Iron Kids of America & The Seth Shirley Scholarship Program
Helping Children Experience
Summer Camp
Iron Kids of America is our 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Organization that allows us to accept charitable donations to fund Camp Scholarships – “Camperships” – for children who otherwise would be unable to attend our camp.
Seth Shirley 11/6/2003 – 10/6/2018
Seth had been coming to our camp from a young age and had made it into our elite level of campers – becoming a Junior Counselor and then getting promoted to Guard. Every rider at camp wants to be a “JC” and Seth was the best of the them. It was an honor to know him and he will be/is missed greatly . He was to start as a Junior Staff Member for our 2019 upcoming season. Late evening on October 6th of 2018, Seth died suddenly while at home from what was later determined to have been acute bacterial endocarditis. He had been at home studying so he could come to our Employee Appreciation Luncheon & Ride the very next day. He never made it. A terrible tragedy, his death came as a shock to all of us in the Iron Horse family. We were heart-broken for his mother, father, brother, extended family and friends.
During the Memorial planning, Seth’s parents reached out to us to ask us about creating a donation process for family members in the name of their son and we were very honored to do this. Since that time, the family has asked us to continue honoring Seth in this way and we are moved to do so by adding his name permanently to our Donations Page, linking it with Iron Kids of America.
Seth was, according to his parents, “… most happy when attending Iron Horse Country Ranch summer camp… it helped shape Seth into a responsible, kind and goal oriented teen.” We at Iron Horse know that Seth was really looking forward to his new roll as a staff member. In his honor, and with his spirit in mind, we have created the
SETH SHIRLEY SCHOLARSHIP as part of our non-profit Iron Kids of America program.
If you would like your contribution to be identified as a Seth Shirley donation, please ensure it is noted as such in the comment section of the form below, so that we may let the family know. If sending a check, make it payable to Iron Kids of America and write “Seth Shirley Scholarship” in the notes line. If making your donation electronically through our registration system, choose the “Seth Shirley” option.
Again, we are honored beyond words to be asked to do this.
We understand that Seth had been a young man of many and varied talents in addition to motocross: theater actor, JV tennis player and guitar player in a band!
Seth, you are greatly missed. Yours was a life cut way too short. Although we can only imagine the on-going grief the Shirley family feels, we pray that honoring Seth in this way continues to keep his spirit and memory alive.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner
ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF IRON KIDS OF AMERICA
We have heard many good stories from our parents over the years. It is touching to hear how much camp has meant to the children.
It has been a pleasure to know that our camp has given back to all these families.
We started a donation project in 2014 – Iron Kids of America, Inc.
Our camp was opened in 2006 and we knew soon it was really changing the lives of kids who came here. It was a wake-up call to parents that their child could really “come alive” and show passion for something in life. In 2014, we were shown how much by a family donating to camp for their nephew whose parents had died and had seen how much camp had changed the child and wanted him to continue coming here. The aim of all donations received is to go 100% to children that cannot afford to come here, so they can get to come too. The experience here opens children’s eyes to what they are capable of doing and gets them moving to a better tomorrow for themselves. We see kids thrive!
Our Kids Motorcycle Camp exists solely on what we call “it takes a village to make it work.” All kinds of people and businesses help us meet our expenses – even the cows help cover the cost of the ranch. We could never do it without good moms and dads either. Thank you to Honda and O’neal for helping with what makes riding for children fun and safe.
We believe our camp builds children’s confidence and gives them a reason to live with passion. The reaction of parents to the changing attitudes of their children during a week of camp here is a constant reminder of what the camp gives to kids . Campers are sitting on the curb at 5am in the morning that never would have gotten up otherwise. Children travel from all parts of the U.S, and the world for that matter, to get a chance to ride. It is a big deal. As mentioned above, we had a parent pass away in 2014 and their wish was for their child to continue coming here. Her sister came from 2 states away to get her nephew here each year. It really hit me and Mrs. Turner, wow, what people will do for their children to come here. This place really means so much to these families! Over the years we have heard many stories from military families, like the one where both mom and dad were stationed overseas. They were calling us from over there to make sure their children over here were enrolled and that friends would be able to bring them to camp. It’s amazing. So, with any donations that you feel you can afford we pledge to make a difference in another child’s life that could not do it otherwise.
Sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs Turner
If you would like to help us – Donate below, Thank you
Your Donation qualifies under our tax-deductible 501(c)(3) organization
All funds go to our Non-Profit :
Iron Kids of America Inc
47-1700058
