Camp Mystic: National Nonprofit Pledges Significant Sponsorship and Ongoing Support Following Reopening Announcement
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- Sep 25
- 3 min read
Uvalde Foundation for Kids Applauds Camp Mystic’s Resilient Reopening for 100th Anniversary, Pledges Significant Sponsorship and Ongoing Support with Safety Infrastructure Fund & Scholarship
TEMPLE, TX – September 25, 2025 – The Uvalde Foundation for Kids today issued a statement in powerful support of Camp Mystic’s decision to partially reopen for the Summer 2026 season, coinciding with the beloved camp’s 100th anniversary. This move follows the devastating natural disaster that struck the Camp Mystic Guadalupe River location on July 4, 2025, which tragically resulted in the loss of 27 precious campers and counselors.
The camp plans to reopen its sister site, Camp Mystic Cypress Lake, which was undamaged by the floods, allowing the tradition of laughter, friendship, and spiritual growth to resume for a new generation of campers while implementing the highest level of safety protocols as mandated by the recently passed Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act
A History of Devastation and a Legacy of Resilience
The catastrophic, 1,000-year weather event on the Fourth of July, 2025, was one of the darkest days in the camp’s nearly 100-year history. Fast-rising floodwaters of the Guadalupe River tragically swept through a low-lying area of the camp. The camp's leadership, the Eastland family, lost patriarch Richard "Dick" Eastland, who died trying to save campers.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids immediately launched a nationwide campaign to aid the victims and the affected community. Efforts included:
* Raising Thousands of Dollars: Funds have been channeled directly to the affected families and staff to assist with immediate needs, recovery, and the long-term rebuilding process.
* Coordinating Emergency Donations: The Foundation facilitated the delivery of over three tons of emergency supplies, including clothing, toiletries, and essentials, to displaced families and first responders in Kerr County.
For an example of the Foundation's early relief efforts, please see local coverage:
* Honoring the Missing: In partnership with the National Star Registry, the Foundation named a star after the last missing camper, 8-year-old Cile Steward, who is still unrecovered. The star, named "Cile Steward," serves as an eternal beacon of remembrance and a promise.
Sponsoring the Reopening and Committing to the Future
To ensure the camp’s successful and safe return, the Uvalde Foundation for Kids is proud to announce its commitment to sponsor the official 100th Anniversary Reopening Ceremony at Camp Mystic Cypress Lake in Summer 2026.
The Foundation pledges ongoing support for the camp’s long-term future through two key initiatives:
* Safety and Infrastructure Grant: The Foundation will establish a dedicated grant to assist Camp Mystic with the unfunded portions of complying with the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, ensuring cutting-edge warning systems and preparedness training are maintained in perpetuity.
* Campership Fund for Affected Families: We will launch the "Legacy of Light Campership Fund" to provide full tuition and travel assistance to the immediate siblings and children of the 27 victims, allowing them to experience the joy and healing of Camp Mystic for years to come.
Statement From Foundation Founder, Daniel Chapin: A Declaration of Love and Enduring Legacy:
“We recognize and honor the raw emotion, the profound grief, and even the challenges that this reopening brings to the families who suffered an unimaginable loss,” said Daniel Chapin, Founder of the Uvalde Foundation for Kids.
This decision is not about forgetting; it is about choosing to build a monumental legacy from the rubble of tragedy. It is an act of sheer resiliency for the Eastland family and the Camp Mystic community.
The reopening of Camp Mystic is a solemn dedication—a promise that the laughter will return, the lessons will continue, and the rich history of this place will shape generations of other children. We cling to the truth that ‘neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:38-39).
This love is what compels us forward. As Cile Steward’s star now burns forever in the night sky, the light of those 27 lives will forever inspire the purpose and safety of this camp.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids stands unequivocally with the Camp Mystic community in this bold, hopeful, and necessary step toward a dedicated and safer future."
About The Uvalde Foundation for Kids
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids is a national organization dedicated to supporting victims of tragedy, promoting child safety, and working to end school violence. We engage in fundraising, direct aid, and advocacy to provide comfort and create a safer future for all children.
The Uvalde Foundation For Kids
254 499 8027
