Kentucky State Elks Association

Kentucky Elks' Major Programs

The Kentucky State Major Project is Kids with Cancer. This is a project which will aid families with children affected by cancer. The Kentucky Elks are raising funds to help support two camps on both the east and west sides of the state. Camp Quality and Indian Summer camps both provide a week of fun and relaxation for children who are dealing with grown up problems. In addition to these camps, the Kentucky Elks Association supports Lifeline for the Elderly. Lifeline is a system which obtains help for older and ailing people who may become suddenly disabled and require assistance.

Camps: Mission and Purpose

The Kentucky Elks support two summer Camps for Kids with Cancer. Camp Quality and Indian Summer, both camps are free of charge to the campers.

The mission of the Kentucky Elks Associations State Major Project, "Kids with Cancer," is to provide pediatric cancer patients, with a recreational camp experience that allows them to enjoy 'just being a kid' without the restrictions normally associated with their disease and treatment. The camps focus on the values that Elks members support including: citizenship, family values, team work and responsibility, community and giving, respect, fairness, and tolerance. It is the belief that each camper will hopefully leave camp with a life-enhancing experience and a concrete example of the "Elks Care, Elks Share" philosophy.

The Kentucky Elks Kids with Cancer Project also provides necessary equipment and services, in the absence of an outside funding source, that enable the independence of these patients.

Camp Quality

Camp Quality Kentuckiana is a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to provide a week long camping experience and year round support vehicle to children with cancer and their families. The week of camp and our various support activities are provided free of charge to the children and their families.

The goals of the camp:

• To create stress-free environments that offer exciting activities, foster new friendships, and give children courage, motivation, emotional strength, and hope.
• To give the families of children with cancer a much needed rest, knowing that the highest quality programs will be selected and the finest medical supervision will be provided to ensure a happy, fun, and, most importantly, safe camping environment.
• To pair each camper with his/her own caring companion so that the special experiences of the camping week can be shared and to further expand the camper's support system.
• To give our campers hope for the future in that the camping experience will be such fun, they will look forward to and anticipate the next camp, and that the memories from their special week will sustain them in the weeks and months ahead as they continue their medical treatment.
• And last, but not least… TO LET KIDS WITH CANCER BE KIDS AGAIN!

Camp Quality Kentuckiana is part of an international network of 55 Camp Quality camps in 19 countries and 15 camps in 11 states in America.