Board of Directors’ retirement gift to Operation Shoestring

Project Rise, a popular summer day camp in Jackson, Mississippi run by Operation Shoestring, challenged kids to try new things and make lasting memories.
As school bells ring once again in Jackson, Mississippi, you might think summer camp stories are a distant memory.
But for about 175 kids who attended Operation Shoestring’s Project Rise summer day camp, the good times feel like yesterday, as campers reflect on what they did over the summer break.
“Going on the water slide was one of my favorite activities,” said Angel, who is nine years old and in the fourth grade. “At first it was scary because it was so big,” she described while stretching her arms up to the sky. “But I was one of the first to try it out, and it turned out to be fun,” Angel concluded with a big grin on her face.
“I also took a cooking class and learned to make pancakes,” Angel continued. “We made them from scratch and not from a mix that you buy at the grocery store. They turned out good!”
The camp, open from mid-June through July, provided campers in grades kindergarten through six with plenty of playtime and educational activities in a safe and caring environment. Many of the students also attend the organization’s after-school program, so it was important for camp counselors and teachers to have activities geared to summertime experiences.
“Our teachers and camp counselors plan activities that are age-appropriate and designed to keep kids excited about learning to avoid the summer slide,” said Alexandra Melnick, Operation Shoestring communications director. “Campers conducted experiments related to STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math—and explored interesting places around Jackson, like the Medgar Evers home. They also made art, had book-reading goals and enjoyed plenty of playtime each day. After all, it is summer camp!”
A little help from friends
This year, thanks to a $50,000 gift from the Cadence Bank Foundation, given in honor of retiring Cadence Bank board member Alan Perry, the camp experience was enhanced even further. The donation provided bus transportation for the entire summer session, gave each child three books to keep and read, and paid for two portable “smart boards” that continue to make the classrooms even more engaging. “The field trip buses were the hit of camp!” shared Pam Franklin, Operation Shoestring program manager. “Thanks to having bus transportation, every camper got a few sessions of swimming and water safety lessons, which the organization, 100 Black Men of Jackson, Miss., provided.”
“Adding water safety lessons this year was important to camp leadership and parents,” said Franklin. “According to government statistics, Black children ages 10–14 are seven times more likely to drown in swimming pools than their white peers.”
“Many of our campers don’t have access to affordable swimming lessons, yet access to apartment pools, lakes and rivers is abundant in our community,” Franklin continued. “These lessons won’t make our campers gold medalists, but we’re making sure our kids are safer and more confident in—and around—the water.”
The teamwork continues
Cadence Bank and its predecessors have collaborated with Operation Shoestring for more than 15 years. Executive Director Robert Langford appreciates Cadence’s ongoing support, which includes banking services, construction loans, contributions to capital campaigns and providing volunteers whenever needed.
Langford explains, “We want to help children succeed and empower families to make positive changes in their communities. Jackson is full of opportunity, and by working together—residents, businesses, leaders and organizations like ours—we can make a real difference.”
“Everything we do is about investing in our city—helping students succeed, supporting families, and building community in every neighborhood,” he concluded. “That’s why we’re here.”
If you’d like more information or to contribute, visit OperationShoestring.org. To find more information about Cadence in your community, visit CadenceBank.com.
Project Rise
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