We provide financial support to organizations that introduce Philadelphia area youth to new experiences in the great outdoors.
The Dana How Social Services Fund has a long history of providing financial support to non-profit residential camps and outdoor programs in the greater Philadelphia area so that more young people can participate.
In 2023 the Dana How Social Services Fund provided financial support to two new camp operations, Camp Jamison and Discovery Pathways. Both serve minority youth from communities in Philadelphia. We look forward to continuing that support for summer programming in 2024 and beyond.
For more than a decade the Dana How Social Services Fund has supported College Settlement Camps in Horsham, PA. In 2023 we expanded our support to two new camps, Camp Jamison and Discovery Pathways. The camps, in turn, have focused on delivering unique camp experiences to young people from across the greater Philadelphia area. Dana How Fund scholarships have made it possible for scores of young people to attend camp that otherwise might never get the chance. We collaborate with the camp and other outdoor programs that shape the lives of young people by instilling respect for self, others and our natural world.
Recognizing the incredible toll street violence is taking on Philadelphia’s youth, the Dana How Fund is currently reaching out to other camping and outdoor programs to pave the way for more city-based young people to attend.
Although there is no one answer the problem of violence in the streets, one approach is to get the city’s youth out of harm’s way. Getting kids out of the city and into the outdoors, if even for just a week or two, yields tremendous benefits:
For decades, Dana G. How was the director of the Christian Association at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His focus on providing services for the underserved and his love for the outdoors inspired him to establish University Camps in Green Lane, PA. His dedication inspired several of his colleagues to create the Dana How Social Services Fund, continuing his legacy long after his passing.
The Dana How Social Services Fund is directed by its Allocations Committee, a group of experienced professionals from various backgrounds. One thing the committee members have in common is years of service to the very camps Dana How created. The strong and long lasting relationships they developed over the years inspired them to continue the important work Dana How began decades ago.
Thanks to the support of our donors, we were able to provide a scholarships to help cover the costs of tuition, books, and living expenses. This allowed our very first student to focus on their studies and graduate with their degree.
Join our newsletter to stay up to date on new updates