San Francisco Chronicle - January 18, 2009
Shelah Moody, smoody@sfchronicle.com

In 1990, Taylor and her husband, Barry, who ran a successful office equipment dealership, stablished the Taylor Family Foundation to raise money for programs that help low-income children with HIV/AIDS. Later they expanded the program to include children with other illnesses. Eight years later, the foundation partnered with the East Bay Regional Park District to build Camp Arroyo, a summer youth camp and environmental education center, on 138 acres in Livermore.

Camp Arroyo hosts several camp sessions throughout the year, and each child gets the full camp experience, including gathering around a campfire at night, riding horses and taking trips to a nearby reservoir. Camp Arroyo includes 144 beds, a full kitchen, an infirmary and an arts center.

YMCA of the East Bay coordinates camp activities and manages the food services and upkeep. Camp Arroyo operates with more than 1,000 volunteers, including doctors and nurses on site, and is free.

Taylor said that when a child becomes ill, friends and activities such as soccer practice tend to go away, and he or she becomes isolated. But children find common ground at Camp Arroyo.

"For example, when the hemophiliac kids come in, they share the same things, from not wanting to be different to talking about being different and having help and support within their communities," Taylor said.

"There are children who wait all year-round to come back to camp. Some are so sick or so physically damaged that this is their only outlet. For parents, it's an opportunity to build some memories.

"Camp Arroyo gives children joy and hope. When the smaller kids come in, they meet older kids, and they have the sense that 'Oh, my gosh - I am going to grow up; I am going to make it.' "

The foundation also hosts bereavement camps for children who have lost parents or siblings, and a special camp for preschool burn survivors.

On the last Sunday in August, the Taylor Family Foundation hosts a huge fundraising event, Day in the Park, which raises its entire annual budget, supports an urgent-needs program for families and contributes to operating costs for the following year.

"Ten years ago, we built this camp sustainable, so we were green before green became the new buzzword," said Taylor. "We have our own organic garden. We teach kids that it's not just about dividing your bottles, cans and newspapers; it's about being a good steward of the Earth."

Taylor said her reward for putting in so many volunteer hours comes from making a difference in children's lives.

"At the end of the day, my hope is that we gave them so much joy that they fell out of their chairs laughing," said Taylor. "My hope is that we gave them the peace, friendship, hope and camaraderie that they don't see outside of their families."

For more information, visit www.ttff.org.

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