Comfort Zone Camp Holds Inaugural West Coast Camp in Southern California

MALIBU, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comfort Zone Camp (CZC), the largest nonprofit bereavement camp for children in the nation, held its first West Coast camp in Southern California on September 26-28, 2008. With 90 volunteers hosting 59 campers ages 7 to 17 from California, Texas, Montana and Illinois, the inaugural camp exceeded expectations. In addition to the latest Southern California camp, CZC currently offers camps in Virginia and New Jersey. CZC has provided a fun, safe and healing camp environment for over 3,500 campers from 37 states and Canada, supporting them as they to learn to cope with the grief that accompanies the loss of a loved one.

“We are very excited about our expansion into Southern California”

“We are very excited about our expansion into Southern California,” Comfort Zone Camp Founder and CEO Lynne Hughes said, “Before the expansion, we saw many children from the West Coast travel across the country to attend camp. The addition of the camp and permanent West Coast office allows us to offer support to grieving children in a location much closer to their homes. The high enrollment last weekend clearly illustrates the need for a camp on the West Coast and we look forward to seeing new and returning campers at our upcoming California camps.”

Aided by a recent $3 million grant from the New York Life Foundation, Comfort Zone Camp will hold 4 camps in 2008 and 8 camps in 2009 in Malibu. The grant also funded the establishment of a permanent West Coast office in Torrance, CA. In addition, the $3 million from the New York Life Foundation will aid in the Camp’s plan to further expand nationally with the opening of a camp in Boston and an additional location that is yet to be determined. Finally, the grant will foster the enhancement of the CZC website to offer an online support system for campers and their parents.

“CZC provides an excellent opportunity for young people to come together in a safe and loving environment to share their grief and begin the life long process of healing,” said Chris Park, president, New York Life Foundation. “The mission of CZC is an ideal fit with New York Life Foundation’s focus on ‘Nurturing the Children.’ Our agents reach out to families in difficult times and have seen first-hand how the loss of a parent or caregiver can affect the lives of those left behind, especially children. We recognize the importance of emotional support and are proud to work with Comfort Zone Camp to provide this in a unique, fun, caring way.”

About Comfort Zone Camps

The mission of CZC is to “offer bereaved children the opportunity to remember their loved ones in a safe and healing camp environment.” Since its founding, CZC has held over 80 camps and served more than 3,500 children. To date, campers have come to camps from 37 states and Canada. Comfort Zone has become the largest bereavement camp program in the country. Please visit the organization’s Website at http://www.comfortzonecamp.org/

About The New York Life Foundation

The New York Life Foundation is the major vehicle through which New York Life Insurance Company channels contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations. Through its Nurturing the Children initiative, the Foundation supports organizations, programs and services that target young people, particularly in the areas of mentoring, safe places to learn and grow, and educational enhancement opportunities. Since 1979, the New York Life Foundation has donated more than $100 million to national and local nonprofit organizations.

Please visit the Foundation’s Web site at www.newyorklifefoundation.org.