Cambria Makes Significant Donation
to Camp Courage

MAPLE LAKE, MN, November 11, 2024 – CambriaCares and the Camp Cambria^® Foundation are proud to announce their continued support of True Friends’ Camp Courage, a valued Minnesota institution providing life-changing experiences for children and adults with disabilities.

The Camp Cambria Foundation’s partnership with True Friends, the nonprofit organization that operates Camp Courage, began in 2014 when Camp Courage became the home of Camp Cambria^®, a summer program for children living with juvenile arthritis (JA). 

Earlier this year, Cambria and the Camp Cambria Foundation took the next step in Camp Courage’s legacy with the groundbreaking of a new Recreation Center. This $17.7 million, state-of-the-art facility is designed to meet the diverse needs of campers with varying disabilities. It features a temperature-controlled, zero-entry pool; a large gym for performing arts and sports; and modern gathering spaces built to serve generations of campers. 

Camp Courage and the new Cambria Recreation Center are designed to empower campers to thrive and gain independence through a wide range of physical activities and artistic pursuits, all made possible by these incredible facilities. The Cambria Recreation Center is scheduled to be completed in early 2026.

“Thousands of people of all ages and abilities will gain independence and confidence while having fun in the new Cambria Recreation Center,” said John LeBlanc, CEO and President of True Friends. “We are deeply grateful to the Camp Cambria Foundation and its supporters. Their generosity has been instrumental in making this project a reality.”

The $17.7 million fundraising campaign for the project includes $10 million in support from the Minnesota State Legislature, along with a $2.5 million donation from the Camp Cambria Foundation, which helped launch the private fundraising efforts. Additional funding was generously provided by the Sundet Foundation, the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, and other philanthropic partners. 

There is still more to be done, and we encourage everyone to consider supporting Camp Courage in your philanthropic efforts in 2025 as the project progresses. Camp Courage is dedicated to helping individuals in need of opportunities to grow and thrive in their lives. 

“We appreciate all that is Camp Courage; truly a Minnesota treasure, and we are proud to be a part of their mission and its success in helping people with disabilities,” stated Christina McCormick, Sr. Director of Philanthropy at Cambria. “We also thank our many generous donors who support our Camp Cambria Foundation work. Their charitable, gracious hearts help make such support possible. Special recognition goes to the many volunteers who bring camp to life with a unique human touch that makes Camp Courage so impactful in changing lives.” 

Site preparation for the recreation center began in September 2024, with construction slated to begin this winter. Once complete, the new 26,600-square-foot facility will replace a 50-year-old building, introducing fully accessible, modern amenities to meet the needs of current and future campers.

In 2018, through the CambriaCares philanthropic initiative, the Camp Cambria Foundation donated $2.2 million to a major renovation of Camp Courage. This project included upgrades to the dining hall, medical building, and arts and crafts center, with improvements such as the installation of an elevator in the dining hall, updated HVAC systems, remodeled bathrooms, a redesigned kitchen, and enhanced medical and nursing facilities. 

The Camp Cambria Foundation’s total charitable contributions to just the Camp Courage facilities, now reach $4.7 million. 

Camp Courage, founded in 1955, serves more than 25,000 individuals annually across Minnesota and the US, offering a safe, inclusive environment for people with disabilities. In addition to their core services, Camp Courage has supported a variety of specialized camps, including: 

• Camp ROCK: Supporting children with celiac disease
• Camp Discovery: Supporting children with autism
• Camp Avanti: Supporting children with learning differences
• Camp Oasis: Supporting children with Crohn’s disease and colitis
• U.S. Power Soccer International Family Camp
• MDA Camp: Supporting children with muscular dystrophy
• Camp Sweet Life: Supporting children with juvenile diabetes
• Therapy and Adaptive Riding: True Friends equine assisted occupational therapy
• Respite Care Camps
• Camp Cambria: Supporting kids suffering from juvenile arthritis

These programs align with CambriaCares and its Camp Cambria Foundation mission to inspire kids to explore their potential, build self-esteem, and achieve beyond limitations. 

About the Camp Cambria Foundation

Founded in 2014, the Camp Cambria Foundation has provided millions of dollars in funding to support philanthropic causes. Cambria is grateful to its many corporate partners and private donors whose generosity over the past decade has made a lasting impact on the lives of countless Minnesota children and their families. These efforts have helped foster the ongoing growth and support of children and teens facing life-changing challenges. Additionally, the Foundation has amassed more than 5,000 volunteer hours through various philanthropic events over this past decade plus. 

About True Friends/Camp Courage

True Friends is a nonprofit organization offering life-changing experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities. Their programs, which include Camps, Respite Care, Retreats, Therapy and Adaptive Riding, and Travel, serve over 25,000 individuals annually. With locations near Maple Lake, Annandale, and Eden Prairie, True Friends supports individuals in Minnesota and across the US.