Half-million needed to restore Fresh Air Home

Written by Christie Rotondo Thursday, September 27, 2012 12:31 pm

Motorcycle ride part of campaign to raise cash for construction

NORTH WILDWOOD- The Children’s Fresh Air Home, which has campaigned to renovate its historic building for the past two years, needs to raise an additional $500,000 to continue construction, according to the charity’s executive director.

“We’re at a standstill,” said Angel Daniels, executive director of the home. “It’s a point where we can’t do anymore until we raise another $500,000.”

To help raise this money, Daniels and the board of directors organized a new fundraiser for the Fresh Air Home. The first Ride to Rebuild will kick off Oct. 6, and is geared toward motorcycle enthusiasts and clubs who want to help the charity’s campaign.

Daniels said the idea for the Ride to Rebuild, which will start in Mount Laurel and end at the Fresh Air Home in North Wildwood, came from new board of trustee member Carlo Chinosi, who is also a motorcycle enthusiast.

“It was a pretty simple equation for me,” Chinosi said. “I’m a rider myself, and I understand that motorcyclists are a good group of people who come together for great causes.”

He added that other motorcycle events in Wildwood, such as the annual Roar to the Shore event in the fall, are successful, and he that Ride to Rebuild would also become an annual fundraiser for the home.

“Driving awareness and fundraising for the home are major aspects for the board right now,” Chinosi said.

Chinosi is part of the newly reorganized board of trustees for the home, which Daniels said was “huge” for the organization.

“We’re a very old organization, we have had some members on the board for 30 years, which is a wonderful thing, but some people were ready to retire,” Daniels said.

The organization first began in 1896, and was led by Ida Dukes of Hammonton. Originally called Christian Endeavor, Dukes would invite children down to the Delaware River area for daytrips whose families couldn’t afford a vacation, but needed a retreat from city life. In 1911, she brought the first trip to Wildwood for a longer vacation. In 1913, with the assistance of resident Henry Otten, she purchased a small home along the bay for the charity. In 1923, Otten matched funds raised by Dukes and built the Fresh Air Home on 11th and Surf Avenues for $30,000.

According to the organization, the Fresh Air Home is a faith-based organization and has given more than 20,000 children ages 7 to 11 vacations in North Wildwood during the summer. Its goal is to provide a breath of fresh air to children who are living with family or community adversities.

Over 100 years, however, the charity’s home has suffered much wear and tear, Daniels said.

The Century Campaign was launched to rebuild the interior of the building, while preserving its façade.

“The structure is not going to be demolished, just refurbished,” Daniels said.

Currently, Daniels said, the home is just an empty shell, and construction is at a standstill until additional money can be raised so the house can be raised 18 inches for the foundation to be rebuilt.

Construction began about two years ago, she said, when the city asked the charity to remove the structure’s porch because it had become unsafe, Daniels said.

In addition to the foundation, all new plumbing and electrical wiring must be added to the home, she said.

The Ride to Rebuild will also kick off a “raise the flag” campaign, Daniels said. She said raising the large American flag on the home was one of the long-standing traditions at the Fresh Air Home. In addition to raising an American flag, Daniels said a Fresh Air Home flag will also be raised incrementally to track donations, starting Oct. 6

Besides these campaign, however, Daniels said the charity was able to once again bring children to Wildwood this past summer- a first since 2006.

The Fresh Air Home launched its “If Only For a Day” program- which brought children to the beach and boardwalk for day trips. Until restoration of the home is complete, Daniels said the charity would continue these trips.

“We are continuing to serve the children,” Daniels said. “Through all this, we have not stopped serving children.”

The Ride to Rebuild will kick off 9:45 a.m. Oct. 6, and will depart from 3601 Route 38 in Mount Laurel in Burlington County. There is a $30 donation per rider to participate, and riders can register the day of, or in advance by calling 522-2716.

The Children’s Fresh Air Home’s annual dinner will also take place 6 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Tavistock Country Club in Haddonfield. Tickets are $65 per person, and can be purchased by calling 522-2716.

Donations to the organization can also be made through www.freshairhome.org.

Christie Rotondo can be emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you can comment on this story by visiting www.shorenewstoday.com.