A man and his wife had a dream; with no small amount of effort, and with a lot of love, they found a way to make it come true.  Harry Granader once owned a lumber business and construction company.  He made a career by building things.  But it wasn’t until he reached the age of 75 that Harry, and his wife, Sylvia, achieved their most gratifying accomplishment – the creation of Cam Make-A-Dream, a medically supervised cost-free camp where children and young adults suffering from cancer can go and have some fun, and put their worries aside for a little while.

   Rich and Rewarding Lives

   Harry and Sylvia Granader were both born and raised in Detroit.  Harry was a 1937 graduate of Central High School, where he was an all-city football player.  He earned an athletic scholarship to Wayne State University, but his education was interrupted to serve in the Navy during World War II.

   Sylvia also attended Wayne State University, earning a degree in art education.  Her great passion, however, was flying, and she and Harry met while both were taking flying lessons with the Civil Air Patrol.  After their first flight together, their relationship “took off.”  Sylvia served as a pilot in the Women’s Air Force Service, shuffling combat planes between military bases, but left the service in 1943 to marry Harry.

   After the war, Harry founded Great Lakes Lumber and Supply Company, in partnership with his brother, which they successfully ran for almost two decades.  He then became the owner of Bond-Bilt Construction Company.  Sylvia, meanwhile, stayed quite busy herself, raising the Granader’s five sons, and then later earning a masters degree in weaving from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills.

   The Granader’s lives took a different course in 1960 when Harry became one of the early McDonald’s Restaurant franchisees, ultimately owning eight stores.  But most importantly, because of his experience in construction, the restaurant chain got Harry involved in building the Ronald McDonald Houses in Detroit (near Children’s Hospital of Michigan) and in Ann Arbor (near C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

   The Dream is Born and Comes True

   The Granader’s dream began with Harry’s involvement with Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald Houses.  He began making regular visits to the ailing children and their families, often bringing gifts to help brighten their spirits.  The children’s suffering and the family’s grief broke Harry’s heart, often reducing him to tears.  He decided that token presents were not enough; Harry Granader determined that he must do something more to help ease the children’s pain and bring some joy to their lives.  And thus, the dream was born.

   In 1988, the Granaders had purchased a 14,000-acre cattle ranch near gold Creek in western Montana.  Harry had always been an avid outdoorsman, and figured that a wilderness retreat at the ranch would be the perfect place for young cancer patients to “get away from it all”, and enjoy activities they may rarely, if ever, have experienced.  To fulfill this vision, in 1991 Harry and Sylvia donated 87 acres of their ranch and the necessary seed money to begin construction of “Camp Mak-A-Dream.”  They also began extensive fund raising efforts, traveling far and wide, seeking support and donations to complete the project. 

 

   Camp Mak-A-Dream opened for its first summer session in 1995.  Its beautiful setting was specifically designed for the comfort and enjoyment of the camp’s young, ailing guests.  Everything is handicapped accessible, and in addition to the spacious living and dining lodges, the facilities include a swimming pool, archery range, arts and crafts barn and of course, a health center, with volunteer medical staff, to handle the needs of the children.  Activities include arts and crafts, swimming, hiking, sports, and fishing in the well-stocked pond.

   The Granaders have spent every summer at the camp, actively involved with the children and activities.  Sylvia teaches weaving and arts and crafts, while Harry helps with the outdoor activities, and teaches the children how to fish.  A small handful of paid staff members and hundreds of unpaid volunteers handle the overall operation of the camp, and ensure the safely and care of the campers.

   Unfortunately, future campers, and staff and volunteers as well, will never again be able to share in the wisdom and love of Harry Granader.  He passed away this past August, having died in his sleep at his beloved ranch next to the camp.  A man who touched so many lives with his kindness and generosity, and who accomplished so much during his own fruitful life, he will be greatly missed by all.

   The Dream Lives On

   The story, of course, does not and cannot end here.  Sylvia Granader and the entire Granader family remain actively involved with the camp and its fund-raising arm, Friends of Camp Mak-A-Dream.  The need for the camps’ recuperative services has not disappeared just because Harry Granader is no longer with us.  According to the National Cancer Institute, over 12,000 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer.  Almost 2500 die each year, making cancer the leading cause of disease-related deaths among children and teens.

   Camp Mak-A-Dream has entertained and comforted more than 3400 suffering children over the past twelve years.  Its programs have now expanded to include retreats and conferences for adult cancer victims during the non-summer months.  Two years ago, the camp opened its new, state of the art medical facility, with capabilities and amenities for surpassing those of the origin, at a cost of $1.2 million.

   Harry and Sylvia Granader’s dream does indeed live on, and has even grown in scope.  Yet, the cost and expense of the camps operations have also grown, as has the need for continuing donations and fund raising efforts.  If you would like to obtain more information about making a gift to Camp-Mak-A-Dream, please…. Contact the Executive Director, Dr. Stu Kaplin M.D. at 406-549-5987. For more information about the camp itself or log on to its website at www.campdream.org or email them at camp@montana.com

   If you would like to find out how you might leave a charitable gift or endowment to Camp Mak-A Dream, or any other charitable organization as part of your Estate Plan, you can contact the Estate Planning Institute Group, LLC at 877-807-3477