The Sean and Sheri Dooney Family Lodge at Camp Howard is the chosen project that will receive monetary support from the proceeds of the first Sean Dooney Memorial Fundraiser. This is the first of several family cabins that will offer families a more comfortable and accessible venue to enjoy the beautiful camp and share in the multitude of activities they have to offer.

“CYO/Camp Howard has been in “rebuild” mode the past four years beginning with the 2018 completion of the new Mary’s Lodge. A Welcome Center and new restrooms are nearly ready for groundbreaking. After the death of Sean Dooney, in May of 2018, a future project was added to the plan which involves the rebuilding of the old adult lodges. The newly designed adult lodges will be built following the Welcome Center and other projects. Plans are in place to memorialize Sean Dooney at Camp Howard with the Sean and Sheri Dooney Lodge. 

Sean and his family have been very active with CYO and Camp Howard over the years including helping launch the Champions of Faith benefit dinner, now in its ninth year. The Dooney family also created an event at Camp Howard with Danny Dooney’s Eagle Scout project; building a performance stage out of pavers at the Wy’East Campfire pit. The project transformed the experience of campers by having a solid & level performance area for their skits, activities, and campfire programs at camp. The sport and camp experiences with the Dooneys have been family oriented and community building, reflecting the strong values Sean and Sheri believe in. The Sean and Sheri Dooney Lodge will be very meaningful to me as they have been such wonderful partners in both business and friendship. I have watched their kids grow up through sports and camping and to me, the “Dooney” name inspires family values.

CYO/Camp Howard is blessed to be remembered in this inaugural Sean Dooney Memorial golf tournament. We will continue to build on the values the Dooneys and CYO/Camp Howard have in common and we look forward to the day we break ground on the Sean and Sheri Dooney Lodge.”

~Sister Krista von Borstel

Catholic Youth Organization

It all started when…

CYO sports are a hallmark of the Catholic school system within greater Portland area; the Dooney family was no exception to the allure of the athletic competitions. Beginning in 1998 with the oldest child Brian, a Dooney kid was always able to be spotted playing CYO sports amongst the hundreds of amateur athletes each season. From football, to volleyball, basketball, and track and field, the Dooney kids spent more than their fair share of time in the bleachers to cheer one another on and out on the field and court tearing it up to make mom and dad proud.

Each of the kids had the opportunity to be a referee for youth sports while in high school. Erin & Molly refereed volleyball, all the boys were basketball refs, Danny refereed football, and Danny, Erin & Ronan were refs for Track & Field. Erin also had the unique opportunity to coach K-2 girls lacrosse while in high school. CYO sports provided the Dooney kids many wonderful experiences with friends and one another, allowing them to experience healthy competition in a positive and encouraging environment. They learned the value of playing on a team, good sportsmanship, and a strong work ethic through their success and trials as youth athletes. Both the kids and parents have lifelong friends as a result of the amazing community they were privy to through CYO athletics.

Camp Howard

Camp Howard’s summer camp is one of the awesome opportunities for youth to spend time in the outdoors with their friends, away from the distractions of wi-fi, television and the everyday hustle & bustle of life. The incredible piece of land the camp is on allows for kids to be surrounded by nature and friends in a place where the activities are endless and there are no parents, haha! From archery, swimming, hiking, fishing, to community games, arts and crafts, and so much more, kids get to spend a week away from home and enjoying a beautiful Oregon summer in the Mt. Hood National Forest.

While six of the Dooney kids (DK’s) attended summer camp and made many memories there, the seventh made an impact with completing his Eagle Scout Project at Camp Howard. The DK’s recall visiting as a whole family to spend time with Sister Krista and Karen von Borstel, the sister duo that runs the camp and maintains the facilities. The Dooney’s favorite memories up there include trap shooting, fishing, and adventuring around the property and of course, helping make Danny’s Eagle Scout Project come to life. In 2012, Danny received approval to build a stage at Camp Howard for his Eagle Scout project. The stage has been a wonderful addition to the overall camp experience, providing a much improved place for campers to perform their skits, songs, and activities at the evening campfires, and for Sunday Mass to be facilitated. Many family and friends helped Danny to complete the project and Sean could not have been more proud, especially as he worked diligently with Karen, Sister Krista, Scoutmaster Mark Boshears and Danny for months in the planning, preparation and excavation of the grounds the stage was to be built upon! The stage is at the Wy’East campfire pit and is in full use today!

Champions of Faith

In 2013 and 2014, Sean and Sheri volunteered as the Event Chairs for the 3rd and 4th CYO/Camp Howard Champions of Faith Benefit Dinner (COF). Their venture into becoming the COF Event Chairs began right after they hosted a table at the first COF Dinner in 2011. Sister Krista asked them individually to volunteer as sub-chairs for the second COF Dinner, to which neither Sean or Sheri had committed to. But lo & behold, Sister Krista had typed them in as Volunteer Chairs on two sub-committees and the rest is history! Sean & Sheri often shared in laughter to others that, “You can’t say NO to Sister Krista”! In the end, Sean & Sheri were very thankful for the rewarding and enriching experience, as well as the wonderful friendships they further developed through their time volunteering for the incredible Champions of Faith Benefit Dinner!

Sean and Sheri helped to recruit hundreds of people to join CYO/Camp Howard for the Champions of Faith Benefit Dinner that occurs every fall. The Dinner Event helps raise money for this tremendous organization to provide Scholarships for youth to participate in sports and to attend camp. The proceeds from the dinner are also set aside for capital projects at Camp Howard and for future endowment.

Through their leadership role for this special event, Sean and Sheri became very close friends with Sister Krista who has blessed the Dooney Family with much love, attention, and generosity. Since losing Sean, Sheri and all seven children are very grateful and appreciative for the loving support we have received through the wonderful CYO and Camp Howard friendships we are fortunate to be blessed with.