About Us
Camp Horizon History
Camp Horizon was founded in 1982 when a handful of friends decided to find a way to positively impact the community. They agreed that changing the lives of abused and neglected children living in foster care would be valuable to the children as well as the community. And so it began in the summer of 1982, supported by a shared goal of investing in the future of our community. The challenge of our new organization was to reach out to the “bruised and broken-hearted.”
From our humble beginnings of only eight campers sleeping in tents in a parking lot of a local church, to our current week-long and year-round programs at a state of the art camping facility, our mission has remained the same. Each child we serve through Camp Horizon gives clearer vision to our course: that new day, that better day, lies before us.
After that first weekend retreat, we realized that we needed to build a stronger partnership with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) in order for Camp Horizon to continue to provide this amazing experience for children living in foster care. With their cooperation, the retreat was expanded to a week-long summer camp. For the first seventeen years, programming consisted of a summer camp and a holiday party in December.
Challenged by the transient nature of foster care placement, it quickly became a high priority for us to keep as many kids consistently involved as possible and make our programming year round.
In 1999, Camp Horizon expanded its programming by adding the Leadership Development Program for campers ages 12-18 who had previously attended Summer Camp. Year-round events were also added. These programs include a holiday party, an annual family reunion, and several opportunity days which include life skills development and recreational activities for everyone.
Our newest program created in 2010 is the Camp Horizon Adult Mentoring Program (CHAMPs). It is designed for our young adults between the ages 18-24. The CHAMPs program focuses on real world life skills and continues to cultivate the family that these graduate campers have been a part of for so long.
Due to the expanded and consistent programming, children who first participated in Camp Horizon summer camp have remained involved over the years and are now young adults. They’ve made a commitment to Camp Horizon. Several have become counselors themselves, while others regularly volunteer at other camp activities.
We have grown hundreds of hurting children into healthier adults. Equipped with knowledge and skills they have learned from Camp Horizon, these former campers will be the people who impact their communities with great strength. Not only will they break the cycle of abuse in their own lives, but they will be prepared to help prevent abuse in the lives of those around them. They will take what they have received from Camp Horizon and grow it into a powerful agent for social change.
Staff
Amy Frizzell, MPA
Executive Director
amy.frizzell@camphorizon.net
Amy has over two decades of experience in non-profit fundraising. Amy has worked with small to large international non-profits such as The Salvation Army. While working at The Salvation Army, she managed three separate territories in Northern Georgia, overseeing all fundraising activities, including board management.
Previously she led all fundraising efforts for MARR Addiction Treatment Centers in Atlanta, Georgia. At MARR, Amy focused on securing major gifts from diversified sources. Amy specializes in major gifts, grant management, board development, strategic partnerships, capital campaigns and leveraging resources.
Amy attended Florida International University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. She later graduated from the University of Illinois with a Master’s in Public Administration.
Courtney Lindner, MSW
Program Director
courtney.lindner@camphorizon.net
Courtney Lindner received her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Georgia State University with an emphasis in Community Partnerships and a special skillset in macro social work practices such as engaging stakeholders and influencing effective organization outcomes. Her professional interests include trauma-informed research and application; program design, evaluation, and optimization; and supportive services for children and young adults, especially those engaged in the Foster care system.
Courtney is passionate about providing a safe environment for youth to explore who they are; she is committed to establishing effective frameworks and social structures that empower young people to develop optimally and achieve their highest potential. In her free time Courtney enjoys hiking, discovering delicious food from around the world, and caring for her small jungle of houseplants.
Board of Directors
Mary-Kate Starkel
Board Chair
Mary-Kate Starkel began volunteering with Camp Horizon in 2004 as a summer camp counselor. Since then she has designed and led weekend programming, run Opportunity Days, served as “camper check-in coordinator”, and more. When she’s not supporting Camp, Mary-Kate is a nonprofit executive working for educational and youth-serving organizations in program management, fundraising and communications, and executive leadership roles. Currently, she is the Vice President of Advancement at redefinED atlanta.
Jeff Thrutchley
Treasurer
Jeff has an extensive background in working with kids through the YMCA, Scouts, and church. He first came to Camp Horizon in 1987, following his wife’s lead who was the Camp Nurse at the first program in 1982. For them, Camp Horizon has been a life-long passion. Jeff has helped grow and support the children of Camp Horizon in almost every role possible and is currently active as Board Member Emeritus. Jeff looks for ANY opportunity to talk with anyone about the mission of Camp Horizon.
Dr. India Blackburn
Dr. India Blackburn brings a distinguished 20-year career in education and leadership to the organization. Currently an English Language Arts teacher in the Clayton County Public School system in Jonesboro, Georgia.
Dr. Blackburn holds a Doctorate of Education in Student Affairs Leadership from the University of Georgia, as well as a Master’s in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Philosophy from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
At her core, Dr. Blackburn is dedicated to helping others realize their full potential. She views her work as a collaborative partnership, and she is thrilled to bring this commitment and enthusiasm to the Camp Horizon board.
Jane Del Gobbo
Vice Chair
Jane Del Gobbo is a longtime volunteer with Camp Horizon. Her first summer was as a summer camp counselor in 1997. Since that initial year, she has served as a summer camp counselor, self esteem class instructor, arts and crafts instructor, and most recently, as an assistant to the director. Jane was one of the initial program directors for the Leadership Development Program, ensuring continued programming for the Camp Horizon youth ages 12-18.
Michelle Vereen
Michelle has extensive experience and passion for working with at-risk youth. She participates as a member of the choir and Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Trey Clegg Singers, Inc. and is an original contributor to the DreamBee Foundation.
Christian Johnson
Secretary
Christian is a dynamic Marketing Strategist with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion and coaching individuals to success. She is an outgoing, team player that gets the job done. And known for being the type of individual that people want to work with. She holds a soft spot in her heart for Camp Horizon as four of her younger siblings have went through the program. “Camp Horizon has been a huge help to my family providing support and guidance to my sisters, joining the board felt right.”
Thomas Warren
Thomas Warren’s involvement with Camp Horizon began as a camp counselor in 2009. Since then, Thomas served as a counselor as well as the Self-Esteem teacher and camp administrator for a decade.
He now works as a Realtor with Justin Landis Group at Bolst Brokerage and believes everyone deserves a dream home, working with the only brokerage in the state to have a 501c3 that also helps find non profits around Atlanta to help our community. Prior, Thomas worked as a high school English teacher and Varsity soccer coach.
Thomas graduated from the University of George in 2010 with a BSEd in English education and received his MEd from the University of Virginia in Curriculum and Instruction in 2016.
Candis Jones
Candis is an impassioned thought leader and practitioner within the state child welfare sector for nearly 24 years, with a specific skillset in leadership development and workplace culture enhancement. Her most notable skills are in outcomes focused strategic planning, continuous quality improvement, lean innovation, teaching and coaching.
Cy Martinez
As a small business owner in Atlanta supporting hospitals and their technology, Cy brings a unique perspective to Camp Horizon's board. He began volunteering with Camp Horizon in 2011 and has remained committed ever since. One of the most rewarding aspects for Cy is seeing the joy and freedom Camp Horizon provides, allowing kids to just be kids.
Cy values the organization’s dedication to joy, safety, and togetherness, and is honored to help foster these qualities as a board member.