DALLAS SCENE
HAPPY CAMPERS
Happy Campers
Brian Amis, Jordan Amis Sallie Behnke and Jared Behnke
S
Stefanie Prentiss, Dr. Ernie Fernandez and Michael Prentiss
Nick Boulle, Dr. Ernie Fernandez, Karen Boulle and Denis Boulle
Gary Webber and Camber Record
ince its founding in 1983, deBoulle has proudly supported the Dallas and Fort Worth communities. de Boulle is a proud supporter of Camp Sweeney, a program for children with Type 1 Diabetes. “Our goal goes beyond pro- viding our customers with the finest retail experience possible. We are also committed to supporting and partici- pating in our wonderful community,” says Denis Boulle. A diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes chang-
turning point in the lives of more than 35,000 children. Camp Sweeney is regarded as one of the largest and most effective diabetes education facilities in the world and serves over 1,000 children every summer. Operating a medical childcare facility is extremely costly, about $4,500,000 per year. While some campers are able to pay tuition, Camp Sweeney provides financial aid to approximate- ly 86% of campers. No camper has ever been turned away. In 2012, the Sweethearts for Sweeney gala began as a col- laboration between the Boulles and close friend David Genev- er-Watling, who identified the need to provide scholarships for underprivileged children to attend Camp Sweeney. Today, the gala takes place just before the winter holidays under the moniker ‘Gift of Sweeney’ and raises more than $200,000 each year to fund special scholarships for children with extraordinary circumstances. Since 2012, de Boulle has helped raise more than $1,100,000 for Camp Sweeney. “Camp Sweeney provides financial assistance to any camp- ers who cannot pay, but sometimes even this is not enough for children to attend camp,” said Dr. Ernie Fernandez, Camp Sweeney’s volunteer Camp Director. “The Gift of Sweeney event at de Boulle allows us to bridge the gap for our families in greatest need.” To meet this need, donors fund camper scholarships and purchase raffle tickets for exciting items including a Men’s Rolex Watch provided by de Boulle. To learn more about Camp Sweeney or to help a child with Type 1 diabetes, visit CampSweeney.org
es the life of a child forever. Days filled with school, sports, and activities are quickly replaced by blood tests, insulin in- jections, and carbohydrate calculations. Every step required to manage diabetes is a step away from what children see as “normal.” But at Camp Sweeney, Type 1 diabetes is nor- mal. When diabetes disappears, every camper can show what makes them special, not what makes them different. Camp Sweeney makes the practice of good diabetic control normal, so every child is on a level playing field and no longer feels that diabetes makes them different. Campers are given opportunities to succeed and once they begin to achieve their goals at camp, they develop confidence in their own talents and abilities. Campers support one another over the course of a session, they build friendships that are based in service – friendships they can count on long past the end of the summer. Camp Sweeney opened in 1950, and has provided a positive
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