Augustana’s Camp Kesem raised $5,433 to fund its free summer camp that supports children whose parents or guardians have cancer through it’s annual Make the Magic Gala fundraiser on April 18, 2026. 

Augustana Camp Kesem is a chapter on campus from a national organization that holds week-long camps for children of parents or guardians with cancer. The camps, hosted in the Quad Cities and Iowa City area,  provide kids support and a place to have fun. 

The Make the Magic Gala is one of the chapter’s two major fundraisers. 

Tickets were sold for $50 per person and $350 for a table of eight guests. 20 tickets were sold, and the opportunity to donate was available on the website. 

According to Melanie Lopez, the director of Augustana’s Camp Kesem chapter, all the proceeds from the Make the Magic Gala will go towards funding the camp. 

To bring a camper and counselor to camp, it costs $1,200 with an additional $750 to support a camper year-round, according to Co-Director Alivia Seehase. 

“I think it was really beneficial to speak about [Kesem] and let them know what we’re all about and just show them where their donations are going,” Lopez said. “We really emphasize that [the]  donations that you’re making tonight will go to supplies, to meals, to sending a camper [and] counselor to camp.”

To attract more guests and donations, Lopez, Seehase and the other members of their chapter participated in a call-a-thon to contact alumni, families and local businesses. 

At the event, a silent auction table had items from Kendra Scott and local business Hot Glass to help raise funds.

Other tables housed a “Warm and Fuzzy” station where guests could write notes to campers and counselors. A friendship bracelet-making station was also there for guests to make for campers. 

The evening’s program featured presentations by Lopez and Seehase, along with a video that showcased kids from Camp Kesem sharing how this organization has impacted them. 

There were 3 speakers at the event, all of whom were alumni of the Augustana Camp Kesem chapter, with 2 of them involved in Kesem National. 

  The speakers here are being referred to by their Kesem names. A Kesem name is a nickname that both the counselors and campers go by while at camp. 

“Kiwi was the last speaker, and she talked about it from a young student perspective of [how] it’s so meaningful and so powerful to see all of this unfold as a student leader and knowing that you helped bring this resource to the people who need it most and you’re able to sit there and be with them and help them through it, which I connected with too,” Seehase said. 

Turtle spoke about the passion, joy and welcoming space that Kesem provides for counselors and campers. 

A former Kesem counselor talked about how the camp impacted the kids and allowed them to grow. 

“I think it’s really impactful because hearing someone’s personal experiences with [Camp Kesem] tells everything in itself,” Seehase said.  “The story really comes across better coming from a personal experience than a generalized video that everybody plays at every event.”

If you wish to get involved with Augustana’s Camp Kesem, you can follow their social media and go to their meetings on Wednesday once a month in Olin 202 at 7:00 p.m.