A New Reason for Jessica to Smile

Jessica always has a smile on her face. Even after her three older brothers were sent to live with relatives and she was living with her mother in the family car, she cheerfully showed up at the Boys & Girls Club of Tustin. It wasn’t until her mother told the club’s staff that anyone knew what the family was going through. Jessica, who’s 8, continued to earn good grades, cheer up her family and help around the club, even when she was homeless.

This summer, Jessica will have a chance to play, and be taken care of, instead of watchfully taking care of everyone else. She’ll be among the 75 children the Tustin Boys & Girls Club hopes to send to its youth camps. The Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Program will donate $7,500 this year to help the club provide camperships.

Each year since 1954, readers and employees of the Los Angeles Times have sent thousands of needy children to camp through The Times Summer Camp Program. This year, the McCormick Tribune Foundation will match the first $1.2 million raised at 50 cents on the dollar.

It costs an average of $150 for a child to spend a week at summer camp. Checks should be sent to: L.A. Times Summer Camp Campaign, File No. 53401, Los Angeles, CA 90074-3401. Credit card payments also can be made by calling (213) 237-5771. Please do not send cash. All donations are tax-deductible.

It is the policy of the Los Angeles Times and the camp program to maintain and promote a culture of nondiscrimination and inclusiveness.