Save The Camp Ranch

Hello, my name is Chase I'm fundraising for legal fees to help my mother save our family ranch in Dulzura CA. "The Camp Ranch" also known as "Camp's Grove". This ranch has been in our family for over 100 years. 3 generations of our family's ashes are spread here and she is the 4th generation to live on and work this land.

Our family has long been a pillar of the local community. For many years my great grandfather and in turn my grandfather hosted large "come all" BBQ's on our ranch to raise funds for the community. These funds went to maintaining our local resource center which serves this community in many ways including; acting as a place of refuge and resource during wildfires that often threaten our area, donating school supplies to under privileged families, providing a forum to the community board for locals to voice concerns and help neighbors in need, ect. I mention this because my mother and step-father have since taken on these responsibilities. My mother is the 3rd generation of our family to be on the community board, which governs and maintains our community resource center. Needless to say a threat to our family ranch is also a threat to our community.

We are a modest working class family and always have been. My mother like so many of our family before her strives to be a generous neighbor, even when times are hard for us as well. In addition to supporting her community, she has worked tirelessly to support her family and bring life back to our land. Our ranch is not only home to our family, but its also home to a large variety of animals. Horses, goats, pigs, donkeys, dogs, cats and of course a roster. Many of whom are rescues, as long as I can remeber our home has been a refuge to those in need; humans and animals alike.

5 years ago my grandfather (mother's father) passed away, leaving the family legacy to my mother. Unfortunately in the wake of his passing numerous unfortunate events decended upon us. Shortly after his passing a truck crashed into our family ranch house. This house is over 100 years old, 5 generations of my family have lived and continue to live here. After the crash my mother and step- father pulled themselves up by their boot straps and pain-stakingly undertook the long and monotonous process of preserving our family home. How they managed? I will never know. It was a prime example of their unwavering resolve, and a testiment to their character. Always doing what needs to be done and never complaining about the responsibility. This was just one of many unfortunate events that have plagued my family in recent years. The most unfortunate of these events is why I'm here.

Roughly 60 days before my grandfather died our family trust was amended, giving his 3rd wife the rights to everything. My entire family was shocked because this contradicted the previous trust as well as the wishes he expressed while he was alive. He wanted my mother to inherit our ranch just as he did and his father before him. Fortunately my great aunt (grandfathers sister) shared ownership with him and before she died, generously gifted her half ownership of the property to my mother. Now my grandfather's widow is suing my mother for partition of the property to force a sale. This would displace my mother, step father, 82 year old grandmother and all of our beloved animals from our ancestral home; in addition to ending over 100 years of family heritage. Heritage my grandfather's widow does not share or seem to value.

We are going to fight because we are Camps and we were raised to fight for what's right. But this fight is expensive and as I said we are a modest working class family. My mother is a school teacher, she worked with special needs children and now teaches 2nd grade. (Her dream job). A wonderful pursuit but one of modest means. My step-father is semi- retired and works part time as a logistics manager. Also a modest living. My family always takes on more than their fare share and never asks for help. Well, almost never. I am asking for help in their stead because weather it be pride or sense of responsibility, they will not ask. But we cannot afford this on our own. Please help us fight to save our family heritage, and preserve a pillar of this local community.

Any and all funds will go directly to my mother. Any help is greatly appreciated! At the very least thank you for taking the time to read our story. God bless you and God help our family.