Our Journey Since 2019
Our charity was founded in March 2019 with a simple mission: to provide meaningful sports and outdoor experiences for children. We began with baseball and fishing camps in Rappahannock and Fauquier Counties, Virginia, before expanding into Maryland and beyond. Today, our vision is to offer mini-camps throughout the United States and internationally while remaining deeply committed to serving our local communities.
2019: Building the Foundation
Our first year was filled with growth, excitement, and new opportunities for young people.
Highlights included:
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Hosting several camps for children with special needs.
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Launching new archery and tennis camps.
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Offering hiking, fishing, baseball, basketball, and biking camps throughout the summer.
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Expanding our programming to include weightlifting and football camps.
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Hosting a soccer camp locally and our first international baseball camp in Jamaica. The camp was so successful that we were invited to return the following year.
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Organizing a Balloon Volleyball event at Culpeper Health and Rehabilitation Center, bringing children and seniors together for a day filled with laughter and connection.
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Successfully completing our second football camp.
2020: Persevering Through a Pandemic
Like many organizations, our plans were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, we continued serving youth whenever possible.
Highlights included:
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Hosting several international camps early in the year.
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Providing outdoor camps locally while following all recommended safety guidelines.
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Publishing our first children's book, Prava's Steeplechase Adventure. We were especially proud that many of our charity participants contributed the illustrations. The book's success inspired future publications.
2021: Expanding Our Reach
In 2021, we broadened our definition of youth to include the "young at heart."
Highlights included:
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Launching our weekly Seniorcize program at the Rappahannock Senior Center, where we formed many lasting friendships.
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Organizing a hiking excursion at Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve.
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Partnering with Boy Scout Troop 180 of Warrenton, Virginia, to provide spring cleanup services at Willing Warriors in Haymarket.
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Publishing our second children's book, The Story of Capo Kane, again featuring artwork created by participating youth.
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Sponsoring an equestrian camp at Grovespring Farm in Culpeper, where children learned horse care and riding basics.
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Providing weightlifting and baseball camps for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi.
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Partnering with the Caroline Family YMCA to bring campers to Jumpin Jax Farm for equestrian experiences.
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Hosting golf putting and chipping instruction with Chris Russell.
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Offering volleyball clinics with Coach Courtney Atkins.
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Sending backpacks and school supplies to children in Jamaica.
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Conducting multiple fishing camps.
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Hosting an Introduction to Equine Horsemanship program at Foxfire Farm in Maryland.
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Offering a cheerleading camp led by Coaches Stacey and Tommy Whitt and their team.
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Hosting a frisbee camp at Belmont Racetrack.
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Providing a baseball camp in the Dominican Republic along with much-needed equipment donations.
2022: Growth Through Service
As our programs expanded, so did our impact.
Highlights included:
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Publishing our third children's book, Nelly Needs a New Jockey.
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Partnering once again with the Port Maria Police Department in Jamaica for another successful baseball camp.
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Celebrating one full year of Seniorcize classes and continuing to grow the program.
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Sponsoring a tennis camp for 20 children at Ace to Deuce Tennis Center in Jackson, Mississippi.
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Donating 30 pairs of athletic shoes to E.W. Wyatt Middle School and establishing partnerships with local schools for future sports programming.
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Teaming up with St. George's Episcopal Church to provide a multi-sport camp for children in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Partnering with community leaders in Bristol, Tennessee, to host another successful multi-sport camp.
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Conducting a shoe drive that provided 50 pairs of shoes to children at Epworth Children's Home in Columbia, South Carolina.
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Receiving a grant from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, allowing us to host monthly fishing events from April through October.
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Launching a youth mentoring program in Rappahannock County.
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Hosting Team Quest—Greater Manassas Youth Project for a day of archery, baseball, and fishing.
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Organizing community service projects where camp participants assembled and distributed care packages to truck drivers during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.
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Partnering with the Charles Town Racetrack Chaplaincy to host a Christmas party for backstretch children and families
2023: Mentorship and Community Impact
2023 was a year focused on education, mentorship, and expanding opportunities.
Highlights included:
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Launching a tutoring program for children whose parents work on the Charles Town Racetrack backstretch.
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Continuing to mentor youth in Rappahannock County through service projects, sports camps, and community activities.
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Hosting another successful volleyball camp with Coach Courtney Atkins.
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Partnering with local volunteers to offer a volleyball clinic led by members of the Rappahannock High School volleyball team.
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Working with Second Chance River Ranch to provide a memorable experience for children from Uvalde, Texas, including encounters with exotic animals.
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Beginning our third year of Seniorcize at the Rappahannock Senior Center.
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Hosting a picnic and fishing outing for local seniors, assisted by several of our mentored youth.
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Awarding two scholarships to graduating seniors from Rappahannock County High School.
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Sponsoring football camp scholarships for five deserving youth in Jackson, Mississippi.
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Hosting fishing events and games for Team Quest participants.
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Conducting mini sports camps for the Headwaters Foundation Summer Camp.
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Partnering with Emmanuel Baptist Church in Port Maria, Jamaica, to establish an after-school community learning center with internet and computer access.
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Supporting a youth soccer league at the Kyangwali Refugee Camp in Uganda.
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Providing kickball camps for children in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
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Partnering with imatternow.org and Hartford Hills Farm near Baltimore for equine and fishing experiences.
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Supporting the Uvalde High School football team.
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Hosting a book signing event for The Story of Capo Kane at Parx Racing.
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Assisting with a three-day camp at the Saratoga Summer Enrichment Program for children of Saratoga Race Course workers.
2024
As we continued to grow our programs and partnerships, we remained focused on creating opportunities for youth, supporting seniors, and expanding educational resources. Additional highlights from 2024 will be added as we continue documenting another impactful year.
2025: Expanding Opportunities
Our programs continued to thrive both locally and internationally.
Highlights included:
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Beginning our fifth year of Seniorcize at the Rappahannock Senior Center in Castleton, Virginia.
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Hosting seniors for a picnic and fishing outing at Narmada Winery in Amissville, assisted by several of our mentored youth volunteers.
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Organizing an additional picnic and fellowship event at Rappahannock County Park featuring food, games, and bingo.
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Partnering once again with Coaches Courtney Atkins and Jimmy Swindler to provide a successful volleyball camp.
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Donating four computers and a printer to the after-school learning center at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Port Maria, Jamaica.
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Providing six computers to Pastor Newton in the Dominican Republic to establish a new after-school homework and technology center.
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Returning to Saratoga to provide sports camps and activities for youth living within the backstretch community.
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Hosting a successful golf clinic at Schoolhouse 9 Golf Course.
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Awarding a scholarship to graduating senior Justin Fernando Lopez of the Saratoga backstretch community.
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Hosting Teen Quest participants for fishing and sports activities at Northern Fauquier Community Park.
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Providing a three-day sports camp for children at Parx Racing, including a special race named the RTCA Sports and Spirit Camp Sprint.
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Partnering with Kids Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to offer four days of sports programming.
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Serving as an MVP Sponsor of the Beyond the Court Basketball Camp in Camden, South Carolina, which welcomed 125 youth participants and included sneaker giveaways.
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Hosting a two-day equine and fishing camp for children from imatternow.org at Hartford Hills Farm near Baltimore.
Looking Forward
As we continue to grow, our commitment remains the same: providing opportunities for children to learn, grow, stay active, and serve their communities while building meaningful connections across generations and around the world.
2023
The kids from imatternow.org had a great equine and fishing camp outside of Baltimore which was hosted by Hardford Hills Farm. They didn't let a little drizzle stop them. They learned how to fish with old fashioned cane poles, learned about equine maintenance and even got to ride. They also had a hand at designing a custom jockey silk. The owner will pick one to be their farm silks
We had a unique opportunity to work with Glenn Staack and have a fun outing for the children of Uvalde, TX. They came out to his Second Chance River Ranch to enjoy the countryside and view free roaming zebras, giraffes and other exotic animals.
We hosted a fishing and picnic outing for our Seniorcize friends.
Kids we are mentoring helping out at the Senior Center.
Wakefield volley ball clinic led by Rappahannock volleyball team volunteers.
Coach Courtney Atkins and a few of her current girls volleyball players provided another successful volleyball camp to girls interested in the sport.
Collaborate to Educate our Sons (an amazing charity) honors T.C. Williams with the Bridge builders award!
Tutoring at the Charlestown Racetrack Backstretch.
2022
The Jamaican kids did not want to stop playing ball! We partnered again with the Port Maria police for another successful baseball camp.
Successful shoe drive for the Edward W Wyatt Middle School in Emporia, VA. 30 pair donated by our gracious donors.
This is our third published children's book, written by Hadden Frost, a grand prix rider.
2021
After hearing about our first published children's book, we were approached by the owner of the Derby contender, Capo Kane, to write another children's book. The Story of Capo Kane was birthed. We are so proud to have many of our charity participants illustrate this book. All of our books are available for purchase on Amazon.
The Willing Warriors is a wonderful cause in the Haymarket area that supports our military. We joined with Boy Scout troop 180 to provide spring clean up.
It is such a privilege to lead this Seniorcize class weekly.
Great group! Darcey, who leads this site is amazing!!!
It was a perfect crisp day for a hike at the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve.
2020
'Prava's Steeplechase Adventure' is a divinely inspired book. Created, written, illustrated and published within 90 days. We LOVED all of the pictures drawn by the kids which makes the book even more inspiring.
All funds donated toward this book that were not used in publishing as well as all royalties from the book are donated to T.C. Williams Youth Sport Camps and the Steeplechase Injured Jockey's Fund.
How a children's book was born!
Fishing camp had an extra visitor...the rain. Everyone still enjoyed catching fish.
We were able to get in a couple of biking camps. Nice to be outside. John Zampino volunteered his time to help work on bikes if needed. We had a few kids learning to ride without training wheels! One lucky participant even got a new bike after she mastered biking on her own.
The Kinross Farm tour was fun and informative. Beautiful horses in a beautiful stable. Lindsay treated us to a jumping demo in an amazing indoor arena. Thank you Skip & Diane for your generosity in hosting.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to Annie Bourke, Aylor Racing Stable, Horse N Hound, and Saddlery Liquidators/Haymarket. Because of their generous donations of equine equipment, the Turf Club Cape Verde Riding Camp (islands off the west coast of Africa) was able to host a free camp. Plans are in the works for a week long day camp to teach kids about horses and agriculture.
The horse camp, hosted by the Foleys at a beautiful facility, was a smash hit. The children learned basic horse care, basic barn maintenance, rode horses around the ring and enjoyed a dip in the pool. Many thanks to our generous hosts, Allison & Tom!!
As the health restrictions relax a bit, we were able to have a small hiking event. On the path we saw several box turtles and learned about a Yurt! A picnic by the Jordan along with practice baseball hitting was a pleasant close to the event.
The encore camp in Jamaica occurred in February and was a smash hit! They are expanding the program to include a new parish and a Sport week. This will also include the first ever Parish against Parish baseball game hosted by us.
This year began with baseball camps in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
2019
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