Chat Expert    Neil Willenson

Neil Willenson is the Founder and CEO of Camp Heartland, a national non-profit organization that makes a year-round and life-long difference for children who experience HIV/AIDS, poverty, grief and other painful life challenges. In 1993, after befriending a five-year-old boy with the illness and witnessing the discrimination, pain and sadness that he experienced, Willenson, then 22 years old, sought to provide a safe haven for children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Since the inception of Camp Heartland, thousands of children have participated in various camp sessions where they can have fun, make friends, feel accepted, and if desired, speak openly about living with the disease.

Willenson is also the co-creator and leader of the Journey of Hope AIDS Awareness Program. During these unique presentations, children affected by AIDS are given the opportunity to share their experiences with school groups, religious organizations and community audiences. Since 1994, the Journey of Hope has visited dozens of cities and has educated and inspired thousands of individuals. In addition, Willenson has served as a keynote speaker providing insight on youth leadership, activism and inspiration.

Willenson is the author of "A Journey of Hope – Inspiring Stories of Courage and Unconditional Love" which includes the photographs, stories and writings by and about the children of Camp Heartland. The book has won three national awards including being named Writer’s Digest 2006 Most Inspirational Book for Youth.

In order to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, Willenson and the Camp Heartland program have been featured by "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," "Dateline NBC," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Progressive Magazine, USA Today, and hundreds of other publications. Willenson and Camp Heartland were profiled in the CBS Movie of the Week, "Angelie's Secret," in the Disney Channel film "Friends for Life," on "Good Morning America," "CBS Morning News" and countless television talk shows, and in the film, "Born with HIV: Little Warriors."

Under his leadership, Camp Heartland has raised over $30 million to support children with HIV/AIDS, has grown to become the largest organization of its kind, and now serves as a model for dozens of other camps throughout the world.

Willenson is also an actor who will appear in the upcoming feature film THE LEGEND TRIP opposite Mark Metcalf and has been in various television commercials.

Fundamental in every project Willenson leads is the belief that all people have value and that we should follow our heart and work toward a brighter tomorrow.