Kesem at UW-Madison is a student-run, year-round support system for children impacted by a parent’s cancer, with our largest flagship program being Camp Kesem, where we host three weeks of free summer camp. We are one of 137 campus chapters supported by Kesem National, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a tax ID number of 51-0454157. There are currently no other camps, supplemented with year-round support services, offered in the Madison area to ease the fear, anger, guilt, and sadness associated with experiencing a parent’s cancer. Our summer camp offers kids the unique opportunity to have a week of carefree (and free of charge) summer fun by participating in engaging and inclusive activities that allow first-time campers to get comfortable with camp and returning campers to bond further. As a whole, the kids have the opportunity to engage in a week of fun, let their true selves shine, and gain strength from their peers who face similar day-to-day challenges. 

Kesem at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was founded in 2010 with 16 campers and has grown exponentially since. This past summer was our first chance to get back in person with our incredible campers, after hosting two summers of entirely virtual summer programming. These three weeks of camp were a truly magical experience for our campers and counselors alike, and the love, support, and strength we felt is unlike anything else in the world. Beyond this, in 2022, Kesem at UW-Madison supported over 200 campers year-round, through: 

Kesem Special Deliveries, where we mail birthday and support cards to campers;
Kesem By Your Side, a supportive opportunity we offer to campers throughout the year to meet with counselors;
Friends and Family Day, in which counselors and camper families can reconnect during the fall, winter, and spring. 

In addition to giving children the chance to be a kid again, Kesem at UW-Madison is made possible by passionate college student leaders; in 2022, more than 150 volunteers gained valuable leadership experience through their dedication to Kesem and its mission.

We can use your help!

In hopes to increase the number of campers and families Kesem supports, we aim to raise $100,000 at our 2023 Make the Magic Gala. The cost of year-round support for one of our campers is $1,200, and since all of our services are offered free of charge, we rely greatly on our community partnerships to help us in our mission of supporting children through and beyond a parent’s cancer. 

Our annual Make the Magic event is a gala dedicated to sharing Kesem’s unique mission and impact with community members. We are currently looking for items for our silent auction at the event. We would be honored to work with you to make this event even more successful with the help of your donation. All proceeds are directly used to fund our year-round programming that supports children through and beyond a parent’s cancer. As a special marketing incentive, we will be printing QR codes for business websites of all silent auction donors to be presented along with the items.