The Fresh Air Fund is seeking families to share the beauty of their communities with a Fresh Air child this summer. Thousands of families in rural, suburban, and small-town communities along the East Coast and Southern Canada open their hearts and homes to New York City children from low-income communities through The Fresh Air Fund's Friendly Towns Program each year.

First-time Fresh Air children are boys and girls ages 7 to 12. Children who are reinvited by host families may continue with The Fresh Air Fund through age 18 and can enjoy extended trips. The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided no-cost summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children since 1877.

There is no such thing as a typical host family, just those with the desire to share the simple joys of summer with a child from New York City. Fresh Air children enjoy new experiences like swimming in a cool lake, seeing the stars at night, and catching fireflies. Through the eyes of Fresh Air children, host families often rediscover the beauty of their own communities, and say they receive more than they give through the experience.

"I recommend The Fresh Air Fund to everyone I meet. Being from New York myself, I wish I could have been part of this program – it's priceless! We've done so much together. Last summer, the girls went to the beach and rode ponies – which were both firsts for Imani. We are counting down the days until she returns!" said Suzanne Scarlett-Dieudonne, a Fresh Air host.

For information on how to get involved this summer, contact B.J. Ellis at 302-228-9326 or visit www.freshair.org.