For the 2023 summer, SGF approved $61,398.50 in summer camp scholarships to enable 15 children to attend a total of 74 weeks of summer camp at five different camps (34 weeks of which are in overnight camps).
On behalf of our generous donors and especially for these kids, THANK YOU!
Thursday April 27 marks the 22nd anniversary of the bus tragedy that took the lives of the four Newton middle school students – Greg Chan, Kayla Rosenberg, Melissa Leung, and Steve Glidden. All are invited to attend and participate in the annual “Circle of Remembrance” on April 27 at 6 pm — live in front of Oak Hill Middle School in Newton and virtually via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85272906597?pwd=Q1VyTjlEZWVRRy9rVGQyL3RLeHk5QT09
Feel free to bring something to sit on, a shoulder to lean on, and a bottle of water if it is hot outside. As in past years, you are welcome to bring along a poem to read, a song to sing, or something to say, should you feel so moved. Bring copies to share if you wish. Please follow reasonable and respectful local and state public health precautions to prevent COVID-19 transmission, including physical distancing and mask wearing as appropriate, to protect the health and safety of others.
Although Steve, Kayla, Melissa and Greg will be specifically remembered on this day, many others in Newton and beyond have lost family and friends at other times and in other tragedies. And of course, our hearts are anguished because of the ongoing horrors in Ukraine, and because of the awful toll of gun violence in the US. The “Circle of Remembrance” will be a time to remember others as well, in the company of those who care.
Here is a link to the We Remember booklet that was created for this event several years ago.
Everyone is welcome.
We raised $1,181.39 in our two day sale. It was hard, hot work but we met so many lovely people. Thanks so much to our volunteers:
For the Summer 2022 season, SGF approved $43,869.50 in summer camp scholarships to enable 33 children to attend a total of 129 1/2 weeks of summer camp at 6 different camps (69 1/2 of which will be in overnight camp). On behalf of these kids, THANK YOU!
Wednesday April 27 was the 21st anniversary of the bus tragedy that took the lives of the four Newton middle school students – Greg Chan, Kayla Rosenberg, Melissa Leung, and Steve Glidden. The annual “Circle of Remembrance” took place on April 27 at 6 pm — live in front of Oak Hill Middle School in Newton and virtually via Zoom. Please feel free to view a condensed (35-minute) version of the Zoom recording of the Circle and pass along to others as you see fit. The direct link to the Zoom (safe to click) is https://youtu.be/mIe5RkWqs-0.
COVID continues to break hearts and health systems in many parts of the world, but in the US, summer camps appear to be off to a robust season. SGF has been receiving new applications almost on a daily basis for children who want little more than a chance to be kids in a safe setting. Thus far (as of July 7), SGF has approved $53,509.30 in summer camp scholarships for 38 children who will be attending 208 weeks of camp, 118 of which will be in overnight camp. THANK YOU!
Goodness, 2020 sure has been a challenge. Please read SGF’s 2020 SGF Year-End Update and Annual Appeal
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted all of us in so many ways. Most children did not have an opportunity to attend summer camp, and spent the summer at home, coping as best as possible. As a result, SGF received far fewer applications for summer camp scholarship funding than in prior years, but we did manage to fund scholarships for five children who attended Camp Winona in Maine. A total of $30,600 was disbursed for the 2020 camp season. We sure hope for a return to normalcy or at least a defined “new normal” for 2021. Stay safe, everyone!
Monday April 27 marks the 19-year anniversary of the Oak Hill Middle School bus crash – the tragedy that took Steve Glidden, Greg Chan, Kayla Rosenberg, and Melissa Leung from their families, friends and futures. Nineteen years has felt like an eternity and at the same time, as the mere blink of an eye.
Because of the need to be physically distant (while remaining socially connected), our community’s annual “Circle of Remembrance” will take place virtually this year, via Zoom, on April 27 at 6 pm Eastern time in front of the device of your choice (laptop, tablet, phone, whatever). Despite these limitations, we will gather nonetheless — as we have done each and every year on this date — in love, resilience, and connection.
No “registration” is needed, and in fact, none is even possible because SGF is using Zoom’s “basic” account plan, which, while free of charge, is also somewhat limited. The basic plan also comes with a limit of 100 participants. For that reason, if you would like the login link, just drop a brief note to us at sgf@stevegliddenfoundation.org and we’ll gladly send it to you. We’ll do whatever we can to accommodate everyone.
In addition to serving as a remembrance for Steve, Kayla, Melissa and Greg, the Circle of Remembrance gathering has grown to honor the memories of others who are missed deeply. This year in particular, there are so many more whose memories we need to cherish, or who may be ill or in harm’s way. We will hold them all close.
This year, the Circle will also serve as an occasion to honor and thank Newton’s Mayor Fuller, other municipal leaders, and our amazing healthcare providers, first responders and essential workers. We are all so much safer because of their valiant efforts. Thank you all.
As you may know, the Circle of Remembrance has never followed a defined “program” or “service.” Rather, it loosely resembles a Quaker-style “Friends” meeting at which everyone is welcome, and anyone can participate. Accordingly, feel free to speak from your heart, read a poem, sing a song, or contribute in whatever other way you wish, should you feel so moved. If you prefer to be present yet remain silent, that is of course fine as well.
In prior years, those who were out of town, occupied, or otherwise unable to join us in person have sent letters, notes, emails or texts expressing their thoughts, sometimes with a request that their message be read aloud at the gathering. The silver lining this year is that all this is still possible, but for the first time, out of towners can join as well, as their schedules permit. Welcome back home!
Over the years, we have compiled people’s favorite passages into a booklet entitled “We Remember,” which we encourage you to download and use as you see fit.
Finally, if you are unable to join us on April 27, please take a moment to pause, reflect, and remember Steve, Kayla, Melissa, Greg, and the now tens of thousands of others we wish were still here with us, and to thank our beloved first contact responders and supporters for all they do for our community.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch should you have any questions. And. as always, we thank you for being there for and with us for all these years.
Final update from October 04-2019: SGF’s 2019 camp scholarship program broke through almost all of our previous records (all except the number of different camps attended by campers). In total, SGF approved $135,722.50 in summer camp scholarships for 83 children who attended 406.5 weeks of summer camp (132.5 of which were in overnight camp) at 19 different camps. The youngest camper we funded this year was just 3 years old, and the oldest was 18 (in a CIT leadership program). The exact age of one camper, who is a refugee, is unknown, but she appears to be a young teenager. Thanks for supporting our all-volunteer efforts, which, to date, have provided more than $1.25 million in summer camp scholarship funding!
