STRAWBERRY POINT, IA – Ewalu Camp & Retreat Center is participating in the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque’s “Great Give Day” on Wednesday, May 15, to raise funds for its Cedar Lodge renovation project. If donors meet the goal of raising $30,000 online in 24 hours, an anonymous Ewalu supporter will match those gifts with an extra $30,000 donation.
Great Give Day is a 24-hour, online giving day established by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque to celebrate and support area nonprofits and build a stronger community. Since 2014, Great Give Day has raised over $2.7 million for local nonprofits in seven counties in Eastern Iowa.
This year, donations to Ewalu through the website www.GreatGiveDay.org/CampEwalu on May 15 will go toward making necessary renovations to Cedar Lodge, a 60-year-old building that has long served as the hub of activity at camp. Friends of Camp Ewalu have pledged an additional $33,000 in challenges to motivate donors during the online event. Donors who make a gift of any amount over $10 at the special website will also help the camp earn bonus dollars for the camp’s endowment from the Clayton County Foundation for the Future. Donors can schedule gifts in advance beginning May 13 at the special link as well.
“We’re closing in on our goal for the Cedar Lodge project, which will impact nearly everyone who comes to Ewalu,” said Ewalu Executive Director Frank Johnson. “These much-needed updates to Cedar Lodge will help us live more fully into our mission to connect the Word of God with the world of God. Save the date of May 15 and help us renovate this important building that will serve camp for generations to come!”
Since it was built in the early 1960s, Cedar Lodge has served as the center of activity at Ewalu’s main site, welcoming generations of campers and visitors for meals, lodging, activities and rest. But time has taken a toll, and the building needs major renovations to ensure that that every guest, camper, and staff member feels welcome and cared for, for generations to come.
The “Cedar at 60” campaign aims to raise $2 million, with $1.75 million already pledged, to make these renovations at Cedar Lodge:
- ADA-accessible restrooms on the main floor.
- Additional space for camp gatherings and worship.
- Technology upgrades for retreats and conferences.
- Remodeling and expanding the kitchen for higher food production capacity and to better serve guests with food restrictions and allergies.
- Enhancing food preparation capabilities for off-site and decentralized programming.
- Redesigning the dining hall layout to streamline serving and seat more people comfortably.
- A new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system designed to address moisture issues in the lower level.
- Remodeled restrooms on the lower level and new shower areas.
- A remodeled break room for summer staff to rest and rejuvenate during personal time.
- Increased energy efficiency and reduced costs for appliances and HVAC system.
- New solar energy collectors to power the building (and potentially sell energy back to the electric company or share it with other nearby camp buildings).
More information, architect’s renderings and building plans are shared at the project’s website: www.ewalu.org/cedar-lodge-project.
Camp Ewalu will also have a booth on May 15 at the Great Give Day Live Event in downtown Dubuque. The in-person celebration will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with food trucks, music, activities and information booths from participating nonprofits. All are welcome to attend in Dubuque’s Washington Park, and special bonuses will be awarded to nonprofits.
On Great Give Day, prizes throughout the day funded by area sponsors will fuel excitement and friendly competition. Anyone can view the prize schedule at GreatGiveDay.org to see when their donation will make the most impact on their favorite nonprofits. For prize updates, follow the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque on Facebook and Twitter.
Camp Ewalu participated for the second time last year in the Great Give Day, raising nearly $33,000 with 163 donors in 24 hours to support the Cedar at 60 renovation project. The nonprofit Christian ministry also earned more than $2,500 in bonuses during the event from the Clayton County Foundation for the Future, and unlocked $6,500 in challenge funds donated by members of the Ewalu Board of Directors.
ABOUT EWALU: Camp Ewalu is a year-round ministry that serves over 200 Lutheran congregations in Eastern Iowa with nearly 1,000 youth participating in its summer programs and nearly 1,000 more through Day Camp evangelism programs. The camp also serves 1,500 environmental education students and nearly 6,500 additional youth and adults who come to renew and grow in their faith.
The camp’s mission is to serve all people as a place to connect the Word of God with the world of God, with its main site and office located just west of Strawberry Point and the Stone Center retreat space just north of Strawberry Point.
 |  |
 |  |
