For Immediate Release
August 03, 2015
Contact Information

Ron Carter
323-864-7092
tca@sbcglobal.net

(BPRW) Divine Nine Raises Close To $100k Towards Camp For At-Risk Boys And Teens

Leader of Men's Fraternal Organization Amplifies Efforts to Nurture Young Black Men Through Camp New Joy

(Black PR Wire) WASHINGTON, DC-- Jonathan Mason, International President of Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity, Inc., one of the country’s largest African American men’s organizations and community service groups and Chairman of Camp New Joy, announced today that Camp New Joy has raised nearly $100,000 towards the completion of the first building at Camp New Joy, a retreat for at-risk boys and teens. The announcement comes following Phi Beta Sigma’s annual conclave and during the first on-site visit at the camp for youth, which took place this past weekend, July 24-26, 2015.

During Phi Beta Sigma’s 2015 conclave, held in Little Rock Arkansas earlier this month, members of the Divine Nine came together to support the mission of Camp New Joy and to raise funds to help support this developmental retreat for young boys and teens. The groups included, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi Beta, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta and Iota Phi Theta. Their combined efforts netted nearly $100,000, getting the group closer to its $300,000 goal and the completion of the Camp’s first house. Since, October 2013, $500,000 has been raised for Camp New Joy.

“The need for an environment such as Camp New Joy has never been greater,” said Jonathan Mason, Chairman, Camp New Joy and International President, Phi Beta Sigma. ”This Camp will be a teaching and nurturing environment to help our young Black men better navigate the challenges they are faced with each and every day in our society. While many occurrences can easily land them in jail or even worse, Camp New Joy provides them with an environment that helps them focus on becoming better men, ultimately understanding the greater results they can get in life.”

The brainchild of Mason, Camp New Joy is the response to the growing need for community restoration in light of the rising tensions surrounding the recent killings of an alarming number of Black men, teens and boys including Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, John Crawford III, Akai Gurley and others. Mason, an established sales executive in the advertising industry, stepped down from his position this year to make a full-time commitment to helping the future of our young men by focusing on the development of this one-of-a-kind life-changing retreat.

Camp New Joy’s mission also aligns with Phi Beta Sigma’s commitment to empower young Black men. Last year, the organization partnered with the White House’s landmark initiative, My Brother’s Keeper. The fraternity has pledged to raise millions of dollars to fund a series of programs designed to train 10,000 mentors for Black youth; train 5,000 men to become strong fathers; adopt 100 schools; and give out more than $1 million in scholarships.

For more information on Camp New Joy or to donate, visit www.campnewjoy.org

About Phi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., an international organization of college and professional men, was founded on January 9th, 1914 at Howard University on the principles, Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. These principles are exhibited by the fraternity motto, "Culture for Service and Service for Humanity." As one of the now nine predominantly Black Greek-Lettered organizations, Phi Beta Sigma has a membership of over 150,000 with over 750 chapters throughout the continental United States, Switzerland, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. The story of Sigma is the union of spirit and commitment to serve, with a firm foundation of learning and genuine interest in the wellbeing of others. This is crystallized in Sigma’s motto: Culture for Service and Service for Humanity.
For more information about Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity visit www.PhiBetaSigma1914.org.