Agassiz Village Founded By Mr & Mrs Harry E Burroughs

Causes: Camps, Children & Youth, Sports, Youth Centers & Clubs, Youth Development Programs

Mission: Agassiz Village's mission is to "prepare kids for life's journey." For more than 85 years, Agassiz Village has inspired thousands of kids from hard-pressed New England neighborhoods to reach their full potential by replacing their neighborhood expectations with aspirations that lead to healthy, productive lives. Each summer, kids are removed from their "communities of poverty" and immersed in our summer camp environment in Maine where kids discover who they are now and who they can become through a social, emotional and leadership program. Agassiz Village continues its rich history inspired by its founder Harry E. Burroughs. At age 12, Harry Burroughs left Russia as a stowaway on a boat to America. He landed in Portland, Maine with no money and speaking no English. Harry walked barefoot to Boston and found work selling newspapers on a Beacon Hill street corner. With the help of some loyal and supportive customers, he got an education and became a successful lawyer. Burroughs committed himself to helping boys like him--boys with lots of potential and little opportunity-- become happy, responsible, contributing members of society. In 1926, he founded the Burroughs Newsboys Foundation and in 1936, Agassiz Village, a residential summer camp in Maine that allowed impoverished inner city boys to experience nature, swim in a lake, tend a garden, see stars at night, form lifelong friendships and relationships and learn necessary skills to help them be successful in life. Eighty-four years later, this 450-acre camp on Thompson Lake in Poland, Maine remains a life-changing refuge for at-risk youth. in 2021, we will start a new year round intensive program designed to help teens through high-school and graduate career/college ready.

Target demographics: children and teens from marginalized New England communities

Direct beneficiaries per year: 480 kids

Geographic areas served: Our mission is to prepare kids for life's journey

Programs: social, emotional and leadership skills building in a summer camp environment as well as a year-round program supporting teens through high school and college/career readiness.