Atlanta ballet student Jana Cartee didn’t expect to spend her summer back at camp. But when she was offered the opportunity to put her expertise to work and make a difference – she couldn’t pass it up.
Thanks to a new partnership funded by The Home Depot Foundation, Jana spent her summer break teaching dance classes for children at Camp Twin Lakes, a nonprofit that provides life-changing camp experiences to children with serious illnesses, disabilities and other life challenges.
“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” she said. “But I wouldn’t give it up for anything. It was an amazing summer.”
Jana instructed a new dance program for 2,500 campers this summer in Georgia. From jazz to ballet – she tailored each class based on the campers’ interest and individual needs.
For Jana, it was wonderful to see the campers engaged and moving – having a break from the challenges they deal with on a daily basis. The number one priority for her class was to have fun.
“They brought so much amazing energy and gave it everything they had,” said Jana.
“You go into it thinking you’re going to change the kids’ lives, but they end up changing yours.”
Since 2007, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $3 million in 200 of Atlanta’s highest-performing nonprofits through its Building Community Network program. Presented in partnership with the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, the program strengthens organizations by building peer networks, providing information and resources on pertinent trends, and investing in vital operational support.
