More kids will enjoy camping in the mountains this summer as Press-Telegram and Grunion Gazette readers matched a $30,000 donation made by philanthropists Frank and Margie Newell.

That means $60,000 will be added to this year’s campaign fund to send kids to mountain camps operated by the Big Five youth organizations: Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, YMCA of Greater Long Beach, Camp Fire Long Beach, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, now known as Scouting America.

“We are thrilled that readers have so quickly matched our donation,” said Frank Newell, a retired attorney and former chair of the Long Beach Community Foundation. “We hope that others will continue to donate to this wonderful program so as many local kids as possible can enjoy a meaningful and enriching camp experience in this time of uncertainty.”

The Newells donated $30,000 on the condition that readers matched that amount.

The Send-a-Kid-to-Camp campaign fund, started by the Press-Telegram in partnership with the Community Foundation, will continue until June 21.

“Sincere thanks to our readers for coming through for the kids one more time,” said Tom Bray, senior editor for the Southern California News Group Los Angeles County publications. “This community proves just how generous it can be every year. On behalf of the kids, a mammoth thank you.”

Tara Sievers, donor and community relations manager for the Community Foundation, said, “Thanks so much to the multiple readers who joined together to meet this matching grant. Their generosity, combined with the Newells’ support, has added $60,000 to this year’s campaign.”

The Newells are longtime supporters of the Send-a-Kid-to-Camp program. Frank Newell said he and his wife had great camp experiences in their youth.

When he was a youngster, Frank Newell went to Camp High Hill in the San Bernardino Mountains. Margie Newell went to Camp Nor’wester on Lopez Island in the state of Washington. She remembered her summer after fifth grade when she attended camp away from home for the first time.

“The memories of outdoor adventures,” she said, “making new friends, cabin living, teamwork, problem solving, songs after dinner and arts and crafts so many years ago, have stayed with me to this day.”

Frank Newell said he remembers his own camp experience as a child.

“We want to give as many of our Long Beach youth as possible an opportunity to have a similar experience,” he said.

We invite our readers to donate to the camp fund until the June 21 deadline. The more donations that come in now means even more needy youngsters will enjoy camp in nearby mountains this summer.

Remember, like almost everything else, costs keep increasing. The average cost of sending one child to one week at a camp is $600.

We invite you to make whatever donation you can to make a kid’s dream come true like it did for the Newells. We thank you in advance for making a difference in the lives of so many deserving youngsters.

HOW TO DONATE

Online: Donations with a credit card via the Long Beach Community Foundation’s website are preferred. Go to longbeachcf.org. The Long Beach Community Foundation Tax ID number is EIN-20-5054010.

Mail: Send a check with “Send-Kid-to-Camp” in the memo, payable to Long Beach Community Foundation, 1 World Trade Center, 8th Floor, Long Beach, CA 90831.

DONATIONS

Weekly Total: $10,590.25

Campaign Total: $99,832.70 (through Thursday, May 28; includes $30,000 matching)

Donors:

–Jean Bakke

–Robert and Sheryl Ballew

–Greg and Shannon Burnight, in memory of Larry Burnight

–Jeff and Suzanne Castner

–Connie Clark

–Judy Clarke, in memory of Jerry Clarke

–Russell Collison

–Sandra Darling

–John and Elissa DiCarlo

–Janet Dignam

–Charlene Ebright

–Maria and Gene Erbstoesser

–Gina Foss, in memory of Jane Scales

–Wendell Freeman

–Steve and Joyce Grimm

–Karen Gustafson, in memory of Laura and Phil Arnold

–Judy Jones

–Charles and Jo Ellen Kerr

–Loretta Klonecky

–Anonymous

–Lanore Knudson

–Margaret Locke and William Giser

–L. Breithaupt Muenzer

–Mary and Philip Nash

–Kevin Notrica, in memory of Dr. Solomon and Kerry Notrica

–Susan Pack

–Edward Puga, in honor of Estella Puga

–Tim and Deborah Richmond

–Sara and Joe Rosenthal

–Beth Shenkman

–Melanie Smothers

–Rob and Teri Staniford

–Patricia Strait, in memory of Chuck Strait

–Judith Thiel

–Joan Van Hooten

–Wendy Van Sickle

–Jim and Suzan Wilson