Our History

Four founders envisioned a summer camp that could build confidence and community for children impacted by a family member’s incarceration. That one week at Camp Burgess has grown into a year-round family of programs — the only one of its kind in Massachusetts — supporting kids from age 8 into adulthood. Since our first weeklong summer camp experience in 2014, Amazing Grace has accompanied 99 children from 84 families.

We began in the fall of 2013 when Ross Anderson and Hilary Green at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, Bernice Winthrop at Saint David’s Episcopal Church, and the Rev.Carol Bolstad from The Open Door Mission individually approached the Rev. Libby Gibson, then rector of Saint Mary's. Each shared their interest in some form of prison ministry.  Libby invited them to talk with each other and figure out what that could look like.

Ross and Bernie were inspired by The Rev. Jackie Means (1936–2025), the former director of Prison Ministry for the Episcopal Church. Jackie helped launch Grace Camp in VT where Ross volunteered and Grace Camp in Maryland where Bernie volunteered as well as at least 24 other similar programs. Jackie visited the cape and shared her vision of providing children whose parents were incarcerated with unconditional love and a glimpse of a different life. Six months later, Amazing Grace of Cape Cod welcomed 13 children at our first summer camp experience at Camp Burgess.

Amazing Grace of Cape Cod was incorporated in 2015 as an independent 501c3 in the state of Massachusetts. Although Amazing Grace was incubated within faith communities, we are not a religious organization. Also, our programs are non-religious and are open to all, without regard to religious affiliation or lack thereof. Amazing Grace programs have grown in response to identified needs articulated by our young people and their families. This has been possible because of our dedicated mentors and volunteers, as well as the grants and generous gifts from organizations, businesses, faith communities, and individual partners like you.