ABOUT US | Timeline

1991 - Camp John Marc opens in Texas to provide a fully-accessible camp to children living near Dallas, and a model for the future construction of Kindle Ranch

1993 - Camp Twin Lakes opens in Georgia, which operates as, "a network of camps providing life-changing camp experiences to thousands of children with serious illnesses, disabilities and challenges each year"

1998 - Camp Kindle is established to offer a cost-free one week summer camp for children impacted by HIV/AIDS in the Midwest

-Camp for All opens in Texas, offering a third model for a barrier-free, collaborative partnership's for excellence in camping

2003 - Camp Kindle celebrates its fifth year providing programs to over 100 children each summer

2004 - Camp Kindle becomes Project Kindle

-The peer-to-peer SPEAK OUT program is started to empower camp participants to speak to other children across the country about raising awareness and reducing stigmas

-Students Affected by AIDS Scholarship Fund is created to support post high school education for participants

2005 - Project Kindle begins Camp Kindle West to serve children on the west coast impacted by HIV/AIDS

2006 - Eva Payne recognized in 4th Annual Volvo For Life Awards National Finalist.

-Painted Turtle is opened in Southern California to offer their own camping programs to children living with chronic disease

2007 - Eva Payne recognized by Volvo of North America in their 5th Anniversary Volvo For Life Awards State Finalist

-Eva Payne recognized by L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honoree.

-Eva Payne visits Camp For All in Texas for a conference and decides this is the model she wants for a camp facility in Southern California

2008 - Project Kindle celebrates its tenth anniversary

-The first phase of the I Know initiative, established to tell the stories of campers, is completed with production of a book and DVD made available to health educators and students

-Project Kindle begins conversations with other nonprofit organizations about the need for a barrier-free camp space made available for them to run their own camps

-Eva Payne recognized as Hometown Hero by DirecTV

-Project Kindle selected as primary beneficiary of Northwestern University Dance Marathon.

-The Kindle Staff revisit Camp For All and hold many discussions with their staff about CFA formation, programs and operations.

-The Kindle Staff visit Camp John Marc to learn more about their camp formation, programs and operations.

2009 - Project Kindle begins search for property to eventually house Kindle Ranch with the help of CBRE.

-Initial site renderings are developed

-D.L. Morgan Consulting is hired to build the foundation for the Kindle Ranch Capital Campaign

-Feasibility Study is conducted

-Kindle Ranch Friendraiser hosted in Malibu, CA

-Partnerships with nonprofit organizations are formalized

-Campaign Committee is established

-Medical Advisory Team established

-Eva Payne recognized as Home Depot Hometown Hero essay contest winner and Helpful Honda Honoree

-Kindle Ranch website and other social networks launched

2010 - Kindle Ranch is targeted to be built in the Santa Clarita Valley, with the help of Project Manager from Trammell Crow

-Project Kindle hosts first nonprofit network luncheon for Kindle Ranch in the Spring

-Eva Payne establishes relationship for Camp Twin Lakes in Georgia

-Design Advisory Committee established

-Kindle Ranch Friendraiser hosted in Montecito, CA

- FOCUS Building Solutions offers pro-bono services.

- Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae offering pro-bono counsel for Kindle.

2011 - Project Kindle continues to add nonprofit partner groups, 12 in total, with the addition of The Help Group in December of 2011.

-Project Kindle hosts nonprofit collaborative luncheons for Kindle Ranch throughout the year.

-Design team visits Camp Twin Lakes

-Alliance Land Planning and Engineering, Inc. joins the KR team as a pro-bono partner.

-Site Development Plan is created.

-Project Kindle awarded a grant from Boston Scientific Foundation to assist in the costs to host a week long session of Kindle Ranch Day Camp in June of 2012.

2012 - KR Benefit and Awareness Luncheons hosted in March