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When Kay Muller describes her deceased son, the first word she utters is "children."
"Ted had this magic with children," she said. "It was just amazing to see. Kids melted in his presence."
Ted's sister, Lynn Levin, agrees. "Even when he was a little kid, Ted was always crazy for kids - even babies," said Levin. "That's where he felt comfortable, where he was in his element."
So when Muller died in 1996 at the age of 29, it took only a few days for his family to think of how best to honor a man who had spent many years as a camp counselor and District 65 teacher. They would find a way to give something to the children of Evanston. Thus the Ted Muller Camp Scholarship Fund began. And what started in 1996 with a little seed money, has since grown into a major operation, including an annual fundraising party held every spring.
Ted Fund serves Evanston's neediest kids.
"Ted wouldn't have wanted flowers in his memory," explained Muller. "He would have wanted something practical. As a camp counselor and teacher, he saw the disparity in Evanston - between the haves and the have-nots - and it came to me that we could do something for the have-nots."
According to Muller, her son was especially concerned that local summer camps and other recreational activities were fee-based, which made them largely unavailable to the kids who needed them most.
"When the money started coming in after his death, we began to think that maybe this was something we could do on an ongoing basis and keep Ted's memory alive," said Muller.
The mission of the fund, which has become known simply as the "Ted Fund," is to provide financially disadvantaged students in District 65 (third graders) the chance to attend local summer camps for three consecutive years.
"Because the program is for three years, it provides continuity for the children. They look forward to it year after year," said Muller.
Children are selected for the program by school social workers in cooperation with third grade teachers. This year, the fund will send one child from each of the District 65 elementary schools to camp.
One in three Evanston kids can't afford camp.
Nearly one out of every three children in Evanston comes from a family that cannot afford extras such as summer camp or other enrichment programs. Ted Muller's family doesn't want local residents to forget this fact.
"Since so many camps are fee-based, this is one way we can level the playing field and provide access for as many of Evanston's children as possible," said Muller.
She adds, "After Ted's death, among the many letters I received was one from the parents of one of his learning disabled students. They wrote that when Ted walked into the classroom 'the sun came out for their son.' They said that Ted had changed their son's life and they were grateful for it."
Perhaps for the community of Evanston, the Ted Fund is a way to keep that sun shining for other needy children for years to come.
To find out more about the Ted Fund or this year's fundraiser, call (847)866-7282 or write to:
Ted Muller Camp Scholarship Fund
1825 Asbury Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60201
- Contributed by Nancy Anderson
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