History

When Hector Corona’s young son looked up and asked, “Dad, what do you do for a living?” — it stopped him in his tracks. Hector was a commodity trader by profession, and that simple question sent him on a journey of reflection. He authored a book on financial literacy and began thinking deeply about how to make a difference beyond his own family. Hector and Diane had always been aware of the struggles facing Chicago’s children, and as a family fortunate enough to have a farm cabin out in the country, they saw an opportunity. Why not bring some of these kids out and give them a chance to escape the city, breathe fresh air, and simply be kids? So that is exactly what they did — and what began as a humble act of generosity grew into something far greater. From that conviction, a movement was born.

2016

The Coronas welcomed 60 children from William Brown Elementary School to their second home in Dixon, Illinois. Tents were pitched, soccer fields were laid out with hay bales as borders, basketball courts were built, and three meals a day came straight from their kitchen. No facility. No staff. No blueprint — just a family giving everything they had.

2019

After years of success and hundreds of kids, the Coronas outgrew their Dixon home and sacrificed to meet the need — purchasing an abandoned 167-acre property in Lewistown, Illinois. Over 4,000 children have since experienced a program unlike any other — SEL, law enforcement meetings and conversations, stargazing, music & video creation, Trades training, and above all, a safe place to simply have fun.

2026 

Ten years after those first 60 kids arrived at the Corona family cabin, City Kids Camp now welcomes 1,200 children in a single summer — proof that one family’s conviction can change thousands of lives. Every year, time is taken to improve the camp, strengthen the program, and bring exciting new things for the kids. New additions are always in the works — because these children deserve nothing less.

Over the years, something remarkable has happened. What began as one family’s act of love has grown into a community of believers — extraordinary Board members, kind-hearted donors, tireless volunteers, and faithful supporters who chose to show up for children they had never met. Because of them, thousands of kids have gone home more confident, more hopeful, and certain that someone believes in them.

That is the true legacy of City Kids Camp. One child at a time.