CB Richard Ellis is proud that Chefs Showcase is Camp John Marc’s largest fundraiser. Camp John Marc, part of the Special Camps for Special Kids program, was built on land donated by Jan and Marc Myers in memory of their son John Marc, who lost his life to osteogenic sarcoma in 1987 at the age of nine. It was the first camp in the country dedicated specifically to serving children with chronic illnesses and now serves as the model for numerous camps around the country. Backed by on-site medical care, children at Camp John Marc find common ground, new friends, numerous activities, and increased self esteem, and leave with an "I can do it" attitude.

Mission Statement: Special Camps for Special Kids serves children with chronic illnesses and major physical disabilities, and the families of those children, by making possible high-quality, year-round camping experiences at Camp John Marc, a unique camp facility in Bosque County, Texas. At Camp John Marc, Special Camps for Special Kids provides cooperative programming with the health organizations, community volunteers, and pediatric hospitals also dedicated to serving these children.

Philosophy: Special Camps for Special Kids is a united group of individuals, organizations, and camps which support and seek to improve camping programs for children with chronic illnesses, major physical disabilities and their siblings. Special Camps for Special Kids established Camp John Marc, an organized residential camp, in 1987 to provide for these children valuable life experiences in a natural outdoor setting.

The essence of this camp program is: nurturing health-impaired children’s positive self-image, providing peer interaction, allowing a chance for adventure and exploration in the great outdoors. Hopefully this will lead to an increased capacity to cope with their illness or disability.

Camp John Marc utilizes community and medical volunteers to provide program support and quality medical care and treatment in the camp setting. The governing board of Camp John Marc believes in the campers’ right to discovery and adventure in nature’s world, and in their chance to see, touch, play, and feel better.

For additional information about Camp John Marc, please visit www.campjohnmarc.org.