Our Mission:At our core, we are driven by the mission…
Our Mission:
At our core, we are driven by the mission to provide unwavering support to children navigating the challenges of their parent’s cancer journey and beyond. Our commitment is realized through the implementation of innovative, fun-filled programs that not only uplift but also cultivate a lasting sense of community.
Our Activities:
- Friends and Family Day:
Immerse yourself in the warmth of camaraderie at our Friends and Family Day—an extraordinary event tailored for Camp Kesem campers. Set against the backdrop of Yale’s campus, this day offers a perfect opportunity to reunite with familiar faces, forge new friendships, and engage in a plethora of activities. From games and sports to team-bonding exercises, the day is brimming with joy. Our dedicated volunteers, including both returning and prospective Camp Kesem counselors, are instrumental in creating an atmosphere where laughter and connection thrive. - Giving Tuesday:
Step into the heartbeat of Kesem’s largest fundraiser—Giving Tuesday. This event is not just about fundraising; it’s a vibrant showcase of our commitment to making a difference. Our presence on campus is marked by engaging fundraising events and community activities that transcend the ordinary. Every penny raised during Giving Tuesday is a step towards our goal of ensuring that Camp Kesem remains a haven, accessible to all campers without any financial barriers.
Student Leaders:
Meet the passionate leaders steering the ship:
- Melanie Nguyen: Co-Coordinator/Co-President
- Shea Hinojosa: Co-Coordinator/Co-President
- Victoria Gasca: Co-Coordinator/Co-President
Together, we are united in our dedication to creating a supportive and empowering environment for children facing the challenges of a parent’s cancer journey. Join us on this impactful journey of resilience, compassion, and community building.
Mission
To support children through and beyond their parent’s cancer with innovative, fun-filled programs that foster a lasting community.
Student Leaders
Brooklyn Brauner – Co-Coordinator/Co-President Nick Bhasin – Co-Coordinator/Co-President Aaron Abrams – Co-Coordinator/Co-President
Activities
Friends and Family Day Direct Service Once a semester, we bring our campers to campus to reunite with each other and our counselors. Kesem Mixer Direct Service This is a social event to give members the opportunity to get to know one another outside of camp activities. Kesem Mixer Direct Service This is a social event to welcome new members to the Kesem community. Outreach to campers, donors, and community partners Direct Service Because we aim to put on a free camp for all campers (over 130, with camp costing ~$500 per camper), we rely heavily on support from community foundations, sponsors, and individual donors. To maintain and steward these relationship for future years, we send personalized updates and thank you cards to larger and corporate donors. Our Through and Beyond programming also supports campers as they navigate the parents’ diagnoses – we send care packages, birthday cards, and other personalized support to campers throughout the year, especially during notable events (parent’s first diagnosis, treatment milestones, parent’s passing). Our main community partners is Infinite Strength (nonprofit serving single mothers with metastatic breast cancer), whose conference we volunteer at each semester. Friends and Family Day Direct Service Friends and Family Day (FFD) is a reunion event where campers and counselors will reunite for a day of fun, games, and camp spirit! The event will be held each semester on Yale’s campus. Infinite Strength Direct Service Camp Kesem at Yale sends counselors to provide childcare so the conference attendees do not have to worry about their children. Friends and Family Day Direct Service Twice a year, we bring our campers to campus to reunite with their counselors and one another. This provides a great space for the kids to connect and grow with one another, and provides an excellent opportunity for our student volunteers to work with the parents on camp registration, health forms, and provide resources. The first Friends and Family Day will be held November 9th, 2025. Spring Friends and Family Day Direct Service Friends and Family Day is a time for our campers and their families to join us on campus to reconnect, complete camp applications for the upcoming summer, and participate in some of our favorite camp traditions. We host a wide variety of activities, including arts and crafts, sports, board games, and camp songs! Kesem Member Meeting Advocacy or Activism Members will be able to get to know others in the Kesem community, learn about our mission, and find out ways to get more involved with the cause. Camper Recruitment Advocacy or Activism Each semester, we steward and build community with our camper families by sending information via email and mail, including care packages and orientation materials. We also work constantly to spread the word of Camp Kesem at Yale and recruit new families. Kesem Member Meeting Advocacy or Activism Once a month, we hold a Kesem general member meeting to keep our counselor base informed and engaged. It will be February 27th from 8-9 pm. Kesem Member Meetings Advocacy or Activism Camp Kesem at Yale hosts monthly Kesem Member Meetings, open to the entire Yale undergraduate population. These meetings are a time for Kesem leadership to update on any big events or fundraisers coming up, share information from Camp Kesem National, and train our volunteers. Kesem Member Meeting Advocacy or Activism Members can attend this meeting to get to know others in the Kesem community, learn more about Kesem’s mission, and find out how to get involved with our chapter. Weekly Coordinator Board Meeting Advocacy or Activism These are meeting that we host for the entire board to discuss plans for the upcoming week – service events, member meetings, and our progress towards planning camp. Counselors Training Advocacy or Activism Every year, we host a two-day, in-person counselor training for all Yale undergraduates selected to serve as counselors for the upcoming summer. Make the Magic Fundraising Gala Fundraising The Kesem at Yale Make the Magic Gala is our annual chapter fundraiser, which helps us reach our mission to positively impact the lives of hundreds of kids. This year, Make the Magic will take place on Saturday, April 5th, from 6-9pm at the New Haven Country Club and will be a night of drinks, dinner, dessert, and great company. Beyond contributing to our fundraising efforts, Make the Magic is an opportunity for the Kesem at Yale constituency to come together and share our mission with the greater community. The event is expected to attract many attendees, including members of the Yale, New Haven, and greater CT communities. Camp Kesem Fundraising Banquet Fundraising In collaboration with the South Asian Society, Camp Kesem at Yale will host a fundraising event at the Dwight Hall Common Room before Dhamaal ? the largest intercollegiate cultural showcase. By presenting Kesem’s mission to Yale students, we aim to reach our $140,000 annual fundraising goal. Giving Tuesday Fundraising To generate funding for camp this summer, our counselors and volunteers will gather on a day to generate money through completing dares and other tasks. We hope to raise $40,000 this day. Springsgiving Fundraising Springsgiving is our spring version of Giving Tuesday, and is often our last fundraising push in the fiscal year to reach out $140,000 fundraising goal. We host multiple power hours, an alumni call-a-thon, and a 5k color fun run. March Madness Fundraiser Fundraising This fundraiser will work to fulfill our $115,000 goal for the year, which allows us to send 140 kids whose parents have or have passed away from cancer to summer camp free of charge. Giving Tuesday Fundraiser Fundraising GivingTuesday, often stylized as #GivingTuesday for the purposes of hashtag activism, is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It is advertised as a “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world”. GivingTuesday is one of Camp Kesem at Yale’s biggest fundraising days of the year, with individual fundraising, corporate sponsors, and local business support. All proceeds go towards our one-week summer camp that is free of charge to families whose parents have or have passed away from cancer. Last year, we fundraised $40,000 on GivingTuesday. Weekly Coord Meetings Research & Public Policy Analysis We hold weekly coord meetings to track fundraising, counselor training, and camper recruitment progress.
How Others Get Involved
Interested members can join our mailing list, come to our weekly family dinners on Tuesdays at 6pm in the Davenport dining hall, or attend our monthly Kesem Member Meetings (KMMs).
Mission
Engineers Without Borders is a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life. This partnership involves the implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineers and engineering students.
Student Leaders
Zoe Martonfi – Co-Coordinator/Co-President Kevin Su – Co-Coordinator/Co-President
Activities
Outreach for Engineers Without Borders Sanitation Project in Bolivia Direct Service Engineers Without Borders is tasked with creatively solving the issues that less fortunate communities face in acquiring basic living necessities. The organization works to build partnerships with communities, empowering them to coordinate with EWB chapters to pursue community ownership of sustainable projects. In our case, it is the construction of latrines for a sanitation project in Machacamarca, Bolivia. Our chapter has been familiarizing itself with the community. Through our sanitation project, we aim to alleviate the living constraints that burden the community. Overall, we hope to further Dwight Hall?s mission by solving societal issues and establishing long-lasting connections with communities. Milford Community Garden Chicken Coop Direct Service As a mini project for the semester, the Yale EWB chapter will work with the local Connecticut chapter to design, build, and establish a chicken coop for the Milford Community Garden! The eggs from these chickens, along with the other produce grown, will be given to local food banks! EWB Machacamarca Assessment Trip Direct Service Currently, we are working on a sanitation project in Machacamarca, Bolivia! A team from our EWB chapter plans to travel to this village in the Summer of 2026 to conduct an assessment trip to gather baseline data (e.g., soil and water quality) to inform project planning and ensure that our proposed solutions for hand washing stations and latrines are appropriate and feasible for the environment. This assessment trip is necessary for us so that in the upcoming Fall semester we are able to begin designing and building our items as well as fundraise for any additional costs that were found from the journey.
How Others Get Involved
– Join our mailing list – Join the Slack – (Spring 2026) General Meetings every Tuesday at 8pm at the CEID – Email ewbyale@gmail.com
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