Photo provided by Holy AngelsBELMONT — Forty members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity from North Carolina universities came to Belmont in March to build, clean and renovate structures at Camp Hope, a recreational facility for Holy Angels.
The weekend of work was this year’s first Ability Camp, a national service project of the Ability Experience, a philanthropic group that has raised more than $15 million to help people with disabilities and the organizations that serve them.
Camp Hope benefited from the work, but so did the 40 fraternity brothers who had a hands-on experience of servant leadership.
One of them was Robert Lance, a sophomore at High Point University, who said, “The work really meant something this weekend – not just for the residents at Holy Angels but for all of us.”
Holy Angels, founded in 1955 by the Sisters of Mercy, provides residential services and programs for children and adults with intellectual developmental disabilities and delicate medical conditions.
For more than a quarter century, the residents of Holy Angels have enjoyed the use of Camp Hope, located on the South Fork of Lake Wylie in Belmont.
“Camp Hope provides an excellent opportunity for our residents to enjoy the great outdoors,” said Holy Angels President and CEO Regina Moody. “They love the warm feeling of the sun on their faces and the cool breeze of the wind as they take a ride on the pontoon boat, named ‘Spirit of Maria,’ after our first resident, Maria Morrow.”
The camp is wrapping up a two-year renovation project. Holy Angels residents will return in the next couple of months to again enjoy fishing, nature walks, campfires and boat rides.
Moody said she is thankful for Ability Experience’s history with Holy Angels. “We consider members of the Ability Experience our close friends,” she said. “Ever since our first experience with them in 1989, this organization has continued to support Holy Angels through their time, talent and treasure. We have built life-long friendships with many members of this fraternity.” She was on the board of directors for Ability Experience for 18 years.
The assistant executive director of Ability Experience, Andrew Matznick, is on the Holy Angels board of directors. “We are excited to make an impact at Camp
Hope through our Ability Camp program,” he said. “Holy Angels has been an incredible partner.”
Members of the Ability Experience – then known as PUSH America – first came to Holy Angels in 1989 to help build a pavilion, called PUSH Place. The fraternity has returned several more times, building structures, trails, ponds and more.
This year’s projects included rebuilding several bridges, fixing the nature trail and cleaning up debris.
“It’s great to be a visual symbol of helping others and giving back, especially during this time of COVID,” said Landon Stewart, another student member of Pi Kappa Phi. “It means a lot.”
— Jane Pope
Want to help?
To help fund more Ability Camps, visit www.abilityexperience.org/support. For more information, contact Andrew Matznick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 980-318-5387.