My Nonprofit Reviews
Stepmom
Review for First Descents, Denver, CO, USA
After my first week as a volunteer at First Descents I almost felt guilty that I had taken away so much from my time at camp. I was supposed to be helping the participants, young adults with cancer aged 18-34, and they ended up changing my life. The participants arrived at camp and immediately jumped into the FD programming. Most campers arrived at camp ready for anything. Others were guarded, shy and not so sure about the whole kayaking as treatment program. The best part was that they all left empowered and ready to deal with whatever life had to hand them. They have inspired me to appreciate my life, not sweat the small stuff and most importantly, raise as much money for First Descents as possible. Over the past two years my husband has raised almost 200K for First Descents. Since my week at camp, I have taken on a number of admin. jobs for FD that I can do from my home in Maryland. All the volunteering I do for them is better than any sales commission that I have ever received. The feeling of giving back to this amazing organization is indescribable. The impact First Descents has on its participants is truly unbelievable. I feel lucky to be a part of the FD family.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the participants. Many of them credit FD with changing their lives, and helping them to continue to battle and beat their cancer. Changing lives is no easy task and FD manages to do this in a 5 day span. Even the most resistant participants leave renewed.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the feeling of belonging to a family. Not only the people I attended camp with, but other campers who I have met through my volunteering. We have all been touched in a way that bonds us as friends. And as soldiers fighting against cancer together!
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
indescribable. Energetic, warm, inclusive. They have the ability to teach kayaking and listen to the camper stories at the same time. Campers don't get pity, they get encouragement.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
send thousands of young adults with cancer to First Descents camps and change their lives. Young adults (18-34) have had no increased survivorship in the past 20 years. First Descents has been proven to cure participants.
Ways to make it better...
It could not have been better!! I do not have cancer, but I left camp a changed person.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
raising money. FD is a small grass roots organization. It needs money to raise awareness that young adults with cancer (18-39) is the most under served age group in the cancer world. And with more money they can offer camp to many more who will benefit
One thing I'd also say is that...
FD does an amazing job and the changes the organization has made in just the last year are unbelievable. I am so lucky to be a part of this organization. I would do just about anything to help them get the 10 million bucks. Just tell me or ask me!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
