Friendly Towns Memories: 20 Years and Counting
The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns program has touched the lives of many, creating lasting bonds and cherished memories. Friendly Towns alum Barbara Starkes first visited the Walker family Read More
May, 2024
May, 2024
Camp Mariah Alumni Spotlight: Ngozi and Ibraheem
On May 16th, The Fresh Air Fund celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Camp Mariah at the annual Spring Benefit at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. Fresh Air Fund alum and Board member, June Ambrose, hosted Read More
April, 2024
Then and Now: Friendly Towns Forever
Vasaune, 18, first visited the Walsman family in Maplewood, New Jersey, in 2012. Over the summers, he has made many special memories with his host brothers, William, Riley and Murphy. He has also Read More
February, 2024
Our Fresh Air Experiences: Friendly Towns Alumni Share their Stories
In February, The Fresh Air Fund hosted the annual Friendly Towns Conference and welcomed volunteers, host families, staff and alumni to The Fresh Air Fund’s Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill, NY. Read More
December, 2023
#FreshAirForever: From New York to Connecticut to Georgia, A Bond That Will Last a Lifetime
Summers with Friendly Towns are an incredible opportunity to explore a new environment and discover new interests. For many participants, it is also an opportunity to create relationships that wi Read More
October, 2023
From Camp to the Classroom: Fresh Air Alum Becky Chen’s Journey in Education
Becky Chen was just ten years old when she left her home in Queens for two weeks to attend The Fresh Air Fund’s Camp ABC. Despite understandably feeling nervous about being away from her family Read More
April, 2023
Meet Fresh Air Alum: Matthew Diaz
Matthew Diaz from the Bronx was nine-years-old when he first visited the Weir family from Ramsey, New Jersey in 2010 through The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns Program. For the next seven summ Read More
February, 2023
Meet Fresh Air Alum: Victoria Lee Jones
Victoria Lee Jones first started her Fresh Air journey in 1997 at the age of eight when she visited the Rousell household in Malone, New York, as part of The Fund’s Friendly Towns Program. Duri Read More
January, 2023
Then and Now: How One Summer Became a 20 Year Friendship
Curtis Brown first visited the VanGelder family from Mashpee, Massachusetts, at 6-years-old, through The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns Program. “I saw them hanging out with a si Read More
November, 2022
Where Passion meets Purpose: Meet Shariff Bukari
“I remember the first time I went to Camp Mariah. Picture a 10-year-old boy who had never spent time in the wilderness before and there I was getting off a bus at camp. It was the first time I Read More
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