Anne Hipp first learned about Camp Twin Lakes 14 years ago when she shared a carpool with the group’s founder. But she admits it took her a while to figure out exactly what the organization did.
“But once I learned about it and saw how many children they served and how well they did it, I developed a real passion for Camp Twin Lakes,” said Hipp. “I was won over.”
The Sandy Springs resident quickly became an avid supporter of the nonprofit that gives seriously ill and disabled children the chance to enjoy a few weeks in the outdoors. But Hipp didn’t stop at just being a volunteer; she’s also been a longtime board member and chair of the group’s biggest fundraiser, the Partners Card Event.
“I got into it by asking them if they needed any help, and they had just started this card program,” said Hipp. “At the time, the cards were $50 and gave 20 percent discounts at different stores around town.”
But Hipp was hesitant; the idea of selling anything made her uneasy.
“I didn’t really want to ask people for money,” she said. “But it turned out, the cards sold themselves.”
A few years ago, Hipp decided to launch a major sales push to get the cards out to the public. She started by sending letters to people she knew. In a few weeks, she outpaced her usual sales volume of about 30 cards and sold 300.
“People came out of the woodwork,” she said. “It inspired me. Soon, I had no shame.”
As chair of the Camp’s Partners Card promotion, Hipp works with a small army of volunteers who sell the cards and work year-round to find partner shops and restaurants. This year, the $60 cards will earn buyers a 20 percent discount at about 400 destinations such as the Container Store, Patagonia, Joey D’s Oak Room in Dunwoody, Food 101 in Sandy Springs and Coast Seafood & Raw Bar in Buckhead, to name a few. The discount is available only between October 28 and November 6.
“We say it’s like putting Atlanta on sale for 10 days,” Hipp said. “You can get sale prices at places where things hardly ever go on sale.”
Last year, proceeds of the event helped 8,500 children attend one of three summer camps or weekend programs that often include parents and siblings. Since its inception in 1993, more than 50,000 youngsters have benefited from outings held in Rutledge, Winder and Warm Springs.
“We pay 80 percent of the cost to do this,” said Hipp. “And that money only comes from fundraisers, foundations and grants.”
Some of the funds to support the camp’s mission have come directly from Hipp’s pocket, said executive director Eric Robbins.
“In addition to being an incredible volunteer, Anne is very philanthropic,” said Robbins. “Last year, she and her husband completely paid to build an amphitheater at our camp in Rutledge. We named it Turtle Cove, but we talked at one point of naming it the Hippadrome.”
Hipp has also been instrumental in raising awareness about the camp, recruiting new volunteers and involving the community in its mission, said Robbins.
“She always does what she can to help us be a stronger organization, but the Partners Card is really her thing,” he said. “She has always been the biggest seller. And this year, it was her idea to have a mobile app for the card. That was all from her; we weren’t even thinking about it.”
This year, Hipp hopes to raise $290,000 from card sales. That’s an attainable number, since she’s no longer reluctant to ask anyone for the money.
“Anyone who knows me says, ‘Uh-oh, here comes Anne, and she’s going to sell me a Partners Card,” said Hipp with a laugh. “They know it’s been my passion for a long time.”
Information about the Partners Card is available online at www.camptwinlakes.org or www.partnerscard.com.