Representative Don Humason



For Immediate Release: July 21, 2006 HUMASON & KNAPIK SECURE STAFF FUNDING FOR KAMP FOR KIDS Westfield’s State Representative Don Humason and State Senator Mike Knapik were successful in securing $50,000 in state funding to pay for camp staff salaries for the 31 year old Abilities Unlimited/Kamp for Kids summer program. “Because Kamp for Kids moved to it’s new location at Camp Togowauk on Russell Road, there was a potential problem with the loss of state funding that used to come down to them from Western Mass Hospital where Kamp for Kids used to be,” Humason said. “Though the director at Western Mass Hospital didn’t want to part with the money, by rights it belonged to Abilities Unlimited to pay for all those terrific kids who give so much of themselves as camp councilors to help other kids with disabilities.” “Working with Representative Don Humason and his contacts at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services in Boston, we were able to impress on them the importance of that funding and negotiate a new mechanism for getting the money to Kamp for Kids,” said Knapik. “The new way involves an intergovernmental transfer from EOHHS to the Department of Mental Retardation to Kamp for Kids. It’s complicated, and only for this season, but it works.” Representative Humason and Senator Knapik intend to seek a more direct and permanent funding stream in next year’s state budget. Abilities Unlimited Director C. David Scanlin praised their efforts, “Don and Mike are always there for us whenever we need to do something for the children of Kamp for Kids/Camp Togowauk. We thank them both for their hard work and continuing support.” ***
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For Immediate Release: July 21, 2006

HUMASON & KNAPIK SECURE STAFF FUNDING FOR KAMP FOR KIDS

Westfield’s State Representative Don Humason and State Senator Mike Knapik were successful in securing $50,000 in state funding to pay for camp staff salaries for the 31 year old Abilities Unlimited/Kamp for Kids summer program.

“Because Kamp for Kids moved to it’s new location at Camp Togowauk on Russell Road, there was a potential problem with the loss of state funding that used to come down to them from Western Mass Hospital where Kamp for Kids used to be,” Humason said. “Though the director at Western Mass Hospital didn’t want to part with the money, by rights it belonged to Abilities Unlimited to pay for all those terrific kids who give so much of themselves as camp councilors to help other kids with disabilities.”

“Working with Representative Don Humason and his contacts at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services in Boston, we were able to impress on them the importance of that funding and negotiate a new mechanism for getting the money to Kamp for Kids,” said Knapik. “The new way involves an intergovernmental transfer from EOHHS to the Department of Mental Retardation to Kamp for Kids. It’s complicated, and only for this season, but it works.”

Representative Humason and Senator Knapik intend to seek a more direct and permanent funding stream in next year’s state budget.

Abilities Unlimited Director C. David Scanlin praised their efforts, “Don and Mike are always there for us whenever we need to do something for the children of Kamp for Kids/Camp Togowauk. We thank them both for their hard work and continuing support.”

***