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Philanthropy

DCI operates as a not-for-profit corporation committed to investing in kidney care innovation, addressing gaps in care along the continuum of kidney health, and supporting local communities. We also support research efforts that drive advancement and improvement in kidney care, including new treatment options and care delivery models designed to enhance the lives of people living with kidney disease.

Nancy Johnson

DCI Foundation Division

The DCI Foundation Division is our philanthropic arm devoted to establishing and advancing affiliated programs that benefit patients affected by kidney disease and local communities. DCI’s philanthropic efforts are a critical part of our vision to empower people with kidney disease to live their best lives.

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Camp Okawehna

The next Camp Okawehna will be held in June 2025.
Deadline for applications will be announced at a later date.

For most children with kidney disease in the early 1970s, attending a summer camp simply wasn’t an option. The emotional, physical and financial burden of dialysis treatments extinguished their hopes for a traditional “camp” experience. Camp Okawehna, affectionately called “Camp O,” changed that in 1975, and since then, hundreds of campers have experienced the fun and adventure of summer camp in a safe and welcoming environment.

Located 50 miles outside of Nashville, TN, Camp O is a weeklong summer experience for children with kidney disease, including those with kidney transplants and children receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Camp O has an onsite dialysis clinic staffed with volunteer dialysis nurses and physicians available to deliver treatment and provide 24/7 support as needed. Sponsored by DCI, Camp O welcomes children, ages 6 to 18, to attend regardless of where they currently live and receive treatment. Camp O is the only kidney camp located in the state of Tennessee and one of the largest kidney camps in the country, welcoming children from across the United States.

Camp activities are led by DCI employees and camp volunteers. Camp volunteers are pre-med students who have completed their junior year of college and are selected by medical professionals who attend camp with their patients. Every camp volunteer completes a thorough background check and attends a weeklong orientation program to prepare them as camp counselors.

Campers participate in daily activities, such as a ropes challenge course, canoeing, swimming, daily crafts projects, “themed” dances (including a Prom), concerts on the lawn, movie night, a pine-wood derby car race, a luau, and the traditional Camp O Talent Show. Campers are encouraged to take part in activities as much as physically possible. Camp activities are designed to be fun, holistic experiences that promote independence, confidence and growth for each camper. Campers develop trusting relationships in a safe environment, explore their full potential, and learn more about themselves as individuals.

For more information, please contact:

Phone: (615) 327-3061
Email: CampO@dciinc.org

Contact DCI

DCI is here to help you. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with kidney disease, you want to learn more about our services or you are interested in working with DCI, we want to hear from you.

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