"We just ask ourselves: Is it different? Is it distinctive? Is it good?" —Chris Albrecht

All ready to attend the party this weekend? You've picked out the perfect outfit just for the occasion. The appetizer you've prepared will certainly be the talk of the evening. But what about the gift? A little hesitant about what to buy your father-in-law for his retirement and still give it that personal touch without burning a hole in the wallet? RedEnvelope to the rescue. Here's their story:


In Asian traditions, gifts are often presented in a simple red envelope: a timeless symbol of love and appreciation. Whether a gift is a small token of gratitude or a grand gesture of love, we consider its giving and receiving a cherished occasion in itself.


RedEnvelope invites you to celebrate anything and anyone at all... a birthday, an anniversary, a new house, your overworked friend, a newborn niece. It's the thought that counts. Wrap yours in red.


That tag line at the end is knock-em-dead-lady-in-red catchy. Seems RedEnvelope has a good business model in place: they know how to be in all the right places. For example, use Evite.com to organize your latest backyard get-together and after you RSVP, they thank you (as any gracious host should) and suggest some appropriate items from RedEnvelope's online store. And if that's not enough to grab your attention, the striking red box with its simple-yet-snappy crisp white ribbon you present to the birthday girl (not to mention the high-end gift inside) most definitely will.


Find out what's thoughtful, classy and red all over.


Shop around the corner and compare. Regardless of Martha's financial don'ts, her exquisite taste is still a do.

The CamdenForward School and UrbanPromise Academy are excited to announce the start of their sixth year. Since 1997, a combined total of more than one hundred students have benefited from these private Christian environments. This year, the Forward School will introduce a fifth grade classroom, in its continuing effort to add a new grade every year.

A year in the making, we have spent a lot of time working on this website and feel certain that it is worth your visit. We would appreciate your comments and suggestions so that we might learn how to serve you and the kids of Camden more effectively. Please take a moment to share your thoughts with us about the site, content, design and programs. Thanks and peace to you!

"Children are the living messages we send to a future we will not see." —Neil Postman

Hello again from Camden, New Jersey! Recently, a summer intern shared her favorite part about working at UrbanPromise: coming back. She's exactly right. Coming back to Camden is one of the most rewarding things when students first arrived for their summer staff position. During mission trips over spring break, college students get to spend a week volunteering their spirits and energy. Much like the high school groups who spend a week here during the summer, UrbanPromise invites college groups to come participate in their programs during the school year. The connections with the kids are always an amazing experience. Four months later, it is very clear how much of a lasting impact one person can make on one child, just by showing a little love and attention. Here's one example.


I worked with first graders on that trip this spring and met a little girl named Savannah from the east side of Camden. We started talking one day and immediately she latched onto me. I sat with her when we sang songs and learned bible lessons with the full group. We worked together on her math homework and overcame some obstacles in multiplication. She drew me a picture of her house and told me about her neighborhood and I drew a picture of my house and told her about living in the New River Valley (she thought it was pretty cool that I lived in the mountains). We talked about her dad who died because of a drug-related incident here in the city: both the sadness of losing a father and happiness of believing in heaven.


Fast forward to the first day of summer camp. I dropped off my work crew at the camp in East Camden and from across the room, I spied two little eyes, staring intently at me. So I stared right back, not saying a word. The room was filled with kids and staff attempting to get them settled, the work crew wandering around awaiting instructions. It was noisy and crazy. But we just locked eyes, not saying a word. Then she moved her mouth silently saying my name. I responded by moving my lips silently to say "Savannah." She repeated my name. And I, in turn, "Savannah." A grin started to appear. And I walked over to meet her. Savannah rushed in with a big hug. She had two questions for me: "How long are you going to be here?" and "Did you climb up the mountains to go back home?" She remembered, with lightning accuracy and that same cute grin. Since then, we're still hanging out together, visiting over breakfast and playing jumprope (Savannah's up to 16 jumps in a row).


In Mark 10:46, Jesus meets the blind man along the road. He stops. He takes the time to speak with the man and open his eyes. What lessons can you take from Jesus in your own life? How can we all try to show a little love and attention to those in need?


See the many ways the ministry reaches out to the kids of Camden.


Get to the know UrbanPromise through this outreach program.