For 50 years, Amici Camping Charity has built leaders by providing life-changing summer camp experiences to at-risk kids from the Toronto area. Last summer, over 250 kids attended one of 35 partner camps in Ontario and learned hard and soft skills that will help them succeed in life and become leaders.

Amici has grown from a $400,000 annual budget in 2012 to $870,000 in 2015, doubling both its donation revenue and number of donors. In a few short years, Amici has introduced a major giving program, has engaged the next generation of donors and has replaced eight fundraising special events with one signature event that aligns with the mission. In Amici’s Canoe Heads for Kids 2015, over 130 participants portaged 58 canoes over seven kilometers through Toronto’s Financial District and paddled another seven kilometers along the waterfront.

Beyond sending more kids to camp, the success of the fundraising program has given Amici the confidence to look at new partnerships and consider different programming paradigms. It has rejuvenated the organization, inspired donors and encouraged staff and volunteers to re-imagine their role in offering leadership to youth as Amici heads into its next 50 years of building leaders at camp.

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