Press Release

For Immediate Release

Us Foundation Summer Camp for Local At Risk Teens
August 23-27, 1999

Violence, drugs, and the detailed media coverage of the worst humanity has to offer are making growing up in America more frightening and confusing than ever before. Helping at risk teenagers from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties discover and experience positive new ways of living is the primary goal of the Us Foundation Summer Camp to take place at Camp Whittier in the Santa Ynez Valley August 23-27, 1999. This is the second year Us Foundation is organizing and operating a summer camp in cooperation with many other local groups.*

All Us Foundation's work with teens is based on the idea, "It's your life, you get to Choose." Each morning the teens will participate in a self-development or practical living skills workshop of their choice and then enjoy the balance of the day engaged in all kinds of recreational activities centered around personal accountability and learning. Along with swimming, jewelry making, music and computer science, the teens will enjoy and learn by taking part in hiking, drama classes, art, archery, ropes courses and nature activities. Evenings include musical events, storytelling and presentations by motivational speakers.

Ongoing follow-up events are planned for the months after the camp to reinforce the lessons learned in the experiences the teens take home from camp. Our entire staff is made up of volunteers and all Us Foundation activities are led by volunteer experts from the local and world-wide community. This whole camp experience was totally supported by charitable contributions and volunteer efforts.

Us Foundation is actively engaged in the transformation of individuals and groups into a responsible and collaborative global society. We take action to reach this goal by sponsoring and organizing events, workshops, working forums, and camps. We use and promote a variety of activities assisting people of all ages to integrate the mind, body and spirit for the creation of a satisfying and peaceful way of life.

The foundation was organized in 1996 around the idea that, "There is only us, no them." Although the foundation is physically small, our reach is global. We use our relationships with other organizations, leveraging our management and creative strengths to organize and bring into reality the events and projects we sponsor.

*Among the collaborators in this year's camp are: City at Peace, Boys & Girls Clubs Inc., Santa Barbara Housing Authority, Strengthening Families, Planned Parenthood, Women's Economic Venture, La Casa de Maria, Santa Barbara Youth Programs, along with over 75 individual volunteers and many commercial organizations.