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 Camp Daydreams
John “Johnny Mac” McIntyre is founder and camp director of Camp DayDreams. Dan Dwyer is on the board and a big supporter of the camp. This year is the camp's 25th anniversary. The Camp's Mission: "Camp DayDreams develops, challenges, and empowers Rochester’s urban youth to serve themselves, family, and community as vibrant individuals and engaged citizens. We accomplish this through our fun and unique year-round, recreational, social, and educational programs." Camp DayDreams is a unique recreational, educational, and social youth development program for Rochester’s urban youth. Over 130 of Rochester's urban youth annually participate in their “Camp and Grow” program that includes a week-long summer camp sessions and school year family focused events designed for reinforcement & reunion. Thanks to a generously supportive Rochester community, they provide this opportunity at a nominal cost to their camp families. Starting at age 8, children return to camp year after year. At ages 15-17 campers participate in a leadership development program with added year round activities and responsibilities. After completion of the leadership program, campers are eligible to be volunteer staff members. Through their strong volunteer base, they maintain a camp staff to camper ratio of at least 1 to 2. they operate out of the Boys & Girls Club in Rochester. The Club serves as a year round meeting place for campers, parents, and staff as well as an administrative office. Camp includes many activities including Archery and handling a rifle. Their cost is around $500 per camper due to all the volunteers including 2 doctors and a nurse. 30-40% of campers are invvolved with Boys & Girls club. There are 5-15 events during the year to keep contact with the campers lives. The campers learn many life lessons beyond camping skills. The only requirement for campers is that they are a city resident and are not already in some other camp. Camp is free to all campers. No phones are allowed while at camp so the campers remain present and it frees them up to be themselves. Source of funds are some government grants but they also welcome individual donations on their website donation page.  Newbrough Piano Academy
Sal Abbasey, a student of the Academy, introduced Dr. William John Newbrough who is a Steinway Artist, Rochester-based concert pianist and Professor of Piano and Director of Piano Studies at Houghton University, Houghton, NY. He has performed all around the world including Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. He and his wife Julia created Newbrough Piano Academy to offer an alternative to the exclusive Hochstein and Eastman Schools of Music. From their website: "Newbrough Piano Academy exists to preserve the classical tradition of music making and prepare students for a career in music by offering affordable, conservatory-quality piano training from artists for all ages and levels. We are the only studio in the area that, musicality and technique-wise, can take a student from the first note and bring them up to being a seasoned performer. For parents, it's always the best investment and value for their money regardless, because our students learn to play correctly right from the start. Newbrough Piano Studio originated in Houghton, NY. In 2022, the studio was located in the Mann-Owen historic building in Penfield, NY, and received two prominent business chamber awards in one year. In 2024, we moved to Pittsford, NY, and became Newbrough Piano Academy." The Academy has around 40 students and trains them musically but also has been found to greatly improve childhood development. There are 7 accomplished pianists in the Academy faculty. Students are trained on Steinway pianos. Programs are offered to help low income students. They are looking for donations to complete the renovation of their new building's basement to continue serving low income students. |
