Each year, Hillcroft embarks on its Ice Cream for Isanogel card sales to raise funds that support Camp Isanogel scholarships.  The Ice Cream for Isanogel cards are sold for $5 each and offer the purchaser buy one get one free offers for a year at 13 different local ice cream retailers.  The 2011 card sales have been driven by generous Hillcroft clients, volunteers and staff.  

Jerry’s Story:   How One Client Volunteered to Help
Jerry Smith has been a Hillcroft client for a short time.  According to Jerry “Hillcroft and all the staff have been a blessing to me. They have just been wonderful just wonderful!  I wanted to bless the children at Camp Isanogel so I sold the cards so they could go to camp.”  So with help from his staff, Carol Bolin, they hit the road and sold 50 ice cream cards in the amount of $250.  Jerry has set a goal for himself to sell 75 or 80 cards in 2012.  

LeAnn’s Story:  One Staff Member’s Passion to Impact Clients’
LeAnn Caldwell, a Work Service Trainer with Hillcroft’s Cannon Industries, explains what sparked her interest in supporting the Ice Cream for Isanogel fundraiser. “One day one of my clients came up to me. She said, “I get to go to camp!”  I said, “That’s exciting!” I started thinking of all the clients that want to go camp but can’t afford it. 

After thinking of the need she saw for her clients, LeAnn started calling her family and asking if they wanted to buy an ice cream card.  She then went to a couple of schools and they started selling them as well.  She sold cards at the ball diamond.  LeAnn states, “I couldn’t believe how easy it was!  I had one lady chased me down at the ball park to buy one.  She ended up selling them in her shop.  As the story goes,  the ice cream cards took on a chain reaction and continued to sell.  Each time a card sold my enthusiasm built and before I knew it I had sold 343 cards in the amount of $1,715! I feel in my heart that I fulfilled my goal for our clients to go to camp!”

Earl’s Story:  How One Community Member Volunteers to Impact Campers’ Lives
The last three years Hillcroft has had a community member that has gone above and beyond to support the Ice Cream for Isanogel campaign.  Earl Dillon has sold $15,750.  That is 3,150 cards in the last three years. When asked why he has such a passion for Hillcroft he said,  “It’s a great cause!  We can get up in the morning with no difficulties.  I want to help people with disabilities to be able to enjoy their summer by attending camp.”

We All Scream for Ice Cream Cards:  How You Can Help 
To date, the 2011 Ice Cream for Isanogel campaign has generated half it’s goal of $20,000.  If you are interested in supporting Camp Isanogel Scholarships by purchasing  Ice Cream for Isanogel cards or sponsoring a camp a camp scholarship, please contact Brenda Williamson at 765-284-4166 or bwilliamson@hillcroft.org.

If you are interested in learning more about Camp Isanogel, please contact Elizabeth Piazza at 765-288-1073 or epiazza@hillcroft.org.