It started as a dream. Or, more significantly a camp. Then it grew to a project, and now with the help from students from Northwest University it will grow to a full fledge ranch. The dream, camp, project, ranch, is Project Kindle. Project Kindle is a program that was developed by Eva Payne in 1998, as a way to reach out to, and help, children affected by HIV/AIDS. It was called Camp Kindle because the group would rent out a camp site and bring children in for a week of fun, therapy and education. The camp was offered cost free and was held in Nebraska.Brett Avila, of Kimball, learned about the camp from a friend in Lincoln. So Avila decided to give it a shot. It was an eye opening and life changing event. A couple of years later he recruited his good friend, A.J. Bohac.Avila eventually headed to Chicago to work on his masters degree. He continued to work as a counsellor for Camp Kindle while in school.While representing Camp Kindle as a grant recipient, Avila learned about a program called Dance Marathon. A completely student led program that raises money through sponsorship for non-profit organizations. When he heard about the amount of money being given away to that year’s beneficiary, the same group who was awarding Kindle the grant, he knew that Camp Kindle would benefit.Contacting Payne, Avila explained his thoughts. Payne agreed and a proposal was submitted within the two week deadline.Avila said they received word that Project Kindle was selected to come interview in front of the Dance Marathon selection committee. Soon after the interview they learned that they were not selected. “We interviewed but were not selected,” said Avila,” we were strongly encouraged to apply again.”Avila said they were told that they needed to show better focus on how they would use the generated funds.So they did. But this time they knew they had to leave it all on the floor. With Bohac’s help they put together their stronger, more focused proposal. And again they found themselves being invited back for an interview. Knowing they were interviewing in front of other college students, Avila said they wanted to make their proposal as fun as possible. Using a “Jeopardy” themed proposal and Avila singing a song put to the tune of George Michael’s Faith, the team gave it all they had. The proposal was entertaining, informative and included a more “focused” use of the money. The funds would be used to build Kindle Ranch. A campground in southern California that would be owned by Project Kindle and shared with other non-profit entities. Avila said the selection committee appeared to enjoy the proposal and their (the Kindle team) hopes were high.Again the Kindle crew found themselves waiting. Finally an answer came to them. “They invited us back for a second interview,” said Avila.So they headed back to the committee and gave their proposal again, this time in front of more Dance Marathon people. But the proposal was more for the pleasure of the Dance Marathon group than to actually secure the spot of beneficiary.“We were invited back under false pretenses,” said Avila with a smile.Project Kindle had won.The committee was pleased to see that Project Kindle shared the mutual desire of making a connection with the student body. A connection that would help the students to better understand what they were dancing for, said Avila.Overwhelmed with joy, the crew began setting about introducing the Northwestern student body with the kids of Project Kindle. “We spent the next year introducing the students to the kids and the people we serve,” said Avila. Project Kindle kids told the students of their daily trials and tribulations, they told them of their daily fears and of the life they lived with HIV/AIDS. They made a connection. But was it enough?On March 6, 2009 the annual Dance Marathon event began. Members and participants of Project Kindle were on hand to help dance.The marathon was set up in 10, 3 hour blocks for a total of 30 hours of dancing. During the last block, all the dancers gather in a tent for the final haul. “It was a pretty exciting event for our organization,” said Avila.As they approached zero hour, the time for the presentation of funds was upon them. When the Dance Marathon staff announced how much money was raised, Avila threw his hands into the air and screamed in excitement. Payne, covered her mouth in shock. “I was stunned ... I was ... astonished,” he said. A total of $917,834 of which Kindle received $576,470. It was the second largest amount that Dance Marathon had raised. The first was the year before with $933,855.Kindle had earned enough money to build their ranch. A ranch that carried a price tag of about $500,000.“The ranch will operate all year round and will be barrier free,” said Avila, “ It will be a state of the art, green facility, done in collaboration with other non profit organizations.”Avila said the experience of working with the Project Kindle families during the Dance Marathon year has helped him to establish a more intimate relationship with them. It has helped to know and understand better their lives and challenges. Avila, who is home in Kimball for the summer, recently accepted a position with the Project Kindle organization. He will be serving as the Project Kindle Public Health Director. A position recently vacated by Bohac who is pursuing his law degree.  Avila and Bohac, a couple of Kimball boys who are impacting the world. From the Project Kindle web site:“What started out as a dream for the Project Kindle family, came to fruition at 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning, March 8, 2009. A dream that stood in the hearts, hopes and lives for so many had become a reality. A moment only made possible through the endless commitment and dedication by heroic individuals. There are no new words to express the sentiment felt throughout the tent on the east lawn of Norris Student Center.You are our heroes because of your selfless acts of kindness and desire to light a fire of change.”Eva Payne, Founder and Brett Avila, NUDM/PK Liaison