New-York tribune., 1919-07-29
The Tribune
Fresh Air Fund

Fresh Air glory to-day all-almost
ail-go to Binghampton.
July 70 is to go down IN Fresh Air
history as the day on which the largest
single party of the summer of 1919
went out: Binghamton's guests will
number 231 as they board the train
ms us morning to take the trail for
Chenango County.
This Will make the party almost
twice as large as the largest sent out
up to this time to be entertained in
private families. Of course. this com
parison does not take in parties sent
oy the Fund to its Fresh Air camps
TO one of which crowds Of $50 boys
are sent periodically throughout each
summer.
Notwithstanding its sze-it has held
the record for many years-the Bing-
hamton party is always a jov to the
Fresh Air Fund, for it is the easiest of
al private family parties to make up
Generally children to be entertained
by private hosts have to be selected
by the hosts.
What Families Want
Mrs. Smith wants a girl of eight to
play with her small girl of the Same
age. Mrs. Brown wants a boy Of five
Who will remind her of small son
Who Wa. taken away from her by the
little curly headed lasso whom she car
cuddle and make much of.
So runs the average invitation lis
from the average community, and The
Tribune Fund recognizes the right Of
the host to ask for IL certain type of
child and gladly endeavors to fiji the
schedule of specifications exactly. But
it means work--innumerable telephone
calls, hours Of card index lingering,
last minute adjustments without limit.
Thus, when the Binghamton commit
tee in its invitation says simply. as it
always does, send US 200 or 23O chill
dren, fifty boys and the rest girls,
there is joy in the Office of the funI.
With 10000 children knocking at the
door Of the fund for vacations there
is no difficulty involved in those 20 fill
the party.
Needy Get First Call
There is the added advantage that,
the children by specifications, the fund
is always able to proceed in accord
ance with its own plan and pick out
the children who need the vacations
most.
The work of arranging FOR tie en-
terta inment 'of The boys and girls in
Binghamton is done almost entirely hy
Ny. and Mrs. George J. Michelbach and
Charles Mckinney. Every year for the
last generation they have set to work
carly in the spring to interest their
nelghbors in the welfare cf The Trib-
une's nrotegcs, with the result that each
year from 200 to 800 youngsters have
been given vacations in their neigh
borhood
When the time comes for the cEi,-
dren to begin their visit Mr.. and Mrs.
Michelbach come to New York person.
ally to superintend the trip of .heir
guests. Mr.. Mckinney remains in
Binghamton to see that the final ar.
rangements for their reception 20
through without hitch.
Almost all the glory of the day goes
to Bingh anton, but Brewster and Mt.
Kisco, N. Y, have a share, for each Of
these places is to receive a party of
guests to-day. Their groups vii! not
be SO numerous as that of Birghamton,
but if there were as many people in
either of the places their rarties
would probably rival in size the record
breaking crowd for the Parlor City.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRIBUNE
FRESH AIR FUND
Previously acknowledged $32,G8s20
Mrs. j. w. TIauf .............. 500
Miss Rose Danenhauer ...... 200
Mrs. e. G.. ................ % 90
Annie G.. Foster ............... 1000
Kath therine II. Mortimer. ......... $500
Beaver Falls Fresh Air Com
lniltee ...,.............. 700