Let's Coach! with Mark and Carolyn

Let’s Coach with Mark and Carolyn, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, Noon EST

Just Imagine

Just imagine – at risk young people with few prospects suddenly presented with the chance to go to camp.  That was Abby Sondak’s dream.  Working in Washington DC’s inner city public schools, she saw plenty of kids with limited opportunities.  Abby decided to do something about it.  She started her own non-profit to send kids to camp so that they could enjoy the same carefree and enjoyable summer fun that she experienced.  Starting with two campers in 2011, Abby decided to create her own non-profit, Just Imagine.  Her campers have flourished and the organization has grown.

Just Imagine was incorporated in 2012 with the goal of being able to provide as many wonderful D.C. Public and Charter school students with the summer experience of a lifetime. With the help from friends, family, camps and other supporters, nine students were able to attend sleep away camp that summer.  That grew to 14 camp scholarships for the summer of 2013 and 22 students with scholarships in 2014. This summer, 45 children will receive scholarships to camp. 

Abby Sondak graduated from the University of Maryland in 2009, and began working for a non-profit organization called Playworks. During her time with Playworks, she worked in inner city public schools in Washington DC, creating a safe, inclusive environment for children to play with one another. Following her time with Playworks, she was hired as a PE Teacher at E.W. Stokes Public Charter School in NE DC. She completed a Masters in Elementary Education in May, and has recently been hired as the Development and Communications Manager at Stokes.

Join Mark and Carolyn, as we hear Abby’s inspiring story.  She’ll tell us how her desire to meet student’s dreams resulted in a non-profit that touches the lives of at risk kids.