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Our Double H Ranch Projects

A Camp for Children with Serious and Life-Threatening Diseases

Bear Hugs for Double H Campers

Over 800 "Bear Hugs" each year are given to Double H Ranch campers.  Double H, co-founded by Paul Newman and Charles R. Wood, is located in Lake Luzerne, NY.  The residential camp serves children 6 to 16 living with serious and life-threatening diseases.  Our "Bear Hugs" serve as a happy reminder of their wonderful camp experience throughout the year.

One young camper said it all: "The bears are filled up with love and happiness." 

The positive energy and warmth tucked into these bears extends well beyond campers who receive them.  Bear Hugs have a beneficial effect on the lives of many volunteers.  In the words of one of our knitters, "You will never know what making these sweaters has done for me."  Another of our knitters tells us that she "knits love into every stitch."  Volunteers, from senior citizens to school children, make each bear's sweater and hat.  Before any bear leaves, special hugs are given as it it dressed.  Children, residents in assisted living, and community groups fill our bears with their special hugs, love, and good wishes.  Through our "Kids Helping Kids" programs, children are given an opportunity to do help with projects that have a direct effect on the life of another child.

One Girl Scout said, "It's not every day kids get to help with something this important."

Max Yurenda, CEO and Executive Director of Double H  offered the following thoughts about the "Bear Hugs" project, "We take our business... providing an Adirondack adventure to children with serious and life-threatening illnesses... very seriously.  It is imperative that we identify ways to reinforce the spirit of the Double H Ranch throughout the year.  The "Bear Hugs" program is a perfect example of how love provides hope and strength for all of us involved in this important mission."

It is hard to imagine the pain and fear that a family experiences when they receive a diagnosis of cancer, leukemia, a serious blood-related disorder, a neuromuscular impairment or another life-threatening illness.  Double H Ranch exists to take away some of the pain and fear, provide hope, and put fun back into childhood for children who are in need.  For many children with a critical illness, much of their year is spent in hospitals and doctor's offices.  They miss out on the customary activities of childhood.  At Double H, an opportunity is provided for these kids to just be kids, under the watchful eye of a fully trained staff and medical team.

For more Information on Double H Ranch:  http://doublehranch.org

For more information and to download an application for the David J. Vanderzee scholarship, click on: Bridging People and Places Scholarship. 

Pictures of previous scholarship award winners are also accessible from this page.

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