 Hi, my name is Kathy Carisi. I'm 46 years old and I'm from Lodi, New Jersey. About 18 years ago I had the opportunity to start this non-profit organization and I wanted to provide individuals with developmental disabilities different opportunities. I know Kathy because my daughter started coming to Camp Acorn about four or five years ago and right off the bat I saw Kathy and she's so involved in all aspects of Camp Acorn and I'm always so impressed at just her dedication, her belief in our kids, in how wonderful they are, you know, their potential and how much they can touch people if they're given a chance. Camp Acorn is a way of life for me. I have been doing this for so long that I personally can't imagine these children not in my life. I think what keeps motivating me, it's really like a boomerang. When you see the expression on the campers' faces, no matter what is going on, it motivates you to keep going, to find something different, to find something new. She's taught me to see a person as a person and don't see the disability and I don't. And she truly walks her talk. She sees them as they are and she's a role model for me. Here at Camp Acorn, the staff, of course Kathy, but just the dedicated staff that she's brought together, the nurses, the counselors, they're incredible. They understand. They have compassion. You don't have to explain every detail. You know that they get it, which is so important. We opened our doors with $1,200, which is ridiculous when you think about what it cost to fund a program. But it was meant to be because everything fell in line. It worked out. I've heard that say you give and you get tenfold back. Well, Kathy knows that. It fills her in a way that she wouldn't have had if she didn't have the camp. It's a sacrifice, but she doesn't look at it that way. A rock star is somebody you look up to and admire, but I admire her not because she's famous, but because of her heart. Kathy is my rock star because she gives me hope. Like I said, she gives me hope that my daughter is going to have a wonderful future because of organizations, things that she's brought about. And just the inspiration that there's a person that is willing to put so much of her energy into creating something for children with disabilities and our families. This is not her full-time job. She does this plus whatever she does as a job. She is a hero. She's a hero to everybody that comes here to Camp Bacorn. And I hope she knows that because I don't know if people tell her enough.