Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Jamie Moyer and Wife Karen Continue National Camp Erin...

Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Jamie Moyer and Wife Karen Continue National
Camp Erin Expansion
The Moyer Foundation to Open Bereavement Camps for Kids in 12 More Cities in
2009

SEATTLE, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The Moyer Foundation
(http://www.moyerfoundation.org) today announced its plans to continue the
national Camp Erin expansion of bereavement camps for children and teens who
have lost someone close to them, planning to add 12 new cities in 2009. The
Moyer Foundation has a goal of establishing more than 50 camps around the
country including one Camp Erin in every Major League Baseball city. This
expansion is made possible through The Moyer Foundation's Campaign for Kids, a
nationwide fundraising campaign launched in 2007.
Founded in 2000 by Major League All-Star pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife
Karen, The Moyer Foundation's mission is to help children in distress. Since
its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $15 million to assist more
than 160 different programs that serve children in physical, emotional or
financial distress. The Moyer Foundation created Camp Erin in 2002, now the
largest network of bereavement camps in the country.
"Children inspire us every day to do what we do at The Moyer Foundation,"
said co-founder Jamie Moyer, father of seven and starting pitcher for the
Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the World Series. "Baseball gives me the
opportunity to do what I do, but strong community involvement allows us to
continue to expand Camp Erin to address this need and help more children.
Working together with local communities, we can make a difference in the lives
of grieving children and teens across the country."
Camp Erin is free to all children and is a weekend-long experience filled
with traditional camp activities. Bereavement experts and trained volunteers
facilitate the camps and provide education and emotional support to each child
throughout the weekend. This year more than 1,000 kids and teens participated
in 18 camps located in 12 states. Through community fundraising and support of
the Campaign for Kids, in 2009 the Foundation will expand Camp Erin to 29
camps in 18 states, serving nearly 2,000 children.
The Moyer Foundation teams up with national advocates, corporate partners,
Major League Baseball teams, and local hospice and grief counseling
organizations in the communities where the camps exist. Many Major League
Baseball personalities also lend their support to the nationwide expansion of
Camp Erin including Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon, Jimmy Rollins from the
Philadelphia Phillies, Alex Rodriguez from the New York Yankees, Trevor
Hoffman from the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella, Texas
Rangers Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan and former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy
Lasorda.
"Camp Erin addresses the needs of grieving children by decreasing their
sense of isolation and normalizing their experiences and feelings," said
Noreen A. Carrington, LMFT, FT, Director of the Center for Grief Care and
Education at San Diego Hospice. "Camp Erin is especially unique because of its
therapeutic value. Camp Erin's wonderful activities allow children to express
their emotions and begin the healing process."
Research by Ewalt & Perkins suggests that approximately 90 percent of
students will experience the loss of a family member or close friend before
finishing high school. Additionally, one in five children will experience the
death of a family member and six out of every ten school age children
experience a major loss. Research also indicates these children are at a much
greater risk for depression, suicide, poverty and substance abuse.
2009 Camp Erin Major League Baseball Expansion Cities and Local Partners

Atlanta, GA - Partner: Camp Magik
Chicago, IL - (2 sessions) Partner: Willow House
Cleveland, OH - Partner: Cornerstone of Hope Bereavement
Detroit, MI - Partner: SandCastles Grief Support Program
Los Angeles, CA - Partner: Our House
Miami, FL - Partner: HospiceCare of Southeastern Florida
Minneapolis, MN - Partner: Fairview Youth Grief Services
St. Louis, MO - Partner: Annie's Hope - The Bereavement Center for Kids
Toronto, ON - Partner TBD
Washington, D.C. - Partner TBD

Additional 2009 Camp Erin Expansion Cities

Anchorage, AK - Partner: Hospice of Anchorage
Washington State - city TBD

About The Moyer Foundation
The Moyer Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in
2000 by Major League All-Star pitcher, Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen. The
Foundation's mission is to provide comfort and support to children enduring a
time of profound physical, emotional or financial distress. With the
community's support, The Moyer Foundation has raised over $15 million to
assist more than 160 different programs that serve the needs of children in
distress. In addition to supporting organizations through grants, The Moyer
Foundation created and funds Camp Erin, the largest national network of
bereavement camps for children and teens; Camp Mariposa, for children affected
by addiction in their families; and funds several community initiatives such
as The Gregory Fund -- for early cancer-detection research, in partnership
with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The Moyer Foundation raises funds
through many special events, corporate partners and individual donors.
For more information and to get involved go to
http://www.moyerfoundation.org
SOURCE The Moyer Foundation

Dan Lee of Weber Shandwick, +1-425-452-5495, dlee@webershandwick.com, for The
Moyer Foundation