Camp Changes Lives, North Carolina, raises tons of funds for scholarship!

Bob and Wendy welcome their guests.

Partygoers support Camp Herrlich.

Camp Changes Lives in North Carolina

Fall 2025

On a cool October afternoon, before the clocks turned back and while the sun still lingered well into the evening, friends and neighbors gathered in the Southport, North Carolina, yard of Bob and Wendy Gentile. They came together to celebrate the many gifts of Camp Wilbur Herrlich and the profound impact it has on the children and families who attend its programs.

What made the gathering especially meaningful was that most guests had never set foot on the camp itself. Instead, they knew it through stories shared during fireside chats, over meals, on nature walks, and amid friendly rounds of golf, croquet, and pickleball with the Gentiles. Through those moments, a deep affection for the camp took root, along with an understanding of what a single camp experience can mean to a child.

The October event welcomed 75 guests and featured live music by the Acme Acoustic Band of New York, a beloved classic rock group with more than 25 years of performances in the Hudson River Valley. Between sets, Bob and Wendy, joined by former board members, shared heartfelt stories from more than 50 years of camping: life-changing adventures, peaceful nights in cabin bunks for children escaping the intensity of city life, table talks, wooded hikes to the legendary Jack Straws Cabin, and camp friendships that left lasting marks on young hearts and endured for decades. This year’s noted theme centered on stories of campers now grown—professionals in their fields—who shared a common refrain: “I could never have succeeded if I hadn’t attended Camp Herrlich.”

Inside the Gentiles’ home, videos played showing the faces and places of Camp Herrlich. Camp-inspired food filled the counters, while the dining table displayed camp treasures: dog tags, bandanas, mugs, water bottles, T-shirts, and Beanie Babies for grandchildren. At the center sat a small wooden box labeled simply, “Free Will Donation.”

After an afternoon of music, fellowship, and shared purpose, that modest wooden box overflowed. More than $20,000 was raised for the Bob and Wendy Fund and Sponsor-a-Child scholarships, funds that will allow many more children to attend camp and support essential programming.

Deep gratitude is extended to every neighbor, friend, and supporter who showed up with open hearts. Their generosity, curiosity, and willingness to listen turned a simple gathering into something truly transformative. Far from the bustle of summer camp fields, this community proved that when people come together with intention, they can quietly and powerfully change lives.

Inspired by this event, others are encouraged to consider hosting their own Camp Changes Lives gathering. Whether through music, storytelling, or shared meals, these moments of connection help extend the reach of camp and open doors for children who need it most. Sometimes, all it takes to change a life is an open yard, a shared story, and a community willing to gather.