Camp Phoenix, a four-day sleep-away camp for youth in B.C. is $1,000 richer thanks to Pita Pit’s ‘Refuse to Settle’ campaign.
“It’s a really great program that corporate set up that allows for communities and charities across Canada to help pursue their goals, especially mine,” said Ian Wen, the restaurant’s 22-year old store manager in Terrace.
“I’m very happy mine was chosen.”
The campaign had Pita Pit franchisees nominate local charities to receive the grant and Wen thought the Youth Parliament of British Columbia (BCYP) was a “natural fit.” The non-profit service is run entirely by youth who work together to develop, fundraise and operate projects across the province, the largest one being Camp Phoenix.
The summer camp is designed to provide kids between ages 8 to 12 an opportunity to attend, who would not be able to do otherwise for social or financial reasons.
“At the camp, kids just get to be kids,” said Wen, who volunteered last summer.
“They don’t have to worry about issues going on at home or at school, they can just focus on having fun.”
Wen was notified about the awarded grant in March and presented the cheque to BCYP representatives on April 14 at the store’s location on Lakelse Avenue.
“It’s definitely this sense of relief, I’m very gracious and excited for what Pita Pit has done for this,” he said.
As a member of BCYP for the last six years, Wen said the charity fund will make running the summer camp a bit easier this year.
“It’s $1,000 we did not budget for, and it gives us the opportunity to subsidize the cost as much as possible for families,” he said.
Camp Phoenix will be held this summer from August 27-31 at Camp Barnard in Sooke, B.C.