CAMERON G. O'CONNOR FOUNDATION

The mission of the Cameron G. O'Connor Foundation is to sponsor programs that support the educational needs, athletic pursuits and emotional growth of the youth of our community.

~ LITERACY SUMMER CAMP 2007 ~

Campers

10 Scholarships to attend Literacy Camp !

In keeping with the mission of the Foundation “to support the educational needs of youth of our community”, the Board awarded 10 Arlington students scholarships for Summer Literacy Camp. This action exemplifies a goal of the O’Connors when they established the Foundation in Cameron’s memory.
Reading Specialists in all seven elementary schools in the Arlington Public Schools recommended students to receive the scholarships in order to attend the privately run literacy camp during August 2007, held at the Dallin School. The scholarships covered the tuition for two weeks of the literacy camp for these 10 students who joined several other students.
Taught by three Arlington teachers, the Summer Literacy Camp was based on a specialized phonics program paired with numerous opportunities for students to learn more about ocean life through reading. Each day students left after two hours of reading and writing surprised at the new knowledge they had gained and eagerly looked forward to the next day of camp. Student comments were: “Tomorrow I want to read about the horseshoe crab!” and “Did you know that a jellyfish can be as small as a penny or as large as an adult?” Using a theme of common interest was the secret in capturing the interests of students during the summer when they’re supposed to be “on vacation”. Besides getting them to read and write while reinforcing specific skills, the program gave these kids much needed reading practice and showed them that there are lots of fun things to learn by reading!
The Cameron G. O’Connor Foundation is proud to have sponsored these 10 students to support their literacy skills. Thanks to the continuing generous contributions of the community, the Foundation hopes to increase its scholarships to support literacy next year.

To make a contribution to the Foundation contact the Foundation at:
www.cgofoundation.com or cgofoundation@comcast.net

Campers

Campers

Congratulations to:
Michael Baker - Ryan Good - Kathryn Haviland
2007 Recipents of the
Cameron G. O'Connor Award

2007 Cameron G. O'Connor Award Recipents - Ryan Good - Kathryn Haviland - Michael Baker

There have been several students in the class of 2007 who embodied the rippling effects of which is the bases of the Cameron G. O’Connor Foundation.

Each of the nominations displayed kindness, compassion and character beyond their years. Its easy to be a stand-up person when things are good – it takes courage and character to be stand-up person when times are dark and unfamiliar at such a young age.

The CGO Foundation decided to share the Gift between the following three students.

Mike Baker – who wrote a 4-page letter to the O’Connor family in August 2006 sharing his personal feelings on how Cameron’s death affected him. The O’Connors knew Mike as one of Cameron’s LAX teammate; today, Mike has quietly involved himself in the Foundation. He captained a team of fellow students who walked and raised money for both the Samaritans and the Foundation. Mike now volunteers manning a suicide hot line with the Samaritans making a difference to people he doesn’t even know so that others won’t have to feel the pain of losing a friend –
Character – Leadership and a Humanitarian

Ryan Good – who worked with 2006 seniors, Marty Fahey and Austin Styffe on the Cam-Bands. More importantly, Ryan understood the importance of true friendship when he stood by his friend, John Canniff last year during the outstanding 2006 lacrosse season. Ryan did what came natural to him – When John was emotionally unable to attend team dinners and team outings, it was Ryan who stayed close to John knowing that his friend needed him.–
Character - Courage - Friendship and Honor

Kathryn Haviland –Kathryn made it her mission to preserve Cameron’s memory and character when she wrote a letter to the Arlington Advocate asking their journalists to think before writing any article on Cameron’s death. Kathryn continues to support Cameron’s memory by always volunteering to work on behalf of the Foundation; she donated blood when she has a fear of needles and was part of the AHS team who walked for the Samaritans. Effortlessly and quietly, Kathryn stepped in Brendan’s life, as his big sister and a confidant.
Compassion - Warmth – Tried – and – True Blue -Friendship

The Cameron G. O’Connor Foundation is proud to present to: Mike Baker, Ryan Good, and Kathryn Haivland - the 2007 Cameron G. O’Connor Foundation Gift. Congratulations to all !

Sue Croy - Presenting to the Dallin Elem School - Cam's Shelf

May 23, 2007 - Sue Croy Presents to the
Dallin Elmentary School
the 2nd Cam's Shelf -

Brian & Kerry

Cam's Shelf

“Cam’s Shelf” is a small lending library housed in the Reading Center at the Hardy School in Arlington. Another “Cam’s Shelf” will soon be available for student use at the Dallin School where Cameron attended elementary school.
Composed of book titles of high appeal to grade school children, the “Cam’s Shelf” was created in response to the timeless comment from reluctant readers: “ I can’t find a book to read.” Translation: “I can’t find a book I like that I am able to read.”
This lending library will be accessed by students who can benefit from a teacher who knows their reading ability and interests and is able to match them up to a book for independent home reading or for school reading projects, such as a book report. It serves to make the selection of a book to read a less difficult and overwhelming process because of the guidance from the reading teacher and the smaller collection of books to choose from. Book titles include those written by the children’s author Dan Gutman: Babe & Me, The Million Dollar Goal, Louis Sacher’s Wayside School series and some old favorites of Cam’s from The Bailey School Kids series. Students look at this intimate collection as something special and walk away eager to begin reading their new book and with the confidence that they can!
The origin of the “Cam’s Shelf” brings together some people who have known the O’Connor family for some time. When he was a student at the Dallin, Cameron benefited from reading tutoring through the Special Education department. Among his special education teachers were Chris Cronin-Tocci and Sue Croy, the latter who is currently a reading specialist at the Hardy School.
After Cameron’s death, the O’Connor family wanted to give back to the community, particularly to the special education staff from the Dallin. The Foundation was actually created as a vehicle to accept the incredibly generous donations from the O’Connors’ friends and family. The CGO Foundation made a major part of its mission statement “to support the educational needs… of the youth of our community”.
First and foremost, the O’Connors wanted to ensure that special education students and other students like Cameron who need reading support are able to benefit from annual grants from the Foundation which are delegated to Sue Croy.
          While working together one day at the Hardy, Chris shared with Sue a school project her son, Brian, then a fourth grader at the Bishop School in Arlington, had recently completed. His research of the author Dan Gutman was the stimulus that turned him on to reading. At last he had found an author who wrote books that a ten year old boy wanted to read! He was so impressed with the “Baseball Card Adventure” series of Gutman’s that he suggested that his mom share the books with Mrs. Croy whose students would probably love them. Boy was he right! When students’ eyes caught a glance of these books sitting on a tabletop in her reading room, they eagerly begged to borrow them. It was then that Sue knew how the memory of Cameron could live on by helping other young readers. And so the “Cam’s Shelf” was born.
          While the original “Cam’s Shelf” is being used at the Hardy, it was always a plan to add one to Cam’s elementary school, the Dallin. Sue’s son, Zach, a senior at BB&N offered to assist the Foundation by volunteering to do the work necessary to develop the second one which will be ready for use early this spring. Photos of both Brian and a cousin of Cameron’s, Kerry Keeffe, a Hardy student, will be used to model use of the “Cam’s Shelf”.
          Besides being a resource to young readers, this grant by the CGO Foundation has given three young people in Cameron’s community opportunities to “give back” also. And so goes the motto of the Cameron G. O’Connor Foundation “…the giving, rippling effects.”