Filter heroes statewide, by region or by cause.
4930 Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823
Hero Story
In June 2022, the the nationally recognized, award-winning Eric 'RicStar' Winter Music Therapy Camp, aka RicStar's Camp, will celebrate its 20th year of providing an inclusive summer music camp to individuals of all ages with a wide range of disabilities. No one is every turned away from this camp due to age, disability, or financial hardship. Financial assistance is provided wherever needed. Here are the camp details:
RicStar's Camp is a one-of-a kind, inclusive yearly day camp that provides opportunities for musical expression, enjoyment and social interaction for all persons with special needs and their siblings. The camp is part of the MSU Community Music School, outreach arm of the MSU College of Music under the capable, skilled and compassionate direction of Jaime DeMott, herself the mother of a child with a disability that has benefited from regular music therapy and RicStar's Camp.
This amazing Camp was first created to honor Eric Richard Winter, a long-time CMS music therapy client with cerebral palsy who had a passion for music and a big dream of starting a music therapy camp where no one would be turned away. Shortly after Eric passed away at age 12 in 2003 from complications of his disability, his parents, Dick and Judy Winter, turn devastating grief into honoring their son's love for music and founded RicStar's Camp, along with his music therapist, Cindy Lu Edgerton, Director of CMS Music Therapy Clinical Services and the camp's director. Using $10,000 in memorial gifts given in Eric's name, the first camp was held in July 2003, just months after Eric died. Camp has been going strong ever since.
Many families call it the highlight of their year.
For nearly twenty years, RicStar's Camp has been providing access to music therapy for individuals of all ages with two 3-day camps, one for children and one for adults, held in a summer music camp setting focused on identifying, nurturing and celebrating each camper's individual abilities. At RicStar's Camp, campers are full participants, not merely observers. Campers attend from throughout Michigan, other states, and Canada. Our Teen Buddy Program pairs teens without disabilities with campers, who then go back into their school hallways and communities with greater understanding and appreciation of this population and serve as valuable seeds of community inclusion. Numerous music sessions are held, including song writing, guitar jam, drumming, etc. The My Chance to Dance organization provides opportunities for dance and movement, and 4th Wall Theatre Company for individuals of all abilities offers theater sessions for the campers. Our End of Week Be-A-STAR Showcase gives all campers the rare opportunity to perform on stage. Certified therapy dogs are on site to provide emotional support to campers, staff and volunteers. The best music therapists from throughout Michigan take active part in camp, as does skilled nursing staff, helping us provide one-on-one support where needed so family/caregivers can have a much needed break from caregiving.
Since 2003, RicStar's Camp has served nearly 2,000 campers and hundreds of families and friends. Camp has provided nearly $86,000 in financial support and welcomed volunteers that have provided more than 1,100 hours of support to date. Majors funders include: L'Oreal Paris, the Dart Foundation, Gannett, the Community Foundation and others. Camp has been endowed by Eric Winter's parents, Dick and Judy Winter, to help ensure this ground-breaking effort will have long-lasting impact. All three camp co-founders are graduates of Michigan State University, living out beautifully the mantra "Spartans Will."
RicStar's Camp has been the recipient of prestigious awards. Most recently in 2019 when author/columnist, disability activist and camp co-founder, Judy Winter, was named a L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honoree for her work with the camp, bringing international attention to RicStar's Camp, MSU, and the music therapy profession. Camp is the recipient of a Crystal Award from the City of East Lansing for improving the lives of city residents and a State of Michigan Proclamation and recipient of a Letter of Congratulations from Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Dick and Judy Winter have also been also recognized nationally for their important work by the American Music Therapy Assoc. (AMTA) as Advocates of Music Therapy.
When Covid-19 forced the world to shutdown, RicStar's Camp and CMS staff went to work to ensure campers would still be able to participate in the annual RicStar's Camp they have so come to love. At a time when many families were losing access to their child's important services, RicStar's Camp had a passionate commitment to taking camp online so campers would still have access to music therapy, expanding our reach nationwide and birthing several virtual music therapy opportunities for Michigan residents and beyond. We are incredibly proud that we make this impact at such a critical and devastating time in our nation's history. We look forward to again gathering in person in 2022 to celebrate our 20th anniversary, when a documentary of RicStar's Camp will also be filmed, with the hope of showing it a top film festivals nationwide, adding rich stories to the important story of disability rights and further honoring Eric Winter's life and legacy, as well as all the tremendous families that have entrusted us with their loved ones.
At RicStar's Camp, everyone is equal, and music is powerful. We couldn't be more proud of what we stand for.
Eric Winter's music lives on beautifully.
4930 Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823
Hero Story
In June 2022, the the nationally recognized, award-winning Eric 'RicStar' Winter Music Therapy Camp, aka RicStar's Camp, will celebrate its 20th year of providing an inclusive summer music camp to individuals of all ages with a wide range of disabilities. No one is every turned away from this camp due to age, disability, or financial hardship. Financial assistance is provided wherever needed. Here are the camp details:
RicStar's Camp is a one-of-a kind, inclusive yearly day camp that provides opportunities for musical expression, enjoyment and social interaction for all persons with special needs and their siblings. The camp is part of the MSU Community Music School, outreach arm of the MSU College of Music under the capable, skilled and compassionate direction of Jaime DeMott, herself the mother of a child with a disability that has benefited from regular music therapy and RicStar's Camp.
This amazing Camp was first created to honor Eric Richard Winter, a long-time CMS music therapy client with cerebral palsy who had a passion for music and a big dream of starting a music therapy camp where no one would be turned away. Shortly after Eric passed away at age 12 in 2003 from complications of his disability, his parents, Dick and Judy Winter, turn devastating grief into honoring their son's love for music and founded RicStar's Camp, along with his music therapist, Cindy Lu Edgerton, Director of CMS Music Therapy Clinical Services and the camp's director. Using $10,000 in memorial gifts given in Eric's name, the first camp was held in July 2003, just months after Eric died. Camp has been going strong ever since.
Many families call it the highlight of their year.
For nearly twenty years, RicStar's Camp has been providing access to music therapy for individuals of all ages with two 3-day camps, one for children and one for adults, held in a summer music camp setting focused on identifying, nurturing and celebrating each camper's individual abilities. At RicStar's Camp, campers are full participants, not merely observers. Campers attend from throughout Michigan, other states, and Canada. Our Teen Buddy Program pairs teens without disabilities with campers, who then go back into their school hallways and communities with greater understanding and appreciation of this population and serve as valuable seeds of community inclusion. Numerous music sessions are held, including song writing, guitar jam, drumming, etc. The My Chance to Dance organization provides opportunities for dance and movement, and 4th Wall Theatre Company for individuals of all abilities offers theater sessions for the campers. Our End of Week Be-A-STAR Showcase gives all campers the rare opportunity to perform on stage. Certified therapy dogs are on site to provide emotional support to campers, staff and volunteers. The best music therapists from throughout Michigan take active part in camp, as does skilled nursing staff, helping us provide one-on-one support where needed so family/caregivers can have a much needed break from caregiving.
Since 2003, RicStar's Camp has served nearly 2,000 campers and hundreds of families and friends. Camp has provided nearly $86,000 in financial support and welcomed volunteers that have provided more than 1,100 hours of support to date. Majors funders include: L'Oreal Paris, the Dart Foundation, Gannett, the Community Foundation and others. Camp has been endowed by Eric Winter's parents, Dick and Judy Winter, to help ensure this ground-breaking effort will have long-lasting impact. All three camp co-founders are graduates of Michigan State University, living out beautifully the mantra "Spartans Will."
RicStar's Camp has been the recipient of prestigious awards. Most recently in 2019 when author/columnist, disability activist and camp co-founder, Judy Winter, was named a L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honoree for her work with the camp, bringing international attention to RicStar's Camp, MSU, and the music therapy profession. Camp is the recipient of a Crystal Award from the City of East Lansing for improving the lives of city residents and a State of Michigan Proclamation and recipient of a Letter of Congratulations from Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Dick and Judy Winter have also been also recognized nationally for their important work by the American Music Therapy Assoc. (AMTA) as Advocates of Music Therapy.
When Covid-19 forced the world to shutdown, RicStar's Camp and CMS staff went to work to ensure campers would still be able to participate in the annual RicStar's Camp they have so come to love. At a time when many families were losing access to their child's important services, RicStar's Camp had a passionate commitment to taking camp online so campers would still have access to music therapy, expanding our reach nationwide and birthing several virtual music therapy opportunities for Michigan residents and beyond. We are incredibly proud that we make this impact at such a critical and devastating time in our nation's history. We look forward to again gathering in person in 2022 to celebrate our 20th anniversary, when a documentary of RicStar's Camp will also be filmed, with the hope of showing it a top film festivals nationwide, adding rich stories to the important story of disability rights and further honoring Eric Winter's life and legacy, as well as all the tremendous families that have entrusted us with their loved ones.
At RicStar's Camp, everyone is equal, and music is powerful. We couldn't be more proud of what we stand for.
Eric Winter's music lives on beautifully.