ADA SPORTS EQUIPMENT

We are happy to announce our second grant of $50,000 to Camp Amerikids on behalf of the recommendation by The National's Bryce Dessner.

Camp Amerikids provides a traditional camp experience for those youth who are infected with or affected by HIV / AIDS. Red Hot grants funded food, nutritional supplements, infirmary supplies, property & equipment rental, creative workshop supplies, insurance, administration & transportation for the children to and from camp, cultural / educational activities in NYC and week-end skill building retreats.

Camp Amerikids also offers year-round “Leader-in-Training” activities to former campers.

In 2010, Red Hot learned that Camp Amerikids was on the verge of closing down due to a lack of funds. So in July 2010, Red Hot wired an additional $25,000 to the camp. Thanks in part to this grant, Camp AmeriKids has been able to continue its year round support services, and will welcome 250 campers to its program this summer!

Executive director, Gaby Moss, wrote us:

"Because of organizations like Red Hot, we can continue to bring strength and joy into the lives of the children we serve. Coming to a place where they can feel welcomed, safe and supported is invaluable. As one of our youngest campers said on the first day of camp last year 'I’m so happy to be home again.'"

Provided by ARA and cooked by Dale Bishop's Pig Pickin'

One of my favorite photo journeys from summer 2011 was actually unintended. I had a completely different destination in mind when I got lost within a few blocks of my house. I stumbled upon a deserted playground (the temperature was in the high 30s, Celsius, and the denizens of the upper middle class were huddled inside with their air conditioning and big screen TVs). I popped the Lensbaby onto the camera and spent the whole afternoon photographing the playground equipment. It was the most fun I had had with a photo trip since Iceland in spring 2010. It was nice to play around without taking anything seriously and to think outside the box with some very different (and colorful) subject matter.

When afternoon turned to evening and the heat of the day broke, the Trophy Wives ventured to the playground with their Special Snowflakes. Suspicious eyes followed my every move; this odd girl with a huge camera could only have malevolent intentions toward little Maddysyn, Trustyn and Ryker. The fun had evaporated. I retrieved my sandals from the park bench before the little brats could steal them and hoped my cell phone had enough battery power to guide me safely home.

This was all over the playground equipment. Thank God Emma and Lexi didn't ask about Jenny's Penis because I don't know Jenny and I certainly have never seen her penis.