The Manning Rotary Club welcomed Cindy Hay Johnson, Executive Director, and Mikaela Nichols, Director of Development for Camp Happy Days, as guest speakers at its June 4 meeting. Their presentation shed light on the organization’s mission to serve South Carolina children battling cancer—and their families—through year-round, cost-free programs rooted in compassion, support, and resilience.
Since 1982, Camp Happy Days has offered more than just summer fun. “Our mission is to provide encouragement and support to children diagnosed with cancer and their families by offering programs, special events, and crisis resources,” said Johnson. “And we do it all at no cost to the families.”
The organization’s signature event is its annual summer camp held on Lake Marion in Summerton. Each July, more than 200 children and their siblings gather for a week of activities, emotional support, and joy. “It’s a week where they get to be kids again,” said Johnson. “We focus on building confidence, trust, and community—things that cancer often takes from these children and their families.”
Camp Happy Days doesn’t stop with summer. Throughout the year, the group hosts more than 100 events, including teen retreats, holiday programs, hospital visits, and youth development initiatives. They also provide critical financial assistance for families struggling with rent, groceries, gas, and utility costs while managing a child’s treatment. In FY2023 alone, Camp Happy Days served 2,212 children through 100 different events and reached more than 1,270 families across South Carolina.
Nichols emphasized the importance of community partnerships in sustaining the mission. “We rely heavily on volunteers, especially male counselors,” she said, also noting the organization’s need for businesses willing to participate in their icon campaign—a donation drive where customers can give in honor of someone they know affected by cancer.
The organization partners with hospitals like MUSC to provide in-camp medical care, including for children undergoing active treatment. Johnson described their medical volunteers as “critical to making camp not only safe, but magical.”
Rotarians were especially moved by the camp’s “Angel Pinning” ceremony, a tradition honoring children who have survived cancer. “Camp Happy Days becomes a second family for these kids,” Johnson said. “Once you’re part of the camp family, you’re always part of it.”
Following the presentation, incoming Manning Rotary Sergeant-at-Arms Melissa Foust-McCoy presented a donation to Camp Happy Days on behalf of the club.
The meeting closed with a heartfelt thank-you letter from scholarship recipient Trinity Harris, a recent Manning High School graduate who will attend Clark Atlanta University this fall.
“Dear Manning Rotary Club,” Harris wrote. “Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement and generous support. Your belief in my potential means the world to me. The scholarship is truly a blessing and will make a meaningful difference in my college journey.”
The Manning Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at Porter Jack’s restaurant at 12:00 p.m. Follow the club’s Facebook page for upcoming events, guest speakers, and service projects.
