Me-One's Camp Wieser: Creating Community and Connection with a Sanctuary for Cancer Families.

John Burke: [00:00:00] I had to sit down as my doctor suggested, sit down my girls and tell them, daddy's going to go in for the surgery. And I'm hoping that I come home and continue to be with you girls. However, there's a chance that I'm not going to, I mean, that was rough. I mean, from the time that I told them that every time they looked at me, they just started to cry.

Jeff Holden: I'm Jeff Holden, welcome to the nonprofit podcast network. Our purpose and passion is to highlight a nonprofit organization in each weekly episode Giving that organization an opportunity to tell their story in their words, to better inform and educate the respective communities they serve, as well as provide one more tool for them to share their message to constituents and donors.

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Please be sure to register so you never miss an episode or any other important information we may have to share in the nonprofit space. You can find us now at nonprofpod. com. That's nonprofpod. com. You'll also notice [00:02:00] on the website a microphone in the lower right hand corner. By clicking on it, you'll be able to leave me voicemail messages, maybe a question you'd like me to ask our guests, or just a comment on the program.

I may even play your message in an upcoming episode. I look forward to more engagement with you as we continue to grow and better serve our nonprofit community. We all know, and in most cases fear, the C word, cancer. It's never a diagnosis any of us want to hear. Nearly everyone has been touched in some way by the disease.

either self, family, or friends. But what about the family and caregivers surrounding one who suffers the disease? Their lives have been changed dramatically as well. And helping them with some respite is what our guests today do. How the Me-One organization came to be is incredibly unique. And we're going to hear about that.

But the story of their passionate volunteer camp director is every bit as amazing. Listen closely as Erica Pope, [00:03:00] executive director of Me-One, And John Burke, camp director for the organization, share the story of how Me-One has built Camp Wieser into a highly demanded and completely booked out event for cancer patients and their families each year.

What a blessing they're providing. So John, Erica, welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Thank you. Oh, I'm so excited to have you. We have not had a cancer oriented program on the show yet. So this is going to be a great conversation. You know, most, if not all of those listening have directly been affected by cancer in their lives.

You know, whether it's a family member, a friend, a neighbor, we've all seen it in some way, shape, or form. And in some cases, we've seen the challenges of daily living and its impact on those around them. The Me-One Foundation began in 2007, I believe. 

John Burke: 2007 2008 is when Heidi Wieser first started having the dream of, Starting a non profit foundation that would then fund a weekend escape for cancer patients to get away from the everyday [00:04:00] routine of fighting cancer and just be able to go and just have a great weekend with their family, forgetting about cancer for the weekend and just really bringing in all those memories that they could share with their family.

Jeff Holden: Tell me how the journey started. Heidi's journey to get to the point of this, this weekend escape. 

John Burke: Her husband, Tom Wieser, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer back into the, I believe it was 2007. And his family was invited to a camp down in Southern California, very similar to the one that we do today here in Northern California.

And when they came home, they were super excited. They had an amazing time, amazing weekend, being able to share experiences with other cancer patients. And so they said, you know, there's plenty of people here in Northern California who really need this camp. And that's when they had the dream of starting the MeOne Foundation and being able to provide this camp that we do today.

Jeff Holden: Okay. So I know already people are going, Me-One, I don't, I don't get it. How does that translate? Is that a, [00:05:00] cancer phrase of some sort. Explain me one. 

Erica Pope: It's more of a sports phrase. When Tom and Heidi, they were in the thick of it, right? Their own cancer journey. And literally this nonprofit was started around a kitchen table.

They had four young kids at the time and Tom was very involved with kids sports and was a coach, sports enthusiasts. So the, our tagline keeping life scoreboard at cancer zero, me one. So that's how the Me-One foundation was, was founded. 

Jeff Holden: I love the analogy. Was anybody like a tennis player or something?

Erica Pope: Baseball, actually. Yeah. It was baseball. Big baseball. Big baseball family. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Okay. How did you or how did the organization determine Northern California and even where in Northern California? 

John Burke: That has changed over the years. We're basically a Roseville based nonprofit organization. That's where Tom and Heidi lived at the time of starting the foundation.

And they just drew in a lot of their friends that had [00:06:00] either been parents of some of the kids that were on the teams that Tom was coaching, or that had some association with the Wieser family in one way, shape, or form. They are the ones who gathered around the table and started to talk about Dream with Heidi and Tom about starting this foundation and starting the camp.

So it all started in Roseville, but then it's expanded with time. And the whole idea was that. But in Northern California alone, there's, I mean, there's thousands of people diagnosed with cancer. And so, because of that, there's a huge, you know, draw for this camp. And so, they decided since there's one in Southern California, they wanted to be the Northern California option of the camp.

Maura 

Erica Pope: Vickery And really over the United States, there's not a whole lot of nonprofits that focus on the adult cancer patient and their family. We're really one of very few. So one in Southern California and then us up here. 

Jeff Holden: How did they determine the 

John Burke: camp. 

Jeff Holden: Where 

John Burke: is the camp? Well, the camp started, they actually, they were afforded the [00:07:00] opportunity to have the camp donated to them basically for the, for the very first camp.

And so they went where the money was free. And so they started in Livermore. I can't remember the name of the camp, but Heidi invited us as a family to come to the very first camp Weiser. At the time, it was called Camp Challenge. We changed it. at our 10 year anniversary and then changed the name to Camp Weiser to honor Tom because he ended up losing his life from his cancer battle.

And we wanted to honor the family who started this foundation and so that's why it's changed to Camp Wieser. But it started in Livermore and from there it's just, it's We've grown and we've tried to find places, camps that would offer our campers more amenities, such as today, every camper who comes to camp, each family gets their own room with their own bathroom, their own shower.

When it very first started, we were at like kids camps and kids camps, you know, generally speaking, they put as many people in a room as they possibly can. They have shared [00:08:00] bathrooms. That's not really conducive to the cancer patients. I mean, myself, you know, I had. Been going through pancreatic cancer, and so.

To have to share that restroom with other campers is just, it's very uncomfortable. The very first thing I did when I became camp director is find a new location that would offer those amenities, having private rooms that can be locked, rooms that have their own bathroom and their own shower. And so, especially the cancer patient.

It doesn't necessarily always have the energy to go out and do all the fun things that we have to offer. But at least they know that they can send their family out and the family can have a great time while they rest in their room. So that's important. 

Erica Pope: Where we host Camp Wieser each year. It's really the only.

location that we have found that can house all of the families that we bring together and the volunteers. So we have Gosh over 300 people on campus during this weekend So that's a lot of people and a lot of moving parts and they're really the only facility that we have found that can Accommodate our needs.

Jeff Holden: [00:09:00] So you have now a fixed place a fixed location that you've been using for Several years or many years. Yes. Yes. 

John Burke: We've been, I think we were on year 15 minus Yeah. Six. Yeah. Minus our 16th year 

Erica Pope: of camp. And I'm not sure how many years we've been at at Mission Springs, but probably a good 10 years. 

John Burke: Yeah. I wanna say it was 2010.

2010 was our first camp at Mission Springs. Where is that? Mission Springs is located just outside of Santa Cruz in the, uh, Santa Cruz Mountains in Scotts Valley, California. 

Erica Pope: It's beautiful. 

Jeff Holden: I was just going 

John Burke: to 

Jeff Holden: say for the benefit of anybody that's not been there, that area is spectacular. 

Erica Pope: Oh, it's, it's magical.

Amazingly 

John Burke: gorgeous. Yeah. Every time we go and I, I drive over the bridge to get to camp, it's like all the weight of the world just falls off of my shoulders. It's gorgeous. It's just, it's everything you could hope for. Who's eligible to apply for the program? Cancer patients that are in active treatment is who we're looking for.

You need to be an adult age 18 or above and then we [00:10:00] invite you and we invite you to invite up to five family members or friends. Family is whatever family is to you. It's not necessarily blood family. It can be five supporters in a cancer care group that you might have. So, we consider family anyone that's supporting you through your cancer battle.

Jeff Holden: And as I understand the camp isn't just a camp for the cancer patient. It's for everybody. Um, so all the daily trials and tribulations of being a cancer patient who's in treatment are kind of relief of everybody else while they're at the camp. Correct? 

Erica Pope: Right. Right. And that's just the thing when someone's diagnosed with cancer, it's not just the cancer patient who has the weight of the world on their shoulders, right?

It's Spouses, children, siblings, best friends, everyone carries the burden if you will. So the camp really is designed not only for the adult cancer patient but that support system and like John said, it doesn't have to be necessarily your [00:11:00] immediate family. It's whoever is part of your support system on that cancer journey.

John Burke: And for me as a patient myself who was invited to come to camp, you know, at the time right UC Davis. I had to sit down as my doctor suggested sit down my girls and tell them daddy's going to go in for the surgery And I'm hoping that I come home and continue to be with you girls However, there's a chance that I'm not going to and so I basically had to tell him there's a chance that dad might be headed to heaven and I mean, that was rough.

I mean, from the time that I told them that every time they looked at me, they just started to cry. And so we were able to go to this camp where they got to meet other little boys and little girls who had mom or dad there with cancer. And they were able to see that they were not alone, that there are other people who are going through the same thing, truly understand what they're going through.

that they could talk with and they met people and they kept their addresses and they would write each other. They would call each other [00:12:00] when they were scared about what, what I was going through. They would call their friends who truly got it. And it was nice to see that seeing my girls with smiles on their faces and they were bouncing and bounce houses.

They were getting their faces painted. They were going down zip lines. They were doing so much and just being kids again. And that was something that they weren't able to do when I was first diagnosed. 

Jeff Holden: with mom and dad and immediate family and or caregivers with them, people that they're familiar with, seeing all of them release, relieve a little bit.

I'm sure that's a real blessing for everybody just to know that, okay, we can, and we got somebody who we know that our loved ones in good hands giving us that break. Right. 

John Burke: Each family has a family host and that family host is responsible for making sure that they get to the appointments that they have.

Basically, you know, we're a camp that. We try not to say no. So if there's something that they need, if we need to run into town to grab something that they forgot, we will go do that. If the family, if the mom and dad just want some time alone, the family host will take their [00:13:00] kids and take them on the zip line or do something fun with them while mom and dad have some time alone.

And so it's, it all varies just by what the, what the campers need. 

Jeff Holden: I'm going to point a question to you, John, because we didn't address it. But you've mentioned it a couple of times, camp director, what is your situation engaged you in me one to the extent that you are? 

John Burke: Well, in 2006, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

We were getting ready to go on a vacation to Walt Disney World and I was experiencing some very, very serious abdominal pains. And my wife was like, you need to get yourself to the doctor and get this figured out before we go. Otherwise, your vacation is going to be miserable. And so reluctantly I went to the doctor and we started running tests while we were gone on vacation.

The test results came in and once we got home from that, from vacation, we found out that I was stage four pancreatic cancer. And my doctor told me that he was going to [00:14:00] suggest that I head to hospice because there was really nothing more that they could do for me at that point. And my wife and I did not take that as the final answer.

We Researched on the internet, on the pancreatic cancer website, as far as what to do and they suggested finding a pancreatic cancer specialist and going and seeing them and we did. There, the pancreatic cancer specialist at UC Davis said, do not rely on anyone telling you how long you have to live. They.

Don't have a clue how long you have to live and drew out a what's called the Whipple procedure, which is an extreme It's probably the most extreme Procedure they do at UC Davis I mean so much so that when nurses would hear that I was having the Whipple procedure done or their their interns were hearing that I was having that done.

They're like, oh I got to find out when I want to be there for it And it's basically a 12 hour procedure Or at least it was back when I had it in 2006 and they take out intestines, they take out half your stomach, they take out as much of the pancreas as necessary. [00:15:00] In my case, that was all of it. And you know, you're in recovery for a decent amount of time as well.

And it was while I was in recovery. that one of my nurses was named Heidi Wieser and she told me about her dream of starting this non profit foundation and doing this camp for adult cancer patients and their families to get away from their cancer battle and to come and have a great weekend and so I told her I'm like Heidi.

I need to come and I need to help you start this camp. I'd done events for Disney for seven years. I did events for other companies as well prior to that. So I was like, this just all makes sense how it's all lining up. And so Heidi's like, no, you need to come as a camper. And I experienced it as a camper.

You and your family need this, this experience. And so I reluctantly said, okay. And so we came to camp. You get one year. And yeah. Exactly. And had, had an amazing, I mean, again, to be able to see my daughters just laughing and playing and having such a great time at camp. It was life changing for our family.

I mean, it [00:16:00] truly did change our lives and especially in my children's lives. And again, they were able to just be kids and that was so huge. Well, and the rest they say is history. You've been engaging the history. Yes. I gave Heidi, I gave Heidi that year and we went back as volunteers in disguise as campers, as she said.

And so, and then I finally said, okay, that's it. I'm coming back and I'm helping out one way or another. And so I ended up becoming the camp director, moving us to where we're at now, Mission Springs, and basically being the voice of the camper, you know, being that I've been in their shoes and I'm in their shoes.

I know what's important to the campers. And so, you know, we've kind of based what we're doing at camp around that. 

Jeff Holden: And I just can't help but stress again, this was like in 2006, it's 2017 and you are still camp director. You're still here telling the stories for anybody that's listening that may have.

hope [00:17:00] to not give up. There's a lot going on. I know your faith is a big part of everything. And, you know, to have a belief that you're going to be here is 

John Burke: important. Yeah, it's, I mean, to me, the most amazing thing about Camp Wieser and about the Me-One Foundation, number one, I have friends that I would not have had otherwise, but number two, God has been able to use something so horrible as cancer, and I mean, there are days it's horrible.

I mean, there are weeks that it's horrible. You know, financially speaking, it's, it's detrimental onto the family. But to be able to take that and then turn it into something amazing, I mean, I leave camp every year, and I'm just amazed by what God has done in the time there. We're a secular organization. We don't have any religious 

Jeff Holden: focus, but there's nothing wrong with individuals having their own faith, whatever that faith.

Maybe. 

John Burke: Absolutely. Yeah. And so, you know, I just, for myself, that's how I come, come at it and everyone has their own reason why they're at camp and why they're volunteering and why they want to give [00:18:00] back to, you know, these people who are going through such a horrible disease. But you know, for me, that's, that's how I, I just find it as being amazing that I'm able to take something horrible and turn it into something to help others.

Jeff Holden: Mm hmm. 

John Burke: Truly the lemons to lemonade. Correct. 

Jeff Holden: No story. Absolutely. Absolutely. You said there's one in Southern California. You guys are here in Northern California. How many people can you accommodate at the camp? 

Erica Pope: We host 35 families each year. 35 

Jeff Holden: families? 35 

Erica Pope: families. So six members in each family. I was just 

Jeff Holden: doing the math on that.

It's almost a couple hundred people. Yeah. 

Erica Pope: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Plus all the volunteers. And the organization of it all and you're responsible for all 

Erica Pope: of that. Yeah. No pressure, John. 

John Burke: Yeah. It's, it's a lot, but it's great. I mean, I've surrounded myself with such great people. Erica is one of them, but there are so many of us who are truly passionate about just making sure that this camp is something that these families will never, ever forget.

And the greatest thing is, as [00:19:00] I get to often hand, Our campers who were once in a light blue shirt, a dark blue shirt, which is our volunteer shirt. And to be able to hand them that shirt and say, you're now on this side of it. And you know, we're still here to support you. It's a, it's amazing. And they make the most amazing hosts that there are because they've been through it.

So they know what, you know, what these people are going through and they know how to truly Make sure that they have a great time while they're there. 

Erica Pope: I think this year did we have, I want to say six people that were hosts that were previous campers, at least. Yeah. And more, more in other roles, but we always have returned campers who come the next year and for many years after.

That's where we come back to volunteer. Yeah, 

Jeff Holden: that is wonderful. Are there other examples of this across the country? 

Erica Pope: We are very, very unique. No, it seems 

Jeff Holden: like it. Yeah. We're very unique. We're like, what a great program. Why are there not more of them, but well, with the right amount of money. We [00:20:00] definitely, definitely do that.

Yeah. 

Erica Pope: Yeah. We, we could mo we could model this and Oh, we, we got a question coming up on that. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: How do you collaborate with other people in the. greater region or sacrament or just even your specific area. Cause I know you're don't just silo. Who do you work with? Who is influential into support and vice versa?

You supporting outward. 

Erica Pope: Yeah. A lot of our referrals are camper referrals come from word of mouth. So people who have either been to camp and volunteered or have been there with them. their family. We work closely with all the local oncology centers. We have a board member who does all the outreach to different cancer centers and support groups.

And then we, you know, work with our local hospitals. We also partner with other cancer organizations. One is the Placer Breast Cancer Foundation. breast cancer where we, it doesn't matter what type of cancer you have, right, as long as you're an adult. And then also Wellness Within is another [00:21:00] organization that's local that provides support in different services for adult cancer patients.

So that's kind of how we partner with the community, but really it is, It is word of mouth. Yeah. We're on, you know, different websites. If you research, you know, cancer support, you'll, we'll pop up, you'll find us. In fact, I had a friend in Michigan who looked up oncology support and she's like, Erica, I found your name somewhere.

So yeah, you'll, you'll find us if you, if you search a little bit. 

Jeff Holden: And I can only imagine the social sharing from people 

John Burke: who have been through the camps. Yeah. We actually, I mean, we have campers every single year that are not from Northern California. They're coming from Texas. They're coming from Colorado.

They're, I mean, we've had people come all the way from across the United States. Yeah. Vermont. To be at camp. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: That's interesting too, because I want to address, it's not just Northern California or the greater Sacramento region. You're based here. Literally anybody from anywhere in the country. that [00:22:00] meets qualifications can come to the camp.

That's correct. 

John Burke: Yeah. We do most of our recruiting of the campers from the Northern California Oncology Centers and so I'd say at least 80 to 90 percent are from Northern California but we always get those who are doing their own research on the web and now I mean it's so easy to do that, right? So they're able to actually find the MeOne Foundation's website when they pop in cancer and support and they can find our camp that way.

And 

Jeff Holden: once your hopes with The technological advances that we've got as things become more and more easy to share. They see this, it starts popping up more often and somebody says, well, that's way out in Northern California. Why don't we do one here or here or here? Reach out to you to get the protocol on how you're doing it.

You get a fee for that particular service to help fund what you do and do more of it. 

Erica Pope: The need is definitely there. I mean, we, 

Jeff Holden: it's unfortunately inevitable. Yes. 

Erica Pope: We could fill a camp every weekend and then some. 

Jeff Holden: I would imagine we're just knowing the [00:23:00] proliferation of cancer and as much as we've gotten to cures and minimization of so much of it, there's just so many more people getting it.

Right. Like 

Erica Pope: you said in the beginning, everybody's affected by it. I know when I speak to groups, one of my first questions is raise your hand if you've ever known anyone with cancer, right? Keep it raised. Every hand. And then keep your hand raised if you know somebody today. who is on a cancer journey and most of those hands stay up.

Jeff Holden: Yeah, I can easily see that. 

Erica Pope: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Sadly so. 

Erica Pope: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: Because you would think we'd have so many more advances and it seemed just different types keep popping up. Yeah. Again, there's, there's so many factors that not that we could spend another show on just that. For sure. You know, and causes, but yeah, just, it's so prolific.

Give me a couple of stories of, of campers, if, if you would, of people 

John Burke: who have been through. Well, I've actually got an email that we just received that I think this story right here, this is why I [00:24:00] do what I do. And we're coming, we're just coming off of 

Jeff Holden: Camp Weiser. 

Erica Pope: Yeah, we're, we're what, two weeks out? A couple weeks out.

Yeah, yeah. And 

Jeff Holden: does it always take place late August, early September? 

John Burke: It's always in September, 

Jeff Holden: it's the second 

John Burke: weekend of September is our slot at Mission Springs. But this camper writes, Camp Weiser was unlike anything I've ever been a part of. The impact it left on me is something I'll carry with me for a long time.

From the moment my family and I arrived, I could feel a sense of community and understanding that is so rare to find. Meeting others who are walking similar paths, hearing their stories of strength, struggle, and resilience was deeply moving. Each conversation reminded me that while our journeys may be different, the bond we share is profound.

There were so many emotions, both heartbreaking and uplifting, but through it all, I felt an overwhelming sense of love and kindness from everyone involved. The activities throughout the weekend were not only fun and engaging, but also designed to nurture the mind, body, and spirit. Whether we were getting to know our amazing host [00:25:00] Melissa, exploring a new creative outlet like Zentangle, or pushing myself to try something new like ziplining and square dancing, each moment allowed us to connect in a way that went beyond words.

I felt Like I was a part of something bigger surrounded by people who truly understood, which brought immense comfort more than anything this weekend gave me hope, hope, not just for myself, but for everyone facing cancer, it's an experience that has reshaped how I view my journey and reminded me that I'm not alone in this fight.

I left camp with a full heart. new friendships and a renewed sense of strength. That's beautiful. And that is why we do what we 

Jeff Holden: do. That's, that's wonderful. And I would imagine the tactile nature of it all. You can go on a Facebook group or you can do zoom calls and you can have your discussions and your group meetings and all that with other people who have similar situations, but there's nothing the same as meeting them in person.

Right. And the engagement in those relationships that will continue for life in most cases I would imagine both [00:26:00] for the person experiencing cancer as well as everybody 

John Burke: in the immediate caregiving group. Yeah, there's so much power in breaking bread together and sitting down for a meal and getting to know other cancer patients and getting to see their experience and what they're going through and just being able to connect on them or connect with them.

in such a different way. And it's, it's very powerful. I do at my best throughout the weekend to sit down with different families and get to know them. And I see the campers also doing the same thing, sitting down with new campers that they haven't met yet and truly being able to understand and realize that they are not in, not alone in this journey.

Jeff Holden: Isn't it amazing the, the dissolution of socioeconomic Age, race, gender. It's gone when you're all discussing an ailment that is life threatening. You look at that person as somebody the same as you. 

Erica Pope: Cancer doesn't [00:27:00] choose. Cancer knows no boundaries. Right? No 

Jeff Holden: discrimination. 

Erica Pope: No discrimination. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. 

Erica Pope: Yeah. And, and Camp Wieser really does bring a lot of very different people together and they become lifelong friends and it really is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah, two people you would look on the street and go, that's never going to happen. Oh 

Erica Pope: yeah, right, right. And here they are. And we've seen, 

Jeff Holden: we've seen. Every 

Erica Pope: year, every year, matches that you would never pick, but they are best friends. You get to stand back 

Jeff Holden: and start to predict what this is going to look like.

Have some fun with it. 

Erica Pope: Yeah, the embraces on the last day when people, you know, go their separate ways and head home and just watching, you know, the two people who you think, Oh my gosh, the, you know, two very, very different people who have really come together and formed a bond that will. They'll take with them forever.

John Burke: Every year I look so forward to camp for many reasons, obviously, but one reason is because this has become a family, you know, and there's, there's campers that come back as volunteers. There's volunteers who have been there since I was a camper [00:28:00] myself. And so to be able to see them each year and to be able to just reconnect with them and find out what's going on in your life now and is everything okay and, and just to be able to relate to them and to talk with them is, it's, it's incredible.

Erica Pope: You know, we had one volunteer this year who says, you know, she's back at camp again and seeing all her camp best friends. She's like, it's just like a real summer camp. You go back and you see these people who really truly become part of your family for that weekend. 

Jeff Holden: And for the volunteers, it's something they're giving back too.

So there's that, there's a really good feeling about it all. I'm sure you're exhausted at the end of it. Oh yeah. Oh yes. But 

Erica Pope: I mean, exhausted just physically, emotionally. Yes. just, but also at the same time re energized, right? And just how do, how do we keep going? Like we just live on this, this high for a couple of weeks and it's like, okay, what else can we do?

How many more camps can we, can we host? And it's, it's beautiful. It really, really is. And the volunteers, you know, they, they [00:29:00] leave thanking everyone. Thank you for letting me be here. You know, it, it fills their cups. So not only are we providing An opportunity for these adult cancer patients and their loved ones, but also for all of these volunteers to be part of something bigger than themselves.

John Burke: We have volunteers who they came with their spouse who was the cancer patients and their spouse has unfortunately passed from their illness, but yet they come back year after year after year to be able to honor their spouse or their mom or dad and be serve as a volunteer at camp. So that's very touching and awesome to see that.

You know, we've made such an impact on their lives. 

Jeff Holden: We'll be back with more from John and Erica with the Me-One organization right after these messages from the folks helping make the program possible. I was in the media business for over 35 years and had the great privilege of working with Runyon Saltzman, RSE, Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations.

We collaborated on many different campaigns, but their commitment to the nonprofit [00:30:00] sector hasn't changed since their founder Gene Runyon started the agency. Over many years and many campaigns, Runyon Saltzman has been committed to improving lives by tackling California's most challenging issues. Guided by research informed strategies and insightful, creative solutions, RSC develops innovative communications campaigns that raise awareness, Educate and reduce stigma in diverse communities throughout our state and beyond.

To learn more about RSE, visit rs e. com. 

Scott Thomas: Hello, this is Scott Thomas with CAP Trust in our Sacramento office. I specialize in working with local nonprofits and associations. Annually, we survey private and public nonprofit organizations across the country to better understand challenges they see in today's environment.

In our more recent survey, we heard concerns about proper board governance, mission aligned investment, and how to implement alternative investments. If you would like a copy of the survey or to discuss your organization, [00:31:00] look me up, scottthomasatcaptrust. com. 

Jeff Holden: I'm thrilled to have Western Health Advantage partnering with us as they do so much to support so many non profit agencies in our community.

As a truly local health plan, you'll find individual and family options, employer options, plans for CalPERS and Medicare Advantage. From medical services to pharmacy, health and wellness support, as well as behavioral health care, Western Health Advantage has a plan that fits what you need. As an employer for profit or non profit business.

Individual or family, you can find more at WesternHealth. com. How is the organization funded? 

Erica Pope: 100 percent through individual donations. 

Jeff Holden: All individual, no grants, nothing? 

Erica Pope: No, we, well, let me back up a little bit. Yes, grants, we do apply for grants, but no federal grants. funding. So we do apply for any grant we can get our hold, you know, ourselves in the bucket for we will apply for, but other than that, it is all individual [00:32:00] donations and then sponsorships.

You know, we hold a big fundraiser at the end of the year that's coming up in December and we raise a lot of money and, and that event, we, we put a lot on its shoulders to help us fund camp the next year. 

John Burke: Yeah. We rely on that fundraiser to fund camp along with all the individuals who also give. Yeah.

Yeah. You know, a lot of high schools will do a fundraiser to help us be able to get a family to camp. And so they'll do, you know, maybe 500, maybe 700, but every penny adds up. Maybe 

Erica Pope: 3, 500. Yeah. Yeah. They do a great job. They really do. 

Jeff Holden: So for the families. If, if I recall from a prior conversation, everything's covered, including transportation.

Erica Pope: Not transportation. Okay. They 

John Burke: have to get themselves to and from camp. But other than that, once they cross the bridge to camp, they pay for not a single thing. 

Erica Pope: We've even gone, like John says, we don't like to say no. We've even gone to the store to pick up shoes. Special [00:33:00] snacks. I mean, if somebody forgot something, we've got you covered for the most part.

Right. But yeah, we really just want to make sure that that experience there at camp is life changing for them. 

Jeff Holden: And how about people in the organization? Is it all volunteer? 

Erica Pope: Yeah. Our program itself, Camp Wieser, is 100 percent volunteer driven. 

Jeff Holden: Okay. Including the management of everything for Me-One. 

Erica Pope: Our board members are all, are all volunteer.

We do contract with professionals to help us fundraise, you know, do social media, that sort of thing. But yeah, the, the camp itself, it is 100 percent volunteer driven. That's amazing. John, John has a day job. I know we were talking about that before you got here. 

John Burke: I do. I do. Right. Which might be a little ignored during the weeks prior to camp, 

Jeff Holden: but a 

Erica Pope: little is an understatement, 

Jeff Holden: I think.

I say now they probably got it figured out that this is what happens every day. Yeah. We lose John for a couple of days. Yeah. 

John Burke: It's, but it's, it's [00:34:00] amazing. And the support that I get from my company is amazing as well. So. 

Jeff Holden: Well, let's see, let's do a shout out because you've been with them for, did you say?

Just over 20 years. Okay. And it's who? 

John Burke: Mohawk Industries. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. Yeah. 

John Burke: The carpet guys. The carpet guys. The flooring guys. Yeah. We do it. Anything 

Jeff Holden: that goes on the floor, we sell. And that's a testament to an organization too. Just a company that allows you to do what you need to do and they understand it.

They've been with you through this whole journey. 

John Burke: They have. And they've been amazing through it all. I mean, I, the HR director calls me at least once a quarter just to see how I'm doing and making sure that I have everything that I need. to get me through this journey and also do my job successfully as well.

So it's, it's great. It's been an incredible time. It's a company that I would never ever leave no matter what they offer because they've been there for me and I will continue to be there for them. Yeah. I love that. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. If only more companies were like that, right? 

Erica Pope: Yeah. There are some pretty amazing ones out there who do support us and it's, you can tell when it's [00:35:00] more than just.

You know, marketing dollars, it's really their philanthropic efforts and they want to be part of the community and part of giving back. 

Jeff Holden: Here's a fun question. If money were no object, what would it look like? What would the organization look like? 

John Burke: I think first of all, we would have our own camp because as much as we love Mission Springs, Mission Springs also does plenty of other camps as well.

And that's the purpose of, of why they're in existence. However, it would be great to be able to have our own facility where we could then. Um, and then we have a lot of great things that we do love about it, but you know, to be able to do challenges, it does come with challenges. Absolutely. But it's, uh, you know, to be able to have our own facility would then enable us to have more camps, right?

I mean, to be able to offer this camp at least once a month would be amazing because the we're talking about cancer patients. So right now, if someone came to me and said, Oh my gosh, I just [00:36:00] saw your video. That's amazing. How do I sign up? And we say, Oh, would that be great? Wouldn't that be great? We've got camp now next year in September.

Well, these people might've been told that they have three months to live. 

Erica Pope: I literally just encountered this. I had a phone call. The week after we got back from camp and said, Eric, I met you. You told me about what you did and I have just been diagnosed with, with cancer. You know, sadly it's terminal and right now I'm one to four months, no treatment, nine months with, with treatment.

When is your next camp? And I had to tell this person that it's next year. It's in September. So, you know, at the same time, I want to, I want to share John's. Words of don't, don't let anybody, don't let anybody give you a timeline, right? You do what is best for you and your family. But how amazing would it have been for me to say next month?

Jeff Holden: Right. Yeah, next month [00:37:00] we 

Erica Pope: can, we can take you and your entire family and give you a weekend to just relax and forget about cancer, 

Jeff Holden: right? 

Erica Pope: Leave all the treatments and the worry at your doorstep, come to Camp Wieser and just have fun and make some memories with the people you love most and meet new friends.

John Burke: And fun is defined by them. It's not defined by us. We offer so much to do that literally, if you tried to do everything, you couldn't, you couldn't, but you know, we, we do that to keep them so busy that they're not even thinking about cancer. They're thinking about what, what times, what times my zip line appointment, what times my haircut.

Erica Pope: And there's something for everyone. It's in, like you said, it's fun. on, on their time and on what they want to do. They can choose to participate in as much or as little, and there's something for everyone. If you can't find something to do at camp, well, I mean, for me, I could sit under a tree and read a book all day.

Some 

Jeff Holden: choose to. Yeah. Just, I just don't want to be bothered by anybody. Right. Anything. I just want to be with myself. 

Erica Pope: And that's perfectly [00:38:00] fine. Sure. That's how they want to spend their weekend at camp. And we tell our family 

John Burke: hosts too, we're like, you know, while we would love for them to be able to experience all the different activities that we offer, we also want them to be able to do what they need to do for themselves.

And we offer, you know, classes on self care for the caregiver, because the fact of the matter is, if you're not taking care of You can't take care of someone else, right? So we want to definitely stress the importance that they need to take care of themselves first but then be there for their loved one who is struggling through cancer.

It's that, you 

Jeff Holden: know, when the oxygen mask falls, you first, because otherwise there's no help. Yep. Now back to reality. What's the greatest need that you guys have at this point? 

Erica Pope: Money. 

John Burke: Yeah. 

Erica Pope: I mean, honestly, money. 

John Burke: You know, in this area, in Northern California, there's so many large companies, it's just a matter of getting that crack of the door to be open for us to meet that person who makes the decisions where their [00:39:00] philanthropic money is going.

And you know, I think more and more people, if they heard about our organization, again, like we said earlier, Everyone knows someone who's going through cancer, and cancer is horrible. Mm-Hmm. absolutely horrible because it doesn't just affect the person who's sick. It affects the entire family. You know, I've seen it in my girls and I mean, we've dealt with issues that our girls have gone through because of this.

Mm-Hmm. . And it's, you know, it's horrible. So. Um, if we can get into the door of the ghouls of the world, the, you know, the apples of the world and let them know what we're doing and why we're doing it, I think that we could get to the point where we do have our own facility and we do have our own camps multiple times throughout the year.

And that would be, I mean, that'd be great. I 

Jeff Holden: mean, and you do have affiliates in other markets that can piggyback off of what you're doing so that you can service that many more. 

Erica Pope: Oh, for sure. Sure. 

Jeff Holden: And we'd be happy 

Erica Pope: to share how we've done [00:40:00] what we've done so more people can experience something like this.

You know, we're not, we're not going to gatekeep anything by any means. I mean, if we could help people in every single state, how amazing would that be? 

Jeff Holden: Right. Right. And there's certainly no lack of opportunity for attendees. 

Erica Pope: No. No, there is not. There's not. 

Jeff Holden: What's the best way to learn more about the organization and John, I know there's a video from just this past September's camp up on the website.

Is that the best way to learn more to, is there an application on the website for if you're interested in participating in a camp? 

Erica Pope: The best way definitely is to watch that video, right? So you can see all the, really watch the magic as it unfolds for the weekend, but you can sign up for our newsletter.

And we send out a newsletter quarterly, maybe a little bit more around December when we're trying to raise some money. And then in May, we participate in the big day of giving, but signing up for, yeah, signing up for that newsletter will keep you informed as to [00:41:00] when applications are available. 

Jeff Holden: What's the web address?

Erica Pope: It is www. me onefoundation. org. So m e o n e f o u n d a t i o n. org. 

Jeff Holden: And I will put that in the show notes as well. So anybody that's looking on their mobile device, you can just scan down and touch it and it'll take you right to the website. Perfect. Awesome. Giving cancer patients And their families and their caregivers and their extended families.

An opportunity to experience something in a stress-free environment is really a blessing for everybody. And I know the volunteers do get the benefit of what that is when they are, they're giving, and that's a visceral experience. Thank you guys for recognizing a need that so often goes unaddressed. And that's everybody.

that's affected, not just the person experiencing cancer. The benefit you're providing is immense to so many and allows them to get that strength and even in some cases, hope. I'm sure not everybody is [00:42:00] terminal within a short period of time. And as you said, you've got light shirts coming back as blue shirts, 

John Burke: right?

Jeff Holden: Which is gotta be one of the neatest 

John Burke: things to see. I think one of the greatest. transitions from one shirt to the next is my daughter. She, you know, started at age four as a camper and went again to the first couple camps as a camper. And now she's the, the only individual that can say that they've been to every single one of our camps from beginning to end because of a medical situation that I experienced one year and had to be rushed to the hospital.

But, you know, she's the only one who's been there from beginning to end and Haley has just been such a trooper and she's now my, my camp director assistant. And, you know, I basically, I want her to be at the point where she can run the camp if I'm unable to, you know, I'll be there, I'm sure, but at least I hope, but as far as running at some point.

At some point, you will [00:43:00] not be able to run the camp. There will be a point where somebody's gonna have to take over the responsibility. I do understand that, and I'm, you know, very grateful that she's fell in love with the camp as much as I have. And she wants to, you know, fill dad's shoes at some point, but hopefully not too soon.

Jeff Holden: Right, right. Well, there's the heir apparent. Right. Which is really neat to see as well. 

John Burke: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Well, thank you guys so much for allowing us to help share the story and hopefully it will engage others who, who didn't know it existed. And I would imagine that you're sold out every year anyhow as the camps come up just 

John Burke: by word of mouth.

Yeah, absolutely. And again, it's just a matter of getting to that point where we can start the second camp. So that way we can do it every six months would be awesome. But yeah, we are sold out and that's the hardest part is, you know, we put out the applications, but then at some point we have to say, sorry, we're full.

And those patients may not be able to wait until next year. Which is, that's the hardest part. In fact, we had one family, unfortunately, [00:44:00] COVID 19. The night before passed away and their kids were so excited about coming to camp and I could just imagine how destroyed, obviously to lose their mom, but then also not to be able to come to camp.

And it's just, it breaks my heart. Yeah. I can appreciate that. Yeah. It's, it's horrible, but you know, that's unfortunately part of what comes with offering a camp for adult cancer patients, right? That's right. But to be able to see the joy on all the other families who were actually there, it was, it amazing.

Jeff Holden: It is incredible. And thank you and the team and the volunteers and everybody that's engaged and everybody that donates to the organization, you know, we'd be nowhere without them. Yeah. We, we so appreciate it. 

Erica Pope: Thank you. 

John Burke: Yes. Thanks for the time today too, to be able to let people know about us. It's absolutely our pleasure.

Jeff Holden: Thank you for listening to the nonprofit podcast network. I hope you enjoyed the episode. If what you heard moved you, please reach out to that [00:45:00] organization and do what you can to help. If you like and appreciate what we're doing to support local nonprofits, please give us a positive review, subscribe, and share.

If you're a nonprofit with an interest in participating in an episode, you can reach me at jeff at hearmenowstudio. com. If you have a need for the services or products our sponsors offer, please reach out to them. Cap trust, fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations. Runyon Saltzman Incorporated, RSC, marketing, advertising, and public relations, creating integrated communications committed to improving lives and Western health advantage, a full service healthcare plan for individuals, employer groups, and families.

The nonprofit podcast network is a production of is recorded at and edited by hear me now [00:46:00] studio.