Oakland’s Camp Tracy receives gifts for renovations

Oakland’s Camp Tracy recently received gifts by the Harold Alfond Foundation, a grant of $1.5 million, and a Hawkes Family gift of $500,000, along with lead gifts from LL Bean of $200,000 and Jim and Rhonda Hughes of $100,000. These gifts will provide major renovations to the existing campus. From left are Laurie Hawkes, Ken Walsh and Greg Powell. Submitted photo

The Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA of Greater Waterville at the Alfond Youth & Community Center were presented with two gifts May 26 during its annual appeal event at the center.

The gifts came from Greg Powell, the CEO of the Harold Alfond Foundation and foundational supporter of the AYCC, and Laurie Hawkes, longtime supporter of the facility’s summer camp on McGrath Pond in Oakland, Camp Tracy.

The Alfond foundation’s grant is $1.5 million, and the Hawkes family gift is $500,000.

Those funds, along with lead gifts from LL Bean of $200,000 and Jim and Rhonda Hughes of $100,000, will provide major renovations to the existing campus, according to a news release from the center.

“The numbers of kids benefiting from a summer at Camp Tracy continues to grow every year,” said Hawkes. “We want to ensure the facility and programs are ready and well-equipped to meet these growing needs with the highest quality of service.”

A rendering of Camp Tracy’s exterior front. Submitted photo

These contributions will fund a host of renovations to that end, including additional parking, building a sixth cabin, resurfacing the lower turf field, covering the Hawkes basketball/tennis court, and upgrading the ropes course. Also planned is a new dining and recreation facility that will host up to 300 youths at a time.

With a commercial kitchen, fireplace, wraparound porch, and residential spaces, the addition provides rental opportunities to support the camp’s mission of affordable, quality summer experiences for all area youth.