Kimberly Bunting, One of Campbell Soup's Unsung Heros
Kimberly Bunting, Director of Community Programs at Perkins Center received an Unsung Hero award from the Campbell Soup Foundation at their annual networking breakfast in October. Jerry Buckley, Chairman of the Foundation said,
Our unsung hero truly knows how to go above and beyond. In her four years at Perkins Center for the Arts, Kim has directed the Summer Arts Camp, the Out-of-School Program and co-managed the Mural/Community Gardens Program. She not only brings her experience as an artist to these programs, but her passion for the arts and a very deep compassion for people.
Stories that were shared included one about this past summer camp; Kim found out that there were several campers from Camden who did not get breakfast in the morning. So she went out and bought breakfast items to ensure they wouldn’t go hungry. She also purchased bathing suits for the counselors and volunteers who supervised the children in the swimming pool at the YMCA because they did not have any of their own. On top of this, Kim would play chauffeur, always willing to set aside her time to drive a camper, counselor or volunteer who was feeling sick, forgot something at home, needed to get to football practice or get to an afternoon job.
One of the shining qualities of Kim, though, is her care for all the children she works with at Perkins. Even after the summer’s end, Kim keeps in touch with the children through letters, emails and phone calls. One Saturday, she even picked up a Perkins’ alum at his home and brought him to the Center to help him design student government campaign posters for his run to be Class President. Congratulations go to Kim for her incredible work and spirit and for leading the 2009 Summer Arts Camp to become the “Best Arts Camp in South Jersey” by readers of SJ Magazine!
