Making A Difference For A Lifetime
Before making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, Sergeant Henry Prendes dreamed of establishing a summer camp for inner-city youth. The fulfillment of that dream, Henry’s Place, is much more than just a “fun summer camp”. Our goal is to provide life-changing experiences, instruction, and opportunities to at-risk and underprivileged children and youth — experiences that will equip them to succeed in facing the challenges of growing up in the inner- city.
Did you know ~
- That youth living in disadvantaged urban areas are at greater risk for smoking, trying alcohol and using drugs?
- That high school dropout rates are 12-15% worse in central city urban areas than in suburban, town, and rural areas and that high school dropouts are 2 times as likely to be unemployed, over 3 times as likely to get arrested, 6 times more likely to be an unwed single parent, and 7 times more likely to be on government assistance?
- That urban crime rates are about 3 times greater than rural crime rates and urban violent crime is about 4 times greater?
- That 98% of gang members are either dead, in prison or maimed for life?While the above facts are alarming, together we can make a difference!
Each summer, Henry’s Place partners with Las Vegas area faith-based and secular community groups to identify approximately 500 at-risk youth, will provide them week-long life-changing camp experiences in beautiful Southern Utah.
OUR HISTORY
On Feb 1, 2006 Las Vegas Metro Police Sergeant Henry Prendes responded to a domestic violence incident and was fatally gunned down. Before his death, Sergeant Prendes and his wife, Dawn, had begun planning and acquiring land to build a camp for youth. Henry had a singular vision for this camp: to offer life-changing experiences to urban youth.
In the aftermath of that tragic February day, friends and supporters rallied around Dawn, encouraging her to keep Henry’s dream alive. Out of their encouragement and support was born “Henry’s Place” — a camp established to bring amazing opportunities at no cost to youth who would normally never be able to afford to go to camp.
The seeds of Henry’s Place were actually planted all the way back in 1986. That’s when a young man growing up in urban Las Vegas, Henry Prendes, went to a summer camp and forever changed his view of the world. His experience there helped to set the course of his life as one of love and sacrificial service and inspired his future dreams of providing similar camp experiences for youth. However, on that fateful day in 2006, it seemed that Henry’s dream had been ended by a criminal’s bullet, but God had a plan and even through tragedy was working a story of incredible hope.
Development Plan
