Campus News
February 27, 2018
Community Aquatic & Recreation Complex Partners with The Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation to support children and families
The Community Aquatic & Recreation Complex (CARC) at Garrett College recently announced a new partnership agreement with The Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation. The new agreement provides critically ill children and their families' access to utilize the facility's swimming pools, when Community Aquatic & Recreation Complex Partners with The Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation to support children and families staying in the McHenry area for respite housing.
"The decision to become a partner with The Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation was very easy to make. Swimming is one of those activities that children love and gives families a time to relax and enjoy themselves," stated CARC Director Steve Putnam.
"If we can give these kids and their families a fun-filled day in the pools, we are more than happy to provide the service," added Putnam. "We like to say that a ‘vacation is never complete until you have spent time swimming.'"
Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College's president, was pleased the college could have a role in providing this service.
"This was an easy decision for the CARC and the college," said Dr. Midcap. "Community service is a critical part of our mission, and I'm thrilled we could play a role in this effort."
For more than 20 years, The Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation, a non-profit organization, has been sending kids and families to the McHenry area.
According to the organization's website (www.believeintomorrow.org), The Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation provides exceptional hospital and respite housing services. Additionally, the organization believes in keeping families together during a child's medical crisis, and that the gentle cadence of normal family life has a powerful influence on the healing process.
There are eight respite housing facilities in beach and mountain location areas, operating year-round, enabling families the opportunity to get away, relax and reconnect together in the midst of a child's treatment and recovery.
In 2006, the first respite housing property was built in McHenry. This endeavor was met with such excitement, supported by an incredible community and amazing people that made this happen.
Katie Larkin, Director of Respite Housing, stated "We refer to the house in McHenry as the "work horse house" because we send a new family here just about every week of the year since there is so much to do year round in Deep Creek Lake."
Larkin continued, "When a child's treatment schedule allows, families can get away from doctors and hospitals and relax and just have fun as a family to renew themselves for the next step of their child's medical journey. Because of the area's popularity, we are currently building a second house right next door."
Since 1982, Believe in Tomorrow has provided over 900,000 individual overnight accommodations, from every state in the U.S. and more than 82 countries worldwide.
