A Break For Kids With Aids - how Fresh Air camp, for children with HIV, got its start - Brief Article

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, Feb, 2001

Margot Andrew "believed 150%" in giving sick children a breath of FRESH AIR.

Name: Margot Andrew, 41, Los Angeles

Achievement: Established Camp Laurel, a tuition-free residential camp for HIV-positive children ages 6 to 16.

Signs of success: In 2000, raised $850,000 and served 500 children in five two-week sessions.

How she did it: While working days at Warner Bros. insuring music-video sets, spent her nights writing grant proposals. It took a year to get $5,000 from the Hasbro Children's Foundation, and two years to raise $24,000 to get the camp off the ground in 1994.

Sources of help: Lawyer friends who advised her on how to set up a nonprofit, and a friend at Warner Bros. whose son made a video "to get the word out."

Lesson learned: "Chance is talking," says Andrew. "People who don't find something to do aren't listening."

Next goal: Think about ways to improve care for the elderly.