Read Our Stories

Mandy and Brady Benedix, then and now.

Mothers and sons share a deep, natural bond built on love, trust, and support. This connection shapes who they are and how they see the world. It’s a quiet strength that lasts a lifetime.

Mandy Benedix and her son Brady have this special bond. And Camp For All is a big part of it.

Mandy was a Camp For All program staff member from the summer of 1999 until 2003 when she became a full-time program manager. She continued to serve as on the program staff until the summer of 2005.

“I originally wanted to work at Camp For All because I was going into my first year of teaching in the fall of 1999 and I wanted a job that summer before working with kids,” said Mandy. “I had a friend who worked at Camp the summer before, and he recommended it to me.”

She added, “I didn’t know what to expect because camp had never been a part of my life growing up.  Once I realized it was everything a career should be – fun, purposeful, impactful, hard, draining, and yet absolutely fulfilling at the same time – I never looked back!”

Mandy led many Camp activities, including the high and low ropes courses and dance classes where campers would learn routines for the talent show. As a program manager, she helped train and support program staff members, as well as collaborated with nonprofit Partners.

“I had so many memorable experiences. Some were big moments, including helping one of our campers with muscular dystrophy conquer his fear of the zipline during his final year of Camp,” said Mandy. “Most were small moments. Every time we saw a camper feeling included, seen, and celebrated, it was a memorable moment.

“The most memorable moment for me was when I realized why Camp For All exists,” she added. “We were hosting a Camp for children with burns. There were campers in full body suits, and some were unable to carry their own trays because of the severity of their burns.

“During the camper carnival, Davey came to my putt-putt station. He was the most severely burned child at Camp. I handed him the putter, but he couldn’t grab it, so he put it between his forearms. He hit the ball until it went in the hole. I then heard a faint sound coming from the small hole in the body suit where his mouth was and realized he was laughing. In that moment, I saw joy in its purest form and realized that it should never be confined to our circumstances,” said Mandy.

Her son Brady, who is beginning his first year at Texas A&M University, was exposed to Camp at an early age. The Benedix family attended every Camp Family Day and volunteered at check-in for muscular dystrophy campers. (Her husband Curt, whom she met at Camp For All, served as a Senior Counselor with the Muscular Dystrophy Association for 27 years.) Brady also raised money for Camp For All by selling lemonade and cookies.

Brady wrapped up his first summer as a program staff member on August 8.

“We always told him that he could work at Camp when he turned 18, and when he chose to do just that, I was so proud,” said Mandy. “I wanted him to do this work because I want him to see people and the world and all that is good in it. I believe no place teaches you that more than Camp For All.”

Mandy spent time at Camp this summer as part of the special Camp For Y’All week. Brady had the day off, so they did the ropes course together, climbed the power pole, and participated in other activities.

“Knowing that 25 years ago, I was where Brady is now and he wasn’t even in the world yet is truly a gift,” she said. “To be able to know what this experience feels like for him and what it will produce in him because I lived it is something that has created a bond between Brady and me that is unique to us.”

Ellie Maddox and Grace Boedy.

You know what many people say — when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

For Ellie Maddox, the five-year-old granddaughter of Laurie and Jack Maddox (Laurie serves on the Camp For All Board of Directors; Jack is the Chair of the Camp Friends Board), and her friend Grace Boedy, when life gave them lemons, they volunteered their time to set up a lemonade stand in Austin, Texas, with the proceeds from every ice-cold cup benefitting Camp For All.

On behalf of our campers, thank you for your initiative, passion, and generosity, Ellie and Grace. Camp For All looks forward to having you as volunteers in the future!

Aline Serinet, General Manager, Camden Property Trust (front row, fourth from the left) with Camden Cares employee volunteers.

First and foremost, I am a mom myself and I felt naturally compelled to volunteer at Camp For All. I am simply blown away and grateful knowing that this kind of organization exists.

We always want the best for our children, so being able to help a camper forget about their challenges even if it was for a few moments meant everything to me.

Life will throw obstacles, but seeing how much joy and courage the campers have despite their challenges is inspiring!

Anya Edelman with a camper on water day.

I first learned about Camp for All while attending Camp for Joy with The Joy School, a private school for students who are neurodivergent or have learning and attention challenges, during my 6th to 8th grade overnight retreats. Later, I discovered that my family and family friends had connections to Camp, which felt like a full-circle moment for me.

As a camper, I recognized that this place was special. The moments I spent bonding with my classmates, facing my fears on the challenge course, and being silly in the costume closet shaped my direction in life and introduced me to the people I look up to.

When I reflect on my experiences, Camp For All stands out as a place where I could truly be myself without fearing that my learning disabilities would hinder my opportunities for fun. For many campers, it is a place where they can hear “yes.” This inclusive environment opens possibilities, and challenges are viewed as valuable learning experiences that will serve me well in my career.

My position as a member of the summer Camp Program Staff has already provided me with so much in just a few weeks. I have connected with fellow staff members who share my passion and fun attitude, which is truly refreshing.

Every Camp group that comes through the gates leaves me with lasting memories and makes a mark on my heart, but my week with Camp Bayou Bruisers was particularly special. One memorable moment was coaching a group of timid campers at the canoe dock. When they were fitting into their life jackets, they asked if they were allowed to do it. I replied, “Of course you can. This is Camp For All!” The light that appeared on their faces is something I will never forget.

Initially, the campers were eager to come back to the dock, but after helping them take some deep breaths, they found the resilience to work together as a team to paddle the canoe. This moment of resilience closely mirrors my experience with Camp For All. It has become a place where I have grown stronger as a leader, navigating new roles as a program staff member and learning new skills, while embracing my learning differences.

Nick and a camper take aim at an archery target.

Cross paths with Camp For All staff member Nick Narcisse and you probably won’t forget it anytime soon. Upbeat, supportive, and focused, he’ll go out of his way to say hello and offer a friendly handshake or embrace before he leaves. You can’t help but get a strong sense that Nick loves discovering life.

Nick first learned about Camp For All during his freshman year at Blinn College in nearby Brenham, Texas. He attended a campus career fair where Camp For All was recruiting new staff members.

“Camp For All made a big impression on me. As soon as I interacted with the campers, I wanted to be a part of it,” Nick said. “Not only does Camp For All transform the world for children and adults with challenging illnesses, disabilities, or special needs, it also transforms staff members. Being at Camp makes me want to be better in every aspect of my life.”

A staff member since 2023. Nick acknowledges that he has grown a lot during his time at Camp For All. He cites the many opportunities he and other staff members have to make a positive impact on campers, whether it’s serving as a lifeguard, running an activity, or sharing words of encouragement.

“You eventually blossom into someone the campers look up to and, at the same time, a person you didn’t think you could be,” he said.

Some of Nick’s favorite experiences include dancing with campers during the daily “Energizers,” making himself a target during “Water Days” at Camp, and belaying climbers in Star Place and on the climbing tower.

“One of the greatest rewards of being a Camp For All staff member is when our campers trust and confide in me because I made an impact on them,” Nick said. “It’s an incredible feeling and one of the reasons I love what I do and why I do it.”

Nick’s Camp For All experiences and surrounding himself with what he calls, “amazing people,” have also positively impacted his life beyond Camp. He has built relationships with major industry influencers in music and entertainment, which has grown his passion in these areas, as well as in entrepreneurship. Nick has also helped lead food drives for retired veterans, which has created an interest in the military.

“At Camp For All, everything we do is about joy, fun, and enabling our campers to discover life,” Nick said. “Camp For All has also helped me discover life in more ways than I could have ever imagined.”

Ashley Gumbert and Karen Bunger.

Spend just a few minutes with Karen Bunger and Ashley Gumbert and you’ll be able to tell that they’re lifelong friends. All the unique characteristics are there to see – the shared smiles, simultaneous nods of approval, and comments that build seamlessly on each other’s thoughts and ideas.

Their bond is easily recognizable when Karen and Ashley, event co-chairs, talk about the 2025 Camp For All Gala, “Bubbles & Brews – A Toast for All,” on Thursday, October 9, 2025 in Brenham.

Their connection also includes their shared passion for serving others.

Karen has more than 20 years of experience as an Educational Diagnostician, with the past four years working with the special education department in the Brenham Independent School District. During her time in Dallas, Karen worked with Pediatricians of Dallas providing evaluations for children with special needs, including developmental delays, ADHD, and learning disabilities.

Ashley was a member of The Junior League of Houston where she volunteered at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, co-chaired the bookfair at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, co-chaired Fathers and Flashlights, a fundraiser for West University’s parks, and worked with children with special needs at the Conroe Independent School District.

Both raised in Brenham, Karen and Ashley have been close to Camp For All for many years. They’re regular volunteers at Camp, and two of Ashley’s sons are volunteering this summer.

Karen and Ashley’s bond extends to their relationships in the community. Marita and Robert Mikeska, the honorees of this year’s gala, are close friends. Marita invited Karen and Ashley to join the Camp Friends Board, which they’ve each served on for the past two years.

“I hope our community continues to recognize just how important Camp For All is – not only as a place for children and adults with special needs to come together to discover life, but also for its ability to touch the lives of so many,” Karen said.

“Camp For All is truly a unique and special place that we are lucky to have right in our own backyard! Camp provides life-changing experiences for both campers and volunteers,” Ashley said.

On behalf of everyone at Camp For All, we’re lucky to have the unwavering support, service, and selflessness of these lifelong friends. Thank you for everything you do, Karen and Ashley!

Sharee and “Mr. Steve” at the Camp For All fishing pier.

While being raised in Channelview, Texas, east of Houston, Sharee Hebert grew up with a deep sense of value for volunteerism and service. She didn’t have to look very far for two exceptional role models: her parents, Steve and Sharon Walker. Campers affectionately know Steve as “Mr. Steve” or “Pops,” depending on the Camp.

“Our parents were always helping with everything. They were always the last ones to leave,” Sharee recalled. “Our parents taught us to give what you could through serving others.”

While Sharee was in high school, her sister was a patient at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital in Houston. It was through MD Anderson that her father learned about Camp Star Trails, a Camp For All nonprofit Partner.

“It was back in 2001 when my dad asked me if I wanted to join him as a counselor with Camp Star Trails. I immediately fell in love with the people and experience,” she said.

Sharee continued volunteering with Camp Star Trails in the early 2000s and again in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Following time abroad, including living and teaching in China, Sharee relocated back to Katy, Texas with her 12-year-old daughter in 2022. The move to Texas gave her an opportunity to renew her passion for Camp For All.

“When I started volunteering again in 2022, I decided I wanted to try some new experiences, so I signed up to help at Camp For All,” Sharee said. “I’ve found this side of volunteering is also incredibly rewarding. I get to do it all.”

Sharee is shaping future generations of medical professionals through her teaching career at The Village School in Houston. She recently took 20 students from the high school’s pre-med program to Camp For All. “I wanted the students to understand the medical side of Camp For All and how campers may be treated and cared for when they’re at Camp. The experience really touched them, and they asked to go back next year,” she said.

Speaking of future generations, Sharee is also eager to have a third-generation member of her family follow in her and her parents’ footsteps toward volunteerism and service. “I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to volunteer at Camp For All,” she said proudly. And we can’t wait to see Mr. Steve’s photos of that memorable day.

Elizabeth and a camper having fun.

Elizabeth Gonzales’ involvement with Camp For All and Emerging Leaders stems from a lifelong passion for meaningful inclusion and advocacy.

As a former respite provider for more than 10 years and a volunteer with Easter Seals Greater Houston, Elizabeth has worked closely with individuals of all abilities, witnessing both the barriers that exist and the unique strengths and talents each individual brings. Her time volunteering at Camp For All was transformative – it reinforced her belief that true inclusion isn’t just about access, but it’s also about creating spaces where everyone is valued, empowered, and celebrated.

As a former development team member at Camp For All, Elizabeth also understands the critical need for advocacy and sustainable support to ensure these life-changing programs continue. She is committed to championing spaces like Camp For All, where every individual, regardless of ability, can experience joy, independence, and belonging.

Through Camp For All Emerging Leaders, Elizabeth hopes to amplify these efforts, ensuring that inclusion is not just a concept, but also a lived reality for all

Tim, Ally, and their children, Charlie and Zoey.

As a husband, father, and Senior Product Manager at Autodesk, Tim Kelly’s experiences at Camp For All taught him invaluable lessons about teamwork, adaptability, and empathy.

Each week, as new groups of campers arrived, it was his duty as a staff member to ensure they felt welcome, engaged, and ready for fun. Because there’s such a large variety of responsibilities for staff members, it was critical for everyone to be flexible and collaborate effectively. Tim and his Camp For All colleagues were constantly adapting to meet the unique needs of each group, ensuring they were safe and comfortable while enjoying every activity.

Camp For All welcomes diverse campers, volunteers, and staff members. Therefore, Tim found it was always important to make sure everyone was included, no matter how much was required to adjust the game or activity. Tim also found that collaborating with a diverse staff was especially important because it provided different perspectives on those situations.

These lessons – and so many more from Camp – have become a core part of Tim’s personal and professional life and benefit him every day. He and his wife Ally, a member of the Camp For All Board of Directors, met at Camp as staff members in 2005. Two decades later, they often find themselves reflecting on their experiences.

The influence of Camp For All extends to Tim and Ally’s personal values and community involvement, as well as Tim’s approach to leadership in his career because of all that Camp provides to campers and staff members. Tim and Ally said their commitment to Camp today is a testament to the magical feeling and pride they get from being a part of the staff at Camp For All.