Wheatley Heights, NY 11798.

SOURCE Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts