Wabash alumni gathered to help clean up a kids’ camp in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 11 alumni and friends helped clean and repair the dining facility at Camp O’Malley.
The Camp is run by the Youth Commonwealth in partnership with the Grand Rapids Police Department. Inner city youth, ages 6-16, attend the camp in the summer and study outdoor environmental programs and enjoy camping activities. The Camp’s goals include increasing self worth and empowerment for positive choices. (See photo album of the alums at work.)
The 11 Wabash grads, and one DePauw grad (Jay Fisher’s wife, Marty) along with eight members of the undefeated Kent City Girls Basketball Team (Kevin Brechting '00, is their coach and encourages his team to perform community service in addition to achieving excellence in basketball), five members of Grand Rapids City Middle School (Dr. Tim Conroy, Class of 1979, brought his two daughters along with three of their friends to satisfy some of their community service requirements) for a total of 25 souls attacked the projects.
The group cleaned the Camp's kitchen, dining room and porch.
"We accomplished improving the Camp, spent enjoyable and quality time with each other and with the youth who were helping, and came away with the thought: "Lets do something like this again next year," " wrote Fisher ’66.
The group stood out in the bright red Wabash t-shirts and Wabash Day shirts. They had great fun during a noontime cookout.
"There was a good across the board class participation from 1964 through to 2001," Fisher wrote. "Thanks to Jon Pactor for a great idea and countless hours of organization and encouragement."
In photo above: Sgt. mark Ostapowicz '92 suggested the Wabash men take on the Camp O'Malley project. He's working on the porch in this photo.