The organization, founded by former MLB pitcher Jamie Moyer and Karen Phelps Moyer, started as a small nonprofit in Seattle with a broad mission to help children in distress, and has since grown into a national network of camp programs, resources and support services reaching thousands of children, teens, and families across the U.S. and Canada.
The early years of The Moyer Foundation focused on supporting local grassroots youth-serving nonprofits and as well as large scale commitments to some of Seattle’s largest life-saving institutions including Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Swedish Medical Center. In May 2003, the foundation created the Gregory Fund in support of a special young man, Gregory Chaya, who underwent a bone marrow transplant while being treated for leukemia. Both Gregory, and the fund which supports early cancer detection research at Fred Hutch, are doing well today.
In 2002, Camp Erin was created in memory of Erin Metcalf, a remarkable young woman who received a cancer diagnosis when she was 15 years old. Erin and her family’s friendship with the Moyers inspired the launch of Camp Erin to provide a space for youth to grieve together, and has since become the largest free bereavement program, supporting thousands of children, teens, and families annually both in person and online.
After the national expansion and success of the peer-to-peer support offered at Camp Erin, Camp Mariposa was launched in 2007 as an addiction prevention and mentoring camp for youth affected by the substance use disorder of a family member. Thanks to investment by the Department of Justice, Camp Mariposa began a more robust expansion into rural areas in 2016. Through Eluna’s network partners across North America, gaps in support were identified which led to the creation and launch of the Eluna Resource Center, which extends the continuum of care offered at camp and also provides personalized support, referrals, resources, training and consulting to those in need of support.
As The Moyer Foundation entered its teen years, we began discussing the future of the organization and how it could adapt and thrive. We wanted an identity that reflected our core programs and those we serve. In 2018, as we celebrated our 18th birthday, The Moyer Foundation rebranded to Eluna. The word symbolizes moonlight; a guiding light to the youth and families facing the darkness of grief and addiction, a reminder that we are all under the same moon, stars and sky and that tomorrow is a new day.
Beginning with the kindness of two individuals determined to make lives brighter in Seattle, Eluna’s camp programs are now offered in nearly 50 locations across the U.S. and Canada, and we have served over one million users at our resource center. We continue to innovate with new and expanded programs and support as a funder of incredible local nonprofits and scholarships for camper alumni. Through our unique blend of program creation, collaboration, and direct service, Eluna continues to transform lives with community-building camps, interpersonal connections, and a continuum of support.
