2016
Origin Story

Camp Sunrise was founded in 1994 as Ohio’s only summer camp program developed specifically for children impacted by HIV/AIDS. Each summer, Camp Sunrise welcomed as many as 100 children to experience the joys of friendship, the love and support of a caring community, and an encouraging environment free of the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. The summer of 2018 was the final year for Camp Sunrise, completing 24 years of providing care, empowerment, and hope to families impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Lisa Kollins, founder of The Superhero Project, served as a cabin counselor and program specialist for nine years. In 2016, she designed an activity where campers described their inner superheroes, which were then designed by artists from across the country. After the final campfire that summer, the campers were surprised with a slideshow of their characters and Lisa quickly recognized the emotional impact of seeing your inner hero come to life. With encouragement from several artists who had participated, she launched The Superhero Project the following year, extending the initiative’s reach from one small camp community to families around the world.