Virginia “Ginger” Smyly

Virginia “Ginger” Smyly first heard the name Donaldina Cameron House at a recruitment meeting of would-be day camp leaders from the Oceanview-Merced Heights-Ingleside (OMI) neighborhood churches in 1966. 

At 16, she remembers boarding the M street car, catching the cable car up Powell, walking down Sacramento Street to the mouth of Joice Alley, and opening the heavy brown doors. Inside Culbertson Hall, there were many kids her age already sitting on the floor looking up to the leader who commenced devotions prior to a full week of training. 

At the time, Cameron House Summer Day Camp operated out of Ingleside Presbyterian Church, Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, as well as on-site in Chinatown. Ginger worked at each of these sites during her summers; she was a summer day camp leader for several years, then became a day camp director. Ginger recalls fondly, “These years were quite memorable and inspirational. I made fast and lifelong friends, learned leadership and supervisory skills and decided to join the church.” 

She remembers days of meeting at The International Hotel in Manilatown and marching for housing rights with Chinese grannies in front of the federal building, where HUD had offices. Eventually, Mei Lun Yuen Apartments across the street from Cameron House was built as a result of years of organizing. After serving in the Peace Corps and finishing graduate school, she returned to the States in 1986 and was invited to join the Cameron House Board of Directors soon after. The Board at the time undertook “long range planning” and began to consider changing some long-held traditions. Ginger was also a frequent volunteer at Carnival in those days. As an ex-officio to the hiring committee, she helped identify Doreen Der as a candidate for Executive Director. During her 12 year span she served on the Foundation Board and contributed to the building fund which helped retrofit Cameron House from 1999 – 2003.

The friendships Ginger made as well as the moments of inspiration when the feeling of the Spirit moved among them as they worked or gathered together, have made the most lasting impacts on her. 

Following each of her sister and parents’ deaths, Ginger had to make sense of their estates. In appraising her own situation: single, without children, and aging; she decided that she needed to prepare her final wishes. A trust and will were prepared in which Cameron House and other community based organizations were included in bequests. This has been recently revised with additional “causes” recognized. The bequest to Cameron House reflects the value put on the institution, the work it does, and for whom it works. Ginger says she has always been drawn to the outstanding and pioneering work of the Cameron House Social Services Department, addressing domestic violence and other related problems among immigrant women.

Her gift is given with no strings attached and she trusts in the ability of Cameron House staff and Board to make appropriate decisions about the disposition of funds. “I hope that in some way my gift supports women and their children to get safety and stability, or immigrant kids get help with homework and English learning, or someone sees a friendly face at a club meeting. Additionally, if funds are used for Cameron Ventures, Cancer Support Group, or Food Pantry, I will be pleased.”

“If you are able, willing and trusting in the Cameron House staff and Board, and if you believe in its mission and program, then give and give freely and abundantly.”