The Fresh Air Fund Celebrates Friendly Towns

For nearly 150 years, the Friendly Towns program has connected children from New York City with volunteer host families in rural, suburban and small-town communities, giving them the chance to experience life outside the city. The program has had a lasting impact, creating joyful summer memories for thousands of children and fostering meaningful relationships. 

Honoring The Memories and Legacy of Friendly Towns 

The Fresh Air Fund has made the difficult decision to no longer offer the Friendly Towns volunteer host family program, in order to focus resources on our thriving summer camps and year-round enrichment programs. 

To honor the legacy of Friendly Towns and celebrate the children and families it served, The Fresh Air Fund hosted a block party at the Reverend T. Wendell Foster Recreation Center in the Bronx, generously hosted by SCAN-Harbor, the largest youth service provider in Harlem, East Harlem and The South Bronx. 

At the event, we had the opportunity to speak with families, volunteers and children about their experiences and the memories they’ll carry forward. There were also fun carnival games, face painting, bounce houses, cotton candy and a live mariachi band!  

Impact Across Generations  

Loretta Cruz began her Friendly Towns adventures in 1994. “I went until I was about 16 years old. I went to Orleans, Massachusetts in the Cape Cod area,” Loretta said.  “My experience with Friendly Towns showed me an entirely different view from what I was used to as a child in the city. I gained experiences and saw things I didn’t see on an everyday basis in New York City. I got to meet a great family that I’m still in contact with today. It means everything to me to be here today and to celebrate this amazing program. I went there, my siblings went there, and my kids went there. It has impacted my entire family for the better.” 

Jennifer Lenfest and her husband Bob were a host family from 2014 to 2020.  “We’ve hosted Kadiatou since she was 9 years old, and now she’s 20 years old. She visited every summer. We’ve also come to New York City to help chaperone the buses for Friendly Towns,” Jennifer said. 

“It’s great that we’re celebrating the Friendly Towns program. It’s a very special program and has made a huge impact on so many people’s lives. Not just the children, but also the host families and volunteers. We’re extra happy to see Kadiatou after all these years!” 

Kadiatou’s favorite summer memories were camping and fishing. “The Fresh Air Fund taught me that the world is larger than just New York City. The Friendly Towns program allowed me to visit Maine and see what life is like there. It opened my eyes to new things and new skills,” Kadiatou said.  

Maria Aponte credits her positive summer experience with the Friendly Towns program in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1965 for inspiring her current role as pastor of a deaf church. “One of my Friendly Town sisters was deaf, and the other was hard of hearing,” she recalls.  

“The Fresh Air Fund provides such great opportunities for children, and being here today makes me feel like I’m reliving my childhood!” 

Richy Herrera, who performed alongside his band Mariachi Huella Mexicana, attended Friendly Towns for two summers. “Performing with my group was a great experience because this is a program I attended as a child, and I’m honored to be able to perform and bring joy to its closing.” said Richy. “My Friendly Towns experience helped me realize that connections are important.” 

In addition to families reconnecting and enjoying a day out in the sun, The Fund hosted a t-shirt design contest won by camper Shiloh, inspired by her own experiences as a Friendly Towns alum. 

We’re grateful to the more than 350 attendees, volunteers and families who joined us to celebrate the Friendly Towns program. It was a special day full of honoring old memories and making new ones.