One Family

Last summer at Camp OTX, we had the joy of watching 139 FPR participants live their very best lives. From the moment they arrived, the energy was contagious—laughter, courage, and connection everywhere you looked.

We were joined by 20 incoming juniors and seniors serving on the volunteer leadership team, and it was powerful to see them step confidently into leadership. Even more moving was the way they cared for the younger FPR participants. Whether it was braiding hair, to offering encouragement at the top of the big new slide, or sneaking an extra swirl of soft-serve, they showed up for one another like family—because that’s what they are. One big family.

On the drive to OTX, Alondra—an FPR alum and scholarship recipient currently attending Bryn Mawr—texted to share that she had nominated Diana, an FPR participant and rising sophomore at Westchester, for Posse, the same program that helped Alondra earn a full-ride scholarship. She insisted I give Diana her number in case she needed anything.

In that moment, it became clear that the love, the belief, and the encouragement poured into these kids over the years has become part of their identity. It’s woven into their character. They don’t just receive support anymore—they reach back and lift others up.

And that is life-changing.