Central Ohio seniors lost a vital advocate as Judith Camp, a strong proponent of the COAAA Holiday Gift Program, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2010, at home surrounded by her family.

Judy, as Columbus West Park’s Director of Adult Day Care/Home Health Services, and Columbus West Park President Tom Stewart, recognized a need to help seniors during the holidays. Judy was the driving force behind the holiday gift program with the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, which provides holiday gifts and basic needs to the elderly.

This program started by providing gifts to 100 clients, and it has grown to 500 clients in 2009.
“The way Judy grew this program bordered on the miraculous,” said Bethany Dohnal, COAAA public information director.  “She inspired her co-workers and her family, who then inspired others, and before I knew it, individuals and businesses all over central Ohio were signing up to adopt seniors for the holidays.”

“Judy Camp’s work with Columbus West Park was always viewed as exceptional by our staff so we shouldn’t have been surprised by her drive to start and expand the gift program, but we had no idea how successful she would be” said Cindy Farson, COAAA Director.

Now in its fifth year, the gift program will continue in her honor with the help of all those Judy helped inspire.