Barton Center for Diabetes Education Purchases Camp Joslin

Aug. 31, 2010 - PRLog -- OXFORD, Mass., August 31, 2010 – The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc. and Joslin Diabetes Center announce today that The Barton Center has purchased Camp Joslin, a camp for boys and young men with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. The Barton Center, which operates the nearby Clara Barton Camp for girls and young women with type 1 diabetes, will undertake a capital campaign to pay for improvements to Camp Joslin. The majority of the funds for the purchase came through an unrestricted grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

“This is a unique opportunity to integrate our educational programs and bring value to both camps and the children they serve,” said David P. Kowal, Chairman of The Barton Center.  “We will immediately begin raising funds to improve the infrastructure and educational programs at Camp Joslin and Clara Barton Camp.”

The Helmsley Charitable Trust, through its Type 1 Diabetes Program, provided an unrestricted grant in the amount of $1.5 million toward the purchase of Camp Joslin. In addition, the Helmsley Charitable Trust has provided the Barton Center with a $291,210 grant as part of its 2010 pilot grant initiative to provide camperships targeting low-income youth to attend its summer and day camps.  

“The Helmsley Charitable Trust is deeply committed to providing funding for type 1 diabetes research, but we also never forget that there are people who need help living with this disease right now,” said Dana Ball, Program Director of the Helmsley Type 1 Diabetes Program. “Our visits to the Clara Barton Camp and Camp Joslin have made apparent the incredible experience these camps provide for children living with diabetes. We are happy to provide this grant to support these programs that so clearly improve the quality of life of those affected by type 1 diabetes.”

Camp Joslin is located in Charlton, MA.  The camp’s programs include a summer resident camp serving approximately 400 boys with insulin-dependent diabetes each year, in addition to co-ed wilderness programs and other co-ed programs in the winter and spring.  The Barton Center’s year-round camp, retreat and conference center serves 2,000 children and their families annually. Barton’s programs include the Clara Barton summer resident camp for girls, co-ed day camps, co-ed adventure camps, family camp and numerous co-ed and family programs in the fall, winter and spring. Both camps have a long heritage of camping and outdoor activities, combined with diabetes education and support for children with diabetes. Camp Joslin and The Barton Center are accredited and consistently meet or exceed the strict standards of quality set forth by the American Camp Association and other licensing and accreditation organizations.  

“For almost 70 years, Camp Joslin has provided a highly rewarding experience for children with diabetes, who leave camp with memories of fun times with new friends and with a better understanding of diabetes,” said Kenneth Quickel, Jr., MD, Joslin President and CEO. “The Barton Center has done a superb job running Camp Joslin for the past two years and we are confident that, under Barton’s ownership, the camp will become even more successful in the coming years.”

The Barton Center has managed Camp Joslin since 2008. Camp Joslin and Barton’s Clara Barton Camp have jointly operated a highly successful winter camp program at the Barton location for the past four years. Camp Joslin will continue operating under its own name during a yearlong transitional period.  The two camps will remain at their current locations, which are three miles apart.

Anyone interested in contributing to Barton’s capital campaign can contact The Barton Center at 508-987-2056x102 or lynn.butler@bartoncenter.org.

About the Barton Center
The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc. (www.BartonCenter.org), a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, offers a powerful support system to children and families with insulin-dependent diabetes by providing numerous year-round education, recreation and support programs. The organization runs resident camps, including Clara Barton Camp and Camp Joslin, day camps, family camps, adventure/wilderness leadership programs and year-round weekend programs.

About Joslin Diabetes Center
Joslin Diabetes Center is the world's preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization. Joslin is dedicated to ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives and offers real hope and progress toward diabetes prevention and a cure. Founded in 1898 by Elliott P. Joslin, M.D., Joslin is an independent, nonprofit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School. For more information about Joslin, call 1-800-JOSLIN-1 or visit www.joslin.org. Keep up with Joslin research and clinical news at Inside Joslin: www.joslin.org/news/inside_joslin.html. You can friend Joslin on Facebook at www.facebook.com/joslindiabetescenter and follow on Twitter at twitter.com/JoslinDiabetes.

About The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (www.helmsleytrust.org) was established in 1999 after many decades of philanthropic giving by Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley. The Trust is administered by five trustees selected by Leona Helmsley. As a continuation of Mr. and Mrs. Helmsley’s generous giving throughout their lifetimes, the Trust supports a diverse range of organizations with a major focus on health and medical research, in addition to programs in human services, education and conservation.

# # #

Kowal Communications provides results-oriented public relations services primarily to financial service, professional service and healthcare clients.