As a decorated military pilot, Bill Schmidt appreciated the sacrifices of America’s service men and women. YMCA Camp Carson gives back to America’s heroes through Operation Military Support, providing hundreds of youth from military families the classic overnight summer camp experience at a significantly reduced rate. When safety measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic required Camp Carson to suspend regular summer camp in 2020, funding from the William E. Schmidt Foundation enabled Camp Carson to offer three Military Family Weekends, where military families could reconnect in the restorative environment of the serene and family-friendly campground.

“We are grateful to the William E. Schmidt Foundation for their support that has allowed us to serve our military families with a quality summer camp experience. One family reported that the camp provided an ideal opportunity for the children to bond with the grandparents who would be caring for them when the parents deployed. Another military veteran with severe PTSD reported that the weekend at Camp Carson was life-changing for him.”

– Jim Sexstone, Executive Director, YMCA Camp Carson