Help Kesem Stanford Make Magic!

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!