William B. Robertson in 1965 was selected by his principal at Lee Junior High School and the Roanoke Jaycees as “Outstanding Young Educator in the City of Roanoke.” With this honor came the invitation to join the Roanoke Virginia Jaycees. Thus, Robertson became the first African American to become a member of what was then an all male civic organization.
He selected as his project “mental retardation” known then and sold the idea of a camp for special needs children and adults to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia.
To finance the project he proposed selling .15 cent jars of apple jelly for $1.00. This idea was met with laughter by the Virginia Jaycees at their state meeting in Virginia Beach in August of 1968. However, Robertson stuck to his position and won approval of the 700 – 800 Jaycees in attendance.
The Jaycee Executive Committee told him that was not sufficient. He would have to sell the idea to the 140 Jaycee Chapters across the Commonwealth.
Thus, as principal of Hurt Park School in Roanoke, Robertson was on the speaking circuit just about every evening driving across/around Virginia speaking before some Jaycee Chapter selling the members on selling the apple jelly on March 2, 1969.
Soon everyone was on the same page and Robertson boarded a tractor-trailer with driver in February 1969, loaded it with 100,000 jars of apple jelly and delivered them to pick up points in Charlottesville, Richmond, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Lynchburg, Danville, Bristol and Roanoke.
Jaycees were now ready for the sale for Sunday, March 2, 1969! But on Saturday, March 1, 1969 Virginia had the largest snowfall that it had seen in years. However, the Jaycees carried out the sale realizing God had sent the snow. People were home when the Jaycees came calling. The goal was $45,000. The Jaycees raised $68,000 that day and Camp Virginia Jaycee was born.
Its first campers arrived in June 1971. Since that time the facility has served 47,000 special needs children and adults. It has brought special education teachers from Kenya, South Africa (Black townships) and Sierra Leone, trained them in camping and they have returned to their countries and started similar facilities adaptable to their needs.
Camp Virginia Jaycee brought more than 80 inner city 7th graders to the camp from Tampa, Roanoke and Greensboro to volunteer as junior counselors which has given them a sense of self worth. Baltimore youth were next on this agenda.
Today, Camp Virginia Jaycee is in question! In a controversial manner Hope Tree Family Services of Salem, VA has gained control of the grounds of Camp Virginia Jaycee and wants to sell it for a profit. Robertson has placed an on-line petition-requesting members of the public to sign: Google “Help Save Camp Virginia Jaycee.”
A Good Samaritan is currently offering Hope Tree $450,000 for the property and indicates it will assist Camp Virginia Jaycee to restart the program. The camp closed in 2017.
Robertson deeply appreciates the efforts and contributions of all who have helped bring this program for special needs children to the attention of the public through the years and urges you to assist now by signing the current petition!
