A camp for grieving children put on by the charity founded by former Denver Broncos quarterback Brian Griese was canceled Friday, surprising the program’s partner and children who planned to attend.
The week-long Leadville camp called Heroic Journey was scheduled to begin Aug. 7. The camp was put on by Judi’s House, which Griese named for his late mother and started in 2002, the same year he was released by the Broncos.
Judi’s House started Heroic Journey in 2005.
The reason for canceling the camp hasn’t been made public.
Friday afternoon, a Judi’s House official notified Outward Bound, its partner in the program, that the event was canceled, said Amy Saxton, spokeswoman for Golden-based Outward Bound.
“We don’t really know why,” Saxton said.
Monday afternoon, Judi’s House sent e-mails to children from across the country who were recruited to attend because of tragedy in their lives.
The e-mail told children, “This cancellation is a joint decision, born of a multitude of factors after much consideration by the Leadership Teams of both Judi’s House and Outward Bound.”
Carol Heinz, the executive director of Judi’s House, said the reason was not financial but would not provide another reason. She said the organization would provide a formal statement later Monday, but that statement had not been provided as of 7:30 p.m.
Mary Davies, a former school principal in Dallas, is the guardian of a 16-year-old who has endured the death of his parents and grandparents.
She said he was devastated Monday afternoon when he got an e-mail telling him the camp was canceled.
Davies was irked by the lack of explanation, that Judi’s House sent the e-mail to the 16-year-old and did not contact her first, and that the organization waited so late to cancel.
“Most importantly, you have let down a teenager that has already been through enough heartache,” Davies wrote in an e-mail to Outward Bound, which she provided to The Denver Post. “No alternative is being offered. This is heartless. As an educator and alumni of Outward Bound, I cannot tell you how unprofessionally this entire matter has been handled.”
Saxton said Outward Bound understands the disappointment.
“We considered whether there was a way we could do the camp without them,” Saxton said of Judi’s House. “But there was really no way. They have grief counselors and a lot of services we’re just not equipped to provide. We feel terrible for the kids.”
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
