Funding cuts limit camp reach

Kerria Weaver

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY NETWORK

Charles House, Community Place receive far less aid than in 2024

Each summer the halls of Charles Settlement House and The Community Place of Greater Rochester welcome dozens of kids for their explorationbased summer camp program, but 2025 may be a little different due to widespread budget cuts and reductions in United Way funding.

Initially the Charles Settlement House and The Community Place of Greater Rochester were going to lose $815,000 in United Way funding for their family services programs, after-school programs and aging services. However, due to bridge funding from United Way, the agencies were able to receive a combined $567,000 in 2025 to soften the blow in these programs and to give them time to seek other funding.

The agencies summer camp program became one-year grants in 2024, ones where they applied directly to United Way for the funds.

Summer camps in Rochester NY

According to Erin Bombard, senior director of marketing and communications for United Way, in the past, summer programs had to apply through multiple applications to receive funding from local funders. In order to ease the process and enhance collaboration between funders, a common application was created this year through the Greater Rochester After-School Alliance.

“Nine local funders, including United Way, were part of that common application process,” Bombard said in statement. “United Way selected summer programs based on their excellence in several areas, including academic performance, social emotional competencies, arts and recreation, trauma- informed care, ability to serve individuals with disabilities, regional representation, background checks, safety plans, and outcome evaluation.”

• Bombard further explained how United Way is the second largest funder of summer programs in the region and is supporting more youth and more programs than they did in 2024 – 30 programs and 3,800 youth in total.

• According to CEO of Charles Settlement House Scott Benjamin, the Charles Settlement House received funding from United Way and the Community Place of Greater Rochester also received funding from United Way as well as the Rochester Area Community Foundation.

• The total amount of funds they collected was $122,803, compared to the $285,000 they received in 2024.

To accommodate the lower funding, the camp has been re-designed and now combines staff from the Charles Settlement House and the Community Place of Greater Rochester. The agencies also reduced the number of children they will service this summer.

Scaling back summer programs

Tarlon Gibson, senior director of strategic initiatives for the summer camp program, said since the pandemic their numbers had decreased significantly going from 140 to an average of 95 to 100 students. Now they are scaling back to only 75 students across the two camps. “It’s disheartening, not that it caught us by surprise because United Way has been peeling back for some time, but we were surprised how big of a cut it was going to be and how many kids would be impacted,” Gibson said.

Summer Camp Counselor Shante Wallace also expressed how this news made her feel and what it means for kids who generally participate.

“It’s sad because a lot of children who were looking forward to the summer camp were affected by it. Compared to years before where we were able to take more kids, now we have to put them on wait lists,” Wallace said.

The program usually runs for eight weeks with two weeks of training for staff but this year it will run for six weeks starting July 7 through Aug. 15. It’s also an all-day program from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Porsha Roberts-Carroll is a supportive parent of the summer camp program as her three oldest kids, who have now aged out, participated in the program since first grade. Her three younger kids, who are now 7, 9 and 13, have attended the camp since kindergarten.

For Carroll this news is heartbreaking as many parents, such as herself, trust the program’s services and offers everything a parent would look for in a summer camp program.

The agency has also looked into other initiatives to make up for loss funds and have already passed the halfway mark of their goal.

Some initiatives include researching possible grants, sending an emergency appeal letter where people can donate or sponsor a kid and fundraisers such as their annual Tap Into Giving fundraiser.

Could businesses help?

Director of Development for the Charles Settlement House and The Community Place of Greater Rochester Apryl Calaci said the agency is looking for more businesses to collaborate with and has a few presentations set up at various clubs to speak to members.

“We also have an option for companies to sponsor the camp and have their name displayed on the back of our shirt,” Calaci said. “Alpha Omega Bookstore is featuring us for the whole month of June, so shopping there will support the camp. With the community’s help, I have no doubt we can reach our goal.”

When it comes to how important the summer camp is for kids Gibson further explained how their program is based upon the voice of the youth and what they want to do and see.

“They’re at an age where there’s so much emphasis on growing up fairly quickly and taking on so many responsibilities,” Gibson said. “This camp, that is fun and interactive, allows kids to be kids and I think that’s what really is important.”

– Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County. Get in touch at kweaver@gannett.com .