The Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation announces that it has received a leadership grant from Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s foundation, Eat. Learn. Play., to help ensure no family is turned away from Oakland’s Town Camp this summer due to inability to pay.
“Last July, when we launched Eat. Learn. Play., we set out to help improve the lives of kids and families in Oakland and The Bay Area, a community that has welcomed us in with open arms,” said Stephen and Ayesha Curry. “We are so proud to continue our ongoing work with the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation to ensure that local families have access to Town Camp. These resources help kids find the physical, social and emotional support they need to stay healthy at a time when it is most needed.”
As a response to urgent financial need during the COVID-19 pandemic, the scholarship grant extends Eat. Learn. Play.’s sustained support for Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development’s Town Camp, which this summer includes masks, water bottles, t-shirts and sack bags for all attendees, snacks and daytime meals. This commitment furthers Eat. Learn. Play.’s efforts to help the Oakland community since the start of the pandemic. To date, Eat. Learn. Play. has provided more than 5 million meals in partnership with the Oakland Unified School District, Alameda County Community Food Bank, and World Central Kitchen.
“It’s inspiring to see the Curry family helping to look out for our kids during this public health crisis,” said Mayor Libby Schaaf. “Having financial support to keep kids safe, active and engaged at Town Camp removes a significant worry for many Oakland families this summer. We are grateful for their contribution and their compassion.”
Even in normal times, a majority of kids attending Town Camp require financial assistance. This year, family finances are stretched further as COVID-19 has left many unemployed or facing workplace health risks, limited childcare options or diminished financial resources.
“During this season of uncertainty, Town Camp is about telling kids that they are valuable and instilling in them some hope,” said Nicholas Williams, Director of Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Development. “Support from Eat. Learn. Play. ensures that this important message will reach as many kids as possible.”
Individual and corporate donors are invited to join Eat. Learn. Play. by making additional financial contributions on the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation Youth Scholarship page. Families may apply for scholarship support through their local Town Camp recreation center.
“We fundraise each year to provide equitable access to Town Camp,” said Ken Lupoff, Executive Director of the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation. “Having the benefits of camp shouldn’t come down to a family’s ability to pay, especially not this summer.”