Children with craniofacial malformation will always have a safe place for summer fun thanks to a generous donation from the Lucy Gooding Charitable Foundation Trust.
The donation of $400,000 over the next four years will fund in perpetuity the University of Florida Craniofacial Centers Craniofacial Camp, which has been held at the Montgomery Conference Center on beautiful Lake Emerald near Starke for the past 12 years.
This three-day summer camp provides a haven for children with craniofacial malformations and their families. At Craniofacial Camp, children work on skills needed to help them cope with their disability in an environment free from stares or teasing. The camp also gives parents a chance to share resources and insights about the psychological issues their children may experience as they face surgeries and therapies.
The camp, held this July for the 13th year, is one of the Craniofacial Centers most important family outreach programs.
“We are so very grateful to the Lucy Gooding Trust for its partnership with us in this important activity,” said William Williams, Ph.D., center director and a professor of oral biology. “Weve learned that bringing children with facial differences, who often feel alone and isolated, together with their families adds so significantly to the whole habilitation process.”
Founded in 1981, the interdisciplinary Craniofacial Center is housed in UFs College of Dentistry and serves patients with craniofacial malformations and their families, conducting research to improve diagnosis and treatment of craniofacial malformations, and educating students and professionals in craniofacial science.
The Lucy Gooding Charitable Foundation Trust has been a supporter of the Craniofacial Center and its many programs since 1991. Added to the foundations previous gifts to the endowment, this $400,000 donation raised the Craniofacial Camps endowment to just over $1 million.