Camp Kesem National

My story
Many of you know I went through breast cancer treatment back in 2013.  At the time, my daughters were three years old and 15 months old.  One of the promises I made to myself during treatment was I wanted to pay it forward to others after I was done with treatment.  Serving on the Kesem Organization's Boston Board is one of the ways I give back. 

About Kesem National and Camp Kesem
Kesem is a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders, that supports children through and beyond their parent's cancer. A program of Kesem, Camp Kesem operates free summer camps for children who have been touched by a parent's cancer. Founded at Stanford University in 2000, Camp Kesem has since expanded to over 100 chapters across the country.  Each year over 5,000 college students across 44 states run camps for over 10,000 kids between the ages of 6 and 18 who have been impacted by a parent's cancer.

I'm not just a Kesem board member.  Camp Kesem is personal too--my own daughters have attended Camp Kesem, so I can personally attest to the amazingness of Kesem.  

Annual Fundraising Campaign
Want to join me in making a difference?   I've set a goal to raise $3,000 for this year's fundraiser.  For every $5 donated, I'll do a pushup.  If I hit my $3,000 goal, that's 600 pushups(!). To keep me honest, I'll record every pushup as the donations come in.  

Need some additional motivation to donate besides helping a good cause?  Here are a few additional incentives:

1) You don't have to do any pushups!  You just get to watch me.

2) When I hit the halfway mark ($1,500), I'll setup every obstacle I have in my yard and run through my own obstacle course.  To up the ante, the backyard will likely be very muddy, so hilarity will likely ensue.  Yes, I'll document all of the fun.

3) If the $3,000 goal is achieved, every person that donates will receive a 30% discount to an Obstacle Fitness Active Academy program.   I'll send these out shortly after the end of the campaign.

Want More Info about Camp Kesem?
If you know of a family that is/has a parent who has gone through cancer treatment and you think they'd be interested in hearing more about Camp Kesem, please reach out!  I'm happy to share more info or invite them as my personal guest to the event.

Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

In 2015, our Alpha-Tau Chapter of the Chi Phi Fraternity lost one of our greatest brothers, Josh Brigham, who would have graduated in 2016. Josh dedicated his life to helping children with cancer. He was a counselor at Camp Kesem and was known to have an infectious smile and a big heart. Since 2016, our chapter has hosted a charity volleyball tournament in his memory to raise money for Camp Kesem and other pediatric cancer foundations.  Any donation you make is greatly appreciated. 


More information about Camp Kesem National: Kesem is a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders, that supports children through and beyond their parent's cancer. A program of Kesem, Camp Kesem operates free summer camps for children who have been touched by a parent's cancer. Founded at Stanford University in 2000, Camp Kesem has since expanded to over 100 chapters across the country.

Mackenzie has decided she wants to do a 50 Day Challenge. 50 5ks in 50 Days.....for Charity.

Camp Kesem is her charity of choice. 

There are over 3 million children in the United States who have been affected by a parent's cancer, many of whom live in Pennsylvania and the greater Pittsburgh area. Camp Kesem is the only national organization that serves these children, and Carnegie Mellon is proud to join the growing movement as one of over 80 chapters to hold camp this summer.

When a child's parent is diagnosed with cancer, they are forced to grow up far too quickly. In 2000, a group of students at Stanford set out to help this often overlooked community - they created Camp Kesem.

What is Camp Kesem?

Camp Kesem is a weeklong summer camp specifically for kids whose parents have or have had cancer - a week dedicated to having fun. to letting these kids just be kids.

Since 2000, Camp Kesem has grown into a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders on over 80 different campuses, supporting children through and beyond their parent's cancer. Camp Kesem's Stanford chapter continues to grow - and it currently serves 135 Bay Area campers every year!

Because of the financial burdens that cancer puts on families, Camp Kesem is completely free for the families. In order to provide this free week of camp, Camp Kesem Stanford raises over $150,000 a year, and this money is raised primarily by the 70 Stanford student volunteers.

A little bit about me!


My name is Garrett Celestin, and I'm a member of LinkedIn's Business Leadership Program and a recent graduate of Stanford University. I got involved in Camp Kesem during my freshman year at Stanford, and after my first year as a volunteer counselor, I was hooked. I was blown away by the transformative power that Kesem had for the campers - how this one week was something they looked forward to all year, how Kesem was a space where they got to play and imagine and be kids, and a place where they could cry and gather strength from the experiences of kids their own age, kids who understood what they are going through.

Camp Kesem was one of my favorite parts of my undergraduate experiences, and by far one of the most fulfilling. During my sophomore and senior year, I served as a volunteer coordinator, dedicating my year to helping put Kesem on. Much of my time was spent on fundraising efforts, so I saw firsthand how much work it takes to put camp on every year. That is why I created this campaign!

How you can help

If you are looking for a cause to donate to, I highly encourage you to consider Camp Kesem Stanford. The money that you give will go directly to creating a week of magic for a Bay Area kid who really deserves it - and I guarantee your money will make a huge difference in a kid's life.

How your money will be used

SUPPLIES: $10-$250
Support our campers with supplies we need at camp. Whether bubbles, snacks or paint, your donation will help us create the magic for campers of all ages.

PROGRAMS: $250–$500
With this donation, support an entire program rotation at camp: Arts & Crafts, Drama, Adventure/Nature, Science or Food. Help our campers create friendship bracelets, experiment with goo or connect with mother nature!

EXPERIENCES: $500-$1000
Provide our campers with unforgettable memories and experiences. Send campers to a team-building Ropes Course or support a teenager on their first outdoor backpacking trip. The opportunities are endless.

IMPACT: $1000-$5000
It costs $1000 to send a child to Camp Kesem for one week. With this donation, help us change the lives of bay-area children in need. Send a child to camp and support the counselors who dedicate their time and energy to Kesem each year.

MAGIC: $5000+
Help Camp Kesem grow. Support the expansion of programs and let us bring more children to camp each year.

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about the organization, check out the website here or feel free to contact me - I LOVE talking about Kesem.

Thank you so much!

This coming March, I will be running the 2017 LA Marathon in memory of Kathy Mae Goffredo. Kathy passed away at only 42 after a long battle with ovarian cancer, leaving behind her countless friends, her husband and her three children - Kimberly, Kristen and Jimmy. Kathy's son Jimmy has been like an older brother to me, and by extension, Kathy feels like family. 

In honor of Kathy and her family, all proceeds raised through this page will be donated to Camp Kesem (http://campkesem.org/). Camp Kesem is a nationwide organization that provides recreational camps for children who have a parent battling cancer. Kesem is the only national organization dedicated to this unique population, providing these children with a community of similar experiences, as well as a safe and welcoming environment to have fun and rediscover their childhood.

Donations are tax deductible and are being accepted through the race date of March 19, 2017. 

Thank you for supporting the memory of an amazing person. Lots of Love.