Fresh Air Fund

Category: Non-profit organization in New York

Address: 633 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10017, USA

Phone: +18003670003

Opening hours

Sunday: Closed

Monday: 9AM–5PM

Tuesday: 9AM–5PM

Wednesday: 9AM–5PM

Thursday: 9AM–5PM

Friday: 9AM–5PM

Saturday: Closed

Reviews

Alyvia Quiroz

Jul 7, 2022

My father went there and the family had loved them

Nish Patel

Apr 19, 2022

Great place!

Annette Cotto

Dec 8, 2021

My son went from 2004-2008. Amazing, beautiful,caring people. It was the time of his life, and being around white amazing people for his first time. NYC has segregated parts mainly in Harlem,Brooklyn and NYCHA projects.......gives kids a chance to be around good white people who really care. The family send my son Christmas & birthday gifts also. Fresh air fund is awesome.

Veronica Ellis

Nov 5, 2021

I feel this program really is geared for the underprivileged child unexposed to travel and opportunities. I was looking forward to all the benefits of The Fresh Air Fund such as the tutoring, SAT prep, college readiness and the many other support options. But Fresh Air mandates a two-week sleep away camp as a qualifier into the program that just was not for my child. There is no phone communication allowed, only letters, and you're lucky to receive two before the two weeks are up. Our close knit family traveled often and was accustomed to communications via phone, text and emails. So my child had severe separation anxiety once he got to the camp. He had camp mates that, when left unsupervised, weren't very kind and initiated physical altercations. He wrote home begging us to come get him while also writing that he had tried to be brave and not cry but he really missed us and wanted to come home. My husband drove up the same day we received that letter and my son broke down in tears when they brought him out to us. And because he did not complete the entire two weeks he was disqualified from the program altogether. The Fresh Air Fund has a one-style-fits-all structure for its program but it's not ideal for anxious children. To know at a designated time they can check in with a parent makes a significant impact on a child with separation anxiety. It can give them the emotional support they need to complete the two-week requirement and feel successful that they completed such a necessary step in the program. Thankfully I found a program with a similar sleep-away requirement that allowed any interested campers 15 minute nightly video chats or phone calls and it made a huge difference for my family. My son relished in showing me his camp, his campmates, and sharing the day's activities. I saw how happy he was and was glad he allowed me to enroll him in another program because he was very mistrustful of camps after his Fresh Air Fund experience. This is not to say The Fresh Air Fund won't work for your extroverted and outgoing child, but parents should know how this may affect children who need extra support.

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Questions & Answers

Hi, I hosted years ago and wondered if it is possible to get in touch with the two girls who came to visit. The first was 32 years ago, she was 4. The second girl came 31 years ago and came for several years. I was located in Scranton PA at the time.

Ann Leggat | Nov 8, 2018
| Nov 8, 2019

You should probably contact the Fund through phone.

Hello, We hosted a child for five years, in the Friendly Town program. This was about 50 years ago. We've been trying to find her , but not sure of spelling her last name correctly. Is there any way to find out info from Fresh Air Fund records?

Marie McGuigan | Nov 7, 2021
Kei Baker | Nov 7, 2021

You can always call to ask for them to check their records...glad to know you were involved and still reaching out.

Do we have to do application online or can we come to FRESH AIR FUN office to fill out application. Im interested for my two boys. The ages are 10, 11.

Artku Banks | Nov 8, 2018
Little_Gamer 27 | Nov 8, 2018

You don't have to apply on line if you want you can also go to the office there are 2 opportunity to sign up my daughter went there and she had lots of fun

How can I find the family that I stood with over 20 years ago?

Jennifer Perez | Nov 7, 2020
Cindy Winfield | Nov 7, 2020

Oh wow! Contact the Fresh Air Fund directly until you reach the right person who can help you.

How can I sign up?

sulehermosa hermososa | Nov 8, 2019
shaquira scriven | Nov 8, 2019

https://freshair.org/which-fresh-air-program-is-right-for-your-child/

I would love for my child to go here so he can experence and have fun make friends nd learn diff erent stuff is gonna be his frist time if he gets in hopefully nd im looking forward to it this summer hope is not to late.

Veronica Maldonado | Nov 8, 2019
Hercules Jemison | Nov 8, 2019

No it's not to late to sign him up,it's a great experience for the children to have & make new friends. Therefore the staff's make sure that our child/children are safe in they present,and while they place our little ones with people that are going to take care of our child/children why they're gone.

Where do you pick the kids up or do they meet yall somewhere?

bloody_wolfie alpha | Nov 8, 2019
Ruth Horry | Nov 8, 2019

When your child receives a placement for camp. You will be mailed a letter with pick up and drop off dates, times, and locations. Hope this helps. If you are still unsure contact the fresh air fund's operation team.

Is there any chance that i can apply my kid to this event for free

Celeste J. Jimenez | Nov 8, 2018
Elianny Salcedo | Nov 8, 2018

Yes, this is a free program for eligible families. Just go to the website to fill out the application.

what time is it to go

jacky | Nov 8, 2018
Little_Gamer 27 | Nov 8, 2018

Around 8 or 7

Is it a possible way to reach out to a family you stayed with over 20 years ago

melique lomax | Nov 8, 2018
Josh Knight | Nov 8, 2018

Yes! If you call or email and speak to the friendly town team they can help - they love connecting their alumni network!

Do you have to pay for the camp?

Margaret Meza | Nov 8, 2018
Josh Knight | Nov 8, 2018

No! The camp is free if your family meets the qualifying income requirements! Its free and you should check out the online form for more info!

Where do you send the application to ?

Shirley Robinson | Nov 8, 2018
Jen Foreign | Nov 8, 2018

You mail it back to the address which is on the fresh air fund application!

How are the friendly towns? My girls have been too the camps but would love them too get the friendly towns experience. I have not asked but can they do both camp and friendly town?

NotLiked ByMany | Nov 8, 2018
| Nov 8, 2019

The friendly towns are wonderful. You can have the same family for years to go. You can request a certain type of family, atheist; 2 sibilings; one daughter; 16 yrs old male, doesn't matter. You can also communicate with the family. It's a wonderful experience since different families have different rules therefore your girls will have different experiences. Many families will bring you to amusement parks, malls, etc. My family brought me to eat ice cream, amusement parks, visit families, ride bicycle, kayak, go to the gym, and so much more. It's a beautiful experience. And sometimes I would say it's better than the camps.

How old does the child have to be to go to friendly town

Katherine Smith | Nov 8, 2018
Jacklyne Michele Holmes | Nov 8, 2018

I went when I was 7 and 8. I don't know if the ages are still the same now.

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