Mary Olsen’s connection to Camp Fire spans nearly her entire life. From her early days as a youth in Camp Fire, to leading groups of her own, to serving 27 years on staff, Mary has always found joy in learning, growing, and helping others.
Today, alongside her husband Roger, she continues to impact young lives through her financial support of Camp Fire. When Mary and Roger became parents, Mary knew she wanted her daughters to experience the same things she had treasured in Camp Fire.
She led both of their Camp Fire groups, with Roger often by her side. Once the girls went off to college, Mary began what she thought would be a part-time role with Camp Fire to help with college tuition costs. That job blossomed into a 27-year career she loved so much she hardly wanted to retire.
Over the years, countless people have told Mary how her influence guided their career choices and inspired them to give back to their communities.
Now retired, Mary and Roger continue to give through their charitable contributions. Having seen firsthand the difference Camp Fire makes for children and families, they have chosen to allocate a portion of their annual retirement distributions to Camp Fire now, rather than wait until an estate settlement.
Mary has always stressed to others that time is an irreplaceable gift. “The time you spend with children and families is an investment in the future,” she says. “Along with that, think about where your money has an impact. This is why Roger and I continue to support Camp Fire today.”