CASCO — Camp Sunshine has received a coveted four-star rating and the highest overall score among Maine charities for fiscal management, oversight and transparency from Charity Navigator, the nation’s leading charity evaluator.

Camp Sunshine is a one-of-a-kind national retreat in Casco for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Charity Navigator each year conducts an unbiased data-driven analysis of financial information of nonprofit organizations across the nation to help donors determine which organizations to support.

This year marks Camp Sunshine’s third consecutive top four-star rating, a distinction achieved by only 10 percent of the charities evaluated by Charity Navigator.

“Camp Sunshine outperforms most other charities in America,” said Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Camp Sunshine from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

Camp Sunshine’s overall score topped a list of 12 Maine nonprofits that received Charity Navigator’s top four-star rating. Other Maine nonprofits achieving a four-star rating were Maine Community Foundation in Ellsworth, Environment Northeast in Rockport, Friends of Acadia in Bar Harbor, Preble Street in Portland, Bay Chamber Concerts in Rockport, Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Animal Welfare Society in West Kennebunk, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Salisbury Cove, Island Institute in Rockland, Maine Sea Coast Mission in Bar Harbor and Bates College in Lewiston.

“Camp Sunshine is proud to have again earned this highest rating by Charity Navigator,” said Matthew M. Hoidal, Esq., executive director at Camp Sunshine. “Since our inception nearly 30 years ago, our board has always placed the highest value on fiscal responsibility and accountability in addition to the primary focus of maintaining a comfortable, safe environment for the children and families that we serve.”

Camp Sunshine operates year-round on the shores of Sebago Lake and provides week-long respites at no charge to children with  life-threatening illnesses and their families. The camp offers the only program in the nation whose sole mission is to address the impact of cancer, kidney disease, lupus and other life-threatening illnesses on every member of the immediate family.

For more information about Camp Sunshine’s programs and to learn more about volunteering or making a donation, visit www.campsunshine.org or call 207-655-3800.