On Saturday 22nd November 2014, over 130 people from across the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island attended the Camp DeWolfe Annual Benefit Dinner in Wading River. The evening was a celebration of the past, present and future ministry of Camp DeWolfe, and a celebration of the life and ministry of Father Edward Nils Blatz, who received the Camp DeWolfe Lifetime Achievement Award from Bishop Provenzano and the Camp DeWolfe Board of Managers. Additionally, during the evening, people gave over $21,000 in support of newly formed Endowment, Scholarship and Annual Fund for the future ministry of Camp DeWolfe.
During the dinner, Bishop Provenzano and Father John Madden thanked Father Nils Blatz for his service across the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, since he began as a curate at Trinity Church Roslyn in 1965. Camp Director, Matthew Tees, presented the award which read, “ Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Father Edward Nils Blatz. In grateful recognition of your many years of loving and dedicated service to the ministry of Camp DeWolfe”. Father Blatz shared personal stories from his 60+ years of time at Camp DeWolfe, including his fond memories as a camper! Father Blatz was made Rector of Trinity Roslyn in 1972 for 22 years until 1994. He then moved to Grace Church in Brooklyn Heights where he served as Rector for 10 years until 2003 and then in retirement, he served as Priest-in-charge of Church of the Redeemer in Mattituck for the past 11 years.
Additionally, Father Blatz was involved with Camp DeWolfe throughout his ministry:
-Camper from 1948 – 1954
-Work Crew Summer of 1955
-Weekend Work Crew Fall and Spring of 1956- 1967
-Chaplain 1970’s- with Fr Herb Thompson
-Member of the Camp Board of Managers as Treasurer and Acting Chair from 1990 -2012
Parishioners from Grace Church Brooklyn Heights, St. Gabriel’s Brooklyn, St Peter’s Church Rosedale, St Gabriel’s Church Hollis, Trinity Church Roslyn, Cathedral of the Incarnation, Christ Church Oyster Bay, and Church of the Redeemer Mattituck attended the Camp Benefit Dinner, in addition to family, staff, alumni and friends of Camp DeWolfe and Father Nils Blatz. After a wonderful buffet dinner provided by the camp food services team, Camp Board members Father Terence A. Lee and David Asher shared stories about the impact that Camp DeWolfe has on both young people through summer camp and winter camp ministries, and in its hospitality ministry to over 6700 guests annually who are outside the Episcopal Church. Gifts including a new sound system for the St Luke’s Chapel, new basketballs, new archery targets, Bibles, books and S’mores supplies were donated ready for summer camp 2015!
Year-end donations to Camp DeWolfe can be made at www.campdewolfe.org and plans have already begun for the 2015 Annual Benefit Dinner to be held at Camp DeWolfe in November 2015. For more information about camp ministry please call 631-929-4325 or check www.campdewolfe.org
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