2024 Annual Report and Donor Newsletter

Camp Dreamcatcher strives to reduce barriers to physical and mental health equity by providing free therapeutic and educational programs throughout the year. We accomplish these goals with the help of the long list of volunteers, sponsors, and donors listed in this newsletter.

Camp Week Report 2024

The Therapeutic and Educational Camp Session was held August 18th – 24th, 2024.. The Program served 110 HIV/AIDS impacted youth between the ages of 5-17 and 24 campers moved into the role of counselors this year. 85% of the campers were from Philadelphia and the surrounding region. 200 counselors, medical personnel, professionals, and community members volunteered during the camp week.

VIDEO: TEDx Talk – Catching Dreams for Kids – A Journey of Hope

A TEDx Talk by Camp Dreamcatcher Founder Patty Hillkirk How do you make a dream into a reality? Patty Hillkirk shared the life-changing journey of Camp Dreamcatcher and how she, and a small group of dedicated volunteers, created a therapeutic community for children...

Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends Days

October 14 – October 15 Boscov’s in Christiana, DE, is helping to raise funds for Camp Dreamcatcher through their “Friends Helping Friends” Days! It’s easy – just shop at Boscov’s on October 14 and 15, either in-person or online. Camp Dreamcatcher will then...

Camp Dreamcatcher in the News: Chester County Press

Camp Dreamcatcher Goes Virtual For This Year’s Camp   August 12, 2020 The children who attend Camp Dreamcatcher’s week-long therapeutic camp are resilient. So nothing—not even a global pandemic—was going to stand in the way of Camp Dreamcatcher in its efforts to...

Camp Dreamcatcher in the News: Chester County Community Foundation

Non-Profits Provide Relief: Camp Dreamcatcher The Chester County Community Foundation shone a spotlight on Camp Dreamcatcher to highlight the Camp’s upcoming Virtual Camp Weeks and its program to distribute computers to campers who do not have access to them so...

Catching Dreams for Kids Virtual Event

Be sure to join us for the Catching Dreams for Kids Virtual Event on June 13, 2020 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. We will have an online auction (you can start bidding now at http://catchingdreams.givesmart.com), raffle, livestream with camp updates and magical camp videos. We...

GivingTuesday NOW Is May 5!

GivingTuesday Now is a new global day of giving and unity that is taking place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. A number of you have already given to help our families in these extraordinary times, and to you we...

Camp Dreamcatcher Receives PHL COVID-19 Fund Grant

In this time of unprecedented crisis, we are so happy to have a bit of good news to announce: Camp Dreamcatcher is the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the PHL COVID-19 Fund! The fund was created on March 19 as a partnership between the Philadelphia Foundation and...

Camp Dreamcatcher in the News

Camp Dreamcatcher at 25 In 1996, Patty Hillkirk founded Camp Dreamcatcher with the help of a small team of dedicated volunteers. The camp, which is for kids affected by HIV-AIDS, is still going strong and has expanded to year-round offerings. The Chester County Press...

Donations in Honor of Delphinis “Dell” Mercier

Dell Mercier, the father of long-time Camp Dreamcatcher counselor Jeanmarie Mercier, passed away on November 29, 2019. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dell’s memory to Camp Dreamcatcher. We would like to express our heartfelt...