Amazing Start to Kudzu's 2018 Summer!

A great start!

I'm excited to say that our summer has had a fantastic start! Session 1 (Teen Adventure) at Camp High Harbour was a fun-filled session with a combined 112 campers and Junior Counselors (JC), and we've started Session 2 at Camp Twin Lakes. You can see for yourself how great a time everyone is having:

We couldn't be more proud of our first official class and group of JCs who survived a busy week, undeterred and undampened by the rain. The week at Camp High Harbour served as an important part of the training process, and the JCs have shown themselves to be both impressive and dedicated to Camp Kudzu. New friendships and bonds were being formed even on the first day of camp, and it was incredible to see the impact that Camp Kudzu continues to have on these campers and our staff.

The Junior Counselor program is just one of the new focal points for our programming this year. Another new program, Kuzdu's Sharpest Lancet Award, represents our effort to deepen our educational programming and expand our focus on helping our campers learn critical diabetes management skills. To that end, our outcomes-based educational model will utilize data from pre- and post-camp surveys, and we look forward to sharing our insights with you.

For the first time ever, we are having three consecutive weeks of camp sessions. Our first week at Camp High Harbour is followed by two weeks at Camp Twin Lakes. Our programming staff and head volunteers have been doing an amazing job with the preparations for these three weeks, and their efforts are culminating in what is sure to be our best summer ever. Many thanks to these inspiring individuals, as well as over 400 summer volunteers!

-Rob Shaw
Executive Director

2017 Annual Report

If you haven't already read our 2017 Annual Report, click here to check it out!

Read the Report

Kudzu Cup Fore! Kids a success

Thank you to all the sponsors and golfers who supported the 14th Annual Kudzu Cup Fore! Kids golf tournament. The weather was beautiful, and we had an incredible time this year. There were many awesome golfers out on the course on Monday, May 21st, many of whom walked away with bragging rights.

FIRST PLACE: Steve Raber, Ellis Thorpe, Paul McCarthy and David Upton
SECOND PLACE: David Evans, Ben Burnette, John Rebol and Sean Conroy
THIRD PLACE: Medtronic Team
Longest Drive (Hole #9) Sponsored by Go Technology: Winner - Quincey Jones
Closest to the Pin (Hole #5) Sponsored by Milner: Winner - Russell Hulsey
Closest to the Pin (Hole #13): Winner - Billy Baer

Special thanks to Warren Carson and Country Club of the South for hosting our event again. We raised more than $66,000 to ensure children can attend camp this summer and learn to how to manage their T1D.

Special thanks to our Golf Committee: Scott Richards (Co-Chair), David Evans (Co-Chair), Andrew Sturniolo (Co-Chair), Warren Carson, Collin Hughes, Michael Kipniss, and Dan Thrailkill, and to our 2018 Corporate Partners: Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, Resurgens Orthopaedics, and WellStar Health System.

Click here to see pictures of the golfers in action https://www.magnoliagolfgroup.com/2018campkudzu from Magnolia Golf.

We look forward to seeing more players next year! In the meantime, on behalf of everyone at Camp Kudzu and the more than 800 kids participating in our programs this summer, THANK YOU ! Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to change lives.

To Tell Our Story...

By Kat Shreve
When we took a breath this past winter and reflected on 2017, we proudly compiled our successes and articulated them in written form in our annual report, appropriately titled More Than Just a Number. In that same reflected breath...

DONATE NOW

Save the Date

11th Annual

Co-Chairs: Mrs. Jan Studdard and Mrs. Melissa Zgonc

We are recruiting new committee members and volunteers. If you are interested in joining the luncheon committee or volunteering, please contact Doris Pierce-Hardy at [email protected] .

Honoring of the 2018 Camp Kudzu Ambassadors

Camp Kudzu is proud to announce our 2018 Ambassadors: Mindy Bartleson, Nicole Bernath, Julie Cortes, Erin Dever, Laura Gillespie, Caroline Graff, Brian Starks, and Zach Whigham.

You'll have the opportunity to get to know our wonderful new class of ambassadors in upcoming E-News issues! We cannot wait to honor these incredible examples of Camp Kudzu at the Annual Benefit Luncheon.

Kudzu spreads the word at Lions of Georgia Convention

Kudzu offers many thanks to the Lions of Georgia for allowing us to join them at their annual convention at Unicoi State Park on Saturday, May 19, 2018. It was a pleasure to spend the day talking about camp with so many kind and generous people. Additionally, we're thankful for the years of volunteer service and donations from many members of the Lions of Georgia group. Their gifts of time and scholarships continue to make camp a reality for children and teens across the state with T1D.

Session 1 Junior Counselors

Session 1 at Camp High Harbour on Lake Allatoona hosted teen campers as well as our first ever group of 21 Junior Counselors (JC)! The JCs, who are in their second year of Camp Kudzus Leadership Development Program, spent the week learning leadership and diabetes management skills that will help them transition into successful, independent adults and fantastic Camp Kudzu volunteers next year! We love our JCs!

Create the perfect summertime smoothie

By Taylor Dixon
My favorite part of summer is all the fiber-filled smoothies I enjoy drinking! They are a great chilled treat that can pack a bunch of great vitamins and minerals. Smoothies can be varied to include any fruits and flavors you want and can even be a way to sneak some vegetables into your food. Below are steps for creating your own smoothie.

GET THE RECIPE

Get ready for Camp Kudzu's new website!

We are incredibly excited to announce that, thanks to the help of the Epic Intentions Team from Georgia Tech, we have begun the process of fully revamping our website. Over the past few months, a committed team of Georgia Tech Students agreed to help with the refreshing new improvements. Our website will have a new look, feel, and be easier to navigate! More details are coming soon, with a launch later this fall. Kudzu wishes a big thank you to our friends at Georgia Tech!

It's not too late! Spots are open for Session 4, July 29-Aug 4 at Camp Barney
in Cleveland, GA

Contact Mandy Conroy, Registration Coordinator at [email protected] or 404-495-4863.

Email Mandy

Have questions about estate gifts?

By remembering Camp Kudzu in your estate plans, you are making a lasting commitment to helping educate, empower, and inspire children living with T1D. For more information about planned giving opportunities, please contact Doris Pierce Hardy.

EMAIL DORIS

2018 Kudzu Partners