Four Long Beach philanthropists have contributed donations to send more kids to summer camps in nearby mountains.

Kevin Peterson, chair of the Long Beach Community Foundation board, and his wife, Jennifer, donated $20,000 to the Send-a-Kid-to-Camp fund started by the Press-Telegram and its sister publication, the Grunion Gazette, in partnership with the Community Foundation.

Mike Walter and his wife, Arline, donated $10,000.

The Petersons and the Walters are longtime supporters of the camp fund, which sends kids to nearby mountains 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 strongly believe in opening the door to enriching a summer experience for children who might not otherwise have the opportunity,” said Kevin Peterson, president and founder, with his brother Kent, of P2S Engineering Inc., a consulting engineering and commissioning firm.

“Jennifer and I were both fortunate to grow up with families who introduced us to the outdoors at an early age,” Peterson added. “My parents took us on camping trips throughout the western United States, often visiting our nation’s beautiful parks.”

He said he also spent many memorable summers on weeklong camping adventures through Scouting. Jennifer has especially fond memories of staying in tent cabins with her family in Yosemite, he said.

“Those experiences helped shape who we are,” he said. “They taught us an appreciation for nature, encouraged independence and confidence, and created memories that have lasted a lifetime.

“Every child deserves the chance to explore the outdoors, build friendships and create lasting memories,” Peterson added. “We are honored to support the Send-a-Kid-to-Camp program and help open the door to those life-enriching experiences for local youth.”

Mike Walter, meanwhile, said he and his wife want to help send as many kids as possible to camp.

“We are all for working to make Long Beach a better place to live for everyone.” he said. “Twenty to 25 years from now, these kids going to camp will be running the city of Long Beach. They will need to work as a team then. So we need to help them learn the value of teamwork now at camp.”

Mike Walter is dean emeritus at Cal State Long Beach’s College of Business and is a retired businessman with Levi Strauss and Co. Arline Walter has a master of business administration degree and a master’s in math. Mike Walter said he owes much of his success to going to a camp as a boy in Illinois.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not gone to camp,” he said.

He grew up in Albany, a small town in western Illinois across the Mississippi River from Clinton, Iowa, where he was born.

“I was raised by my grandparents and went to camp paid by the American Legion because we didn’t have a lot of money,” he said. “I learned so much in those camps: how to swim and do so many other things I would never have learned if I hadn’t gone to those camps. We helped each other along, just like we should do now.”

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

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

We invite you to make whatever donations you can to make a child’s dream come true — like it did for the Petersons and the Walters. 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. Long Beach Community Foundation Tax ID number is EIN-20-5054010.

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

Send a Kid to Camp – 2026

Weekly Total: $32,484.50

Campaign Total: $131,802.20 (through June 3, 2026; includes $30,000 matching)

Donors:

The Ansberry Family.
Frank Battung in memory of Aidan Rumbolz.
Jerry Bloeser in honor of Frank and Margie Newell’s 50th Anniversary.
Phil and Charlene Bosl.
Lee Brown.
Carol Burnight.
Greg and Shannon Burnight in memory of Larry Burnight.
Raff Chatam.
Gordon Cohn.
Francille Dailey.
Sandra Davidson.
June Desfor.
Diane Dilday.
Penny Flint.
Connie and Dave Forker.
Gina Foss in memory of Jane Scales.
Beverly Foster.
Sara Gayl.
Joseph Grillo.
Diane Hardy in memory of Laura and Phil Arnold.
Charlyn and Ronald Hoover.
Marianne and Bob Hughlett.
Joyce Inch in memory of Wilda Taucher.
The Inch Family in memory of Wilda Taucher.
Sandra Lex in honor of Frank and Margie Newell.
Christine Libeu.
Leonard Matsuk.
Long Beach Sportsman’s Club.
Jeanne McKay in memory of Sid Katz.
Mary Nan Meyer.
Craig and Colleen Miller.
William Milroy.
Keith and Cathy Muirhead.
Tommy Nerman in memory of Rickard and Ingrid Ankarberg.
Jane Netherton in honor of Frank and Margie Newell’s 50th Anniversary.
Suzanne and David Nosworthy.
Wallace and Donna Oxborrow.
Kevin and Jennifer Peterson in honor of Jean Bakke.
Lisa Rinaldi.
Sara and Joe Rosenthal.
Alan and Joyce Salz.
Larry and Lynn Schroeder.
David Shlemmer.
Karen Shulman.
Steven and Janet Szabatura.
Gayle Taggart in honor of Ron and Don Taggart.
Wendy Van Sickle.
Sandy VandenBerge.
Maryann Von Der Horst..=
Kathryn Wavell.