Help that Sparks Hope
Founded in honor of two people who dedicated their lives to the well-being of children in foster care, the Cammack-Marshall Fund provides financial support to improve the lives of children under state guardianship in Ramsey County.
Many of these children live with physical, developmental or learning disabilities or have suffered abuse, in addition to the ongoing challenges of life in foster care. The Fund strives to provide children with resources and experiences that create hope, build confidence, and fill crucial needs that would otherwise be unmet.
Our Mission
To enrich the lives of children under state guardianship in Ramsey County by providing for their unique needs.
For a Need Like No Other
We partner with Ramsey County to focus on children under state guardianship because of the extreme level of challenge in their lives. Being under state guardianship means that all parental rights of their birth parents have been terminated. Many were abused emotionally, physically or sexually. Some have learning or physical disabilities. All are incredibly vulnerable. But we believe that every one of them has the potential to survive and thrive, with the right sort of help.
Foster care funds cover the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. The Cammack-Marshall Fund exists to support foster parents in providing the extra services and opportunities that help a child recover from an abusive past, learn skills to overcome a developmental challenge, or nurture an interest or talent to boost self-esteem and confidence.
Since our founding in 1964, the Fund has enriched the lives of over 3500 children. One medical intervention, one counseling session, one tutoring plan, one musical instrument, one set of soccer cleats: one by one, the ways our fund helps add up to a different future for children.
What We Do
The greatest needs – The most vulnerable children
Kids who are under state guardianship have experienced more than disrupted childhoods. Some have endured the loss of family. Some have survived abuse, and face day-to-day challenges including developmental and emotional disabilities. Some have suffered crises we can’t even imagine or understand. Many have joined families who have opened their homes to give these children a future to look forward to.
The Cammack-Marshall Fund also joins families, in finding ways to help each child get what she or he needs, especially when the needs exceed what the foster care system can provide.
So a child who has a sleeping disorder gets the therapeutic bed that doctors know will make all the difference. Or a student who studies hard at school but just needs a little extra help to reach her full potential gets essential tutoring support. Kids who love a sport get equipment needed to participate and discover strength, commitment and teamwork. We also provide support for young adults aging out or those that need medical or dental care.
Awarded in partnership with Ramsey County foster care, Cammack-Marshall gifts do more than enrich lives. They facilitate turning points in a child’s life, and mark the rites of passage that are a part of a fulfilling life.
Some of the help we provide
- Summer camp
- Therapeutic support
- Medical & dental support
- Sports equipment
- Musical instruments
- Bicycles
- Tutoring
We are proud that the Cammack-Marshall fund has helped over 3500 children since our founding.
Please Donate
99¢ of every dollar you give will be spent on enrichment, educational, therapeutic and transitional support that state funding does not provide. Gifts are distributed to foster families through the Guardianship Unit of Ramsey County Social Services.
Your donation will help, immediately and effectively, making a difference by adjusting the course of a child’s life. Please give generously.
Coming Soon – Donate Online
Donate by Check
Donations can be mailed to:
Cammack Marshall Fund for Children
PO Box 14325
St. Paul, MN 55114
A letter documenting your tax-deductible contribution will be sent to you promptly.
Our Board
We are led by a visionary volunteer board of directors, including seasoned experts in child advocacy.
On the Shoulders of Giants
Gertrude Cammack and Agnes Marshall were both dedicated to improving the lives of children who are under state guardianship. It is due to their hard work, generosity and vision that the Cammack-Marshall Fund exists.
Gertrude Cammack worked for Ramsey County Welfare Services for more than 40 years and served as Executive Director for many years. Her dedication was focused on advocacy for children under state guardianship; upon her retirement in 1964, Gertrude’s friends, family and coworkers established the Gertrude E. Cammack Fund for Children in her honor. This established our endowment, and set the course for the Fund’s ongoing mission today.
Agnes Marshall was raised in Georgia by her grandmother, a former slave. Upon her grandmother’s death, Agnes was placed under state guardianship. She eventually moved to St. Paul and worked as a custodian at the Gillette Company for 25 years. It was not until after Agnes’s death in 1989 that it was revealed that she had been setting aside a portion of her earnings to create a generous endowment to help children in Ramsey County with under state guardianship with special needs.
In 1992, Agnes’s gift was merged with the Gertrude E. Cammack Fund to maximize the impact of their shared vision, and was the official establishment of the Cammack-Marshall Fund.
Help Spread the Word
Know other people who care about kids? Help us raise awareness about the special needs of kids in foster care by sharing the story of our children—and the opportunities that Ramsey County and the Cammack-Marshall Fund offer to help every kid start down a better path.
Requests for Support
If you are a foster parent in Ramsey County who would like to apply for funds for a special need for one of your foster children, you may be eligible for funds. Contact the social worker in charge of your foster child’s case to make a request.
Contact us
About this Site
The photos on this web site are not of actual foster children. The images are only used represent the children that we do serve.