Updates from Board Chair Matthew Denenberg, June 2023

Hello supporters and friends of North Star Reach:

As we promised earlier in this process, we are committed to sharing regular updates with our camp and local communities to ensure you are all able to come along with us on our journey to returning to camp. Today, we are excited to update you on the progress we are making in creating long-term sustainability in delivering life-changing camp experiences for our campers and families.

Camp Leadership Updates

We recently welcomed new board member Dan Craig who is already rolling up his sleeves. Dan serves as the President of Hatch Stamping, a leading local industrial manufacturing company in Michigan. Dan is a Michigan native who has served on the boards of many wonderful organizations. Dan had previously served on the North Star Reach board, and we are thrilled to welcome Dan back to the NSR team at such a critical time.

We have also elected Board officers and positioned key committee chairs: Vice-Chair Sheri Mark, Treasurer J.J. Lewis, Secretary me, and Chair of the Governance Committee Anna Maiuri. Many thanks to all for your dedication and support!

Fundraising Progress and Opportunities

We are thrilled with the outpouring of support from our friends and supporters in Michigan and around the country. More people are joining our critical efforts to raise the financial resources needed to return kids to camp in 2024 and ensure their campfires are burning for many years to come. In April, our community of supporters met an important $100K match challenge offered by SeriousFun Children’s Network by donating $100K in cash and pledges. We are so immensely proud and thankful to all the Board and the executive team who have invested, and we are especially grateful to Masco, SAY Detroit, Domino’s, and others for donating funds to earn the match.

Now we have another unbelievably valuable opportunity in front of us. SeriousFun has offered another crucial investment of support. If we can raise another $100K by the end of June, they will provide an additional $100K match to assist in the Camp’s rebuilding efforts. Right now, we have two ways that you can help us meet this match:

• You can donate (any gift counts) or a three-year pledge HERE. Yes – SeriousFun will count pledges as a qualifying match opportunity!
• Share the information about this opportunity with your friends and networks and help inspire others to give (spreading the word is key and helps raise awareness).
• Reach out to David Leckey, interim CEO, if you know of an individual, corporate, our foundation donor that might be interested in hearing more about this match from the leadership team.

Thank you in advance for any support you can offer in helping us reach this match!

That is all for now, but we hope our updates inspire you to help Keep the Campfires Burning at North Star Reach. In the meantime, please reach out to David at david@northstarreach.org or Matthew at mdenenberg@northstarreach.org if you have any questions or ideas.