Camp Sweeney is not just a summer camp, it's a way of living. Our goal is not only to teach campers how to manage their diabetes but also to instill in them the motivation to do so. 75 years of experience has taught us that it takes time to accomplish this goal. 18 days of forming healthy habits, instilling confidence, and building friendships allows the camper to return home with a renewed sense of self, strengthened by the knowledge they have gained and the relationships they have developed.
Camp Sweeney's biggest need is camperships or financial aid dollars for families in need. The actual cost of providing an 18-day camping experience for one child is $6,200. This amount is daunting to families, especially when the cost of raising a child with diabetes is so high. To help alleviate the financial burden, Camp Sweeney has reduced the tuition fee to $4,700 for a child to attend one session. Even with the reduction, half of our camper population needs to apply for financial assistance to attend. Financial aid is awarded based on annual income and the number of household members. In 2025, Camp Sweeney expects to serve 740 campers and provide them with over $1.5 million in financial aid.
Camp Sweeney’s mission is to build a family that can help to support campers through all of the highs and lows of Type 1 diabetes. We start by making the practices of good diabetic control normal, so every child is on a level playing field and no longer feels that diabetes makes them different. Campers are given opportunities to succeed and once they begin to achieve their goals at camp, they develop confidence in their own talents and abilities. We encourage campers to seek the good in themselves and each other, so they place value in virtue rather than the venial attractions of the world. As campers support one another over the course of a session, they build friendships that are based in service – friendships they can count on long past the end of the summer.
Organization name
Camp Sweeney
other names
Southwestern Diabetic Foundation
Causes
Health Care, Youth & Children
Operating Budget
$3,000,000 - $9,999,999
Counties Served
Collin, Dallas, Grayson, Rockwall, Tarrant
BIPOC Leadership
Executive Director/CEO
Address
8355 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 205