The Hawkins Family, Rotary Variety Shows & A Legacy of Inclusion

Celebrating 70 Years of Community, Compassion, and Camp Haccamo

By Susan Perry, Development Director, Camp Haccamo

As Camp Haccamo became a cherished summer tradition for children and young adults with disabilities, Eddie and Kay Hawkins were creating unforgettable experiences for families throughout the Rochester region through Penfield Rotary’s famous “Command Performances.” 

Beginning in the 1950s, the annual Rotary variety shows reflected the music, humor, and entertainment of the era. Audiences packed local auditoriums for productions with memorable titles like “Sweet Smell of Summer,” “State of the Union,” “Three of a Kind,” and “Don’t Put Me On.” Featuring live music, comedy sketches, dancing, and community talent, the shows became one of the area’s most anticipated traditions throughout the greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region. 

At the center of it were Eddie and Kay Hawkins. Eddie, an early Camp Haccamo board member, and Kay devoted countless hours organizing productions, coordinating volunteers, and welcoming guests from organizations across the community. The couple owned the Penfield Liquor Store at the Four Corners of Penfield, just a couple of miles from Camp Haccamo’s original site, which opened in 1956. Their dedication helped connect the Rotary shows to Camp Haccamo’s earliest story and mission. 

The “Command Performances” became more than entertainment. Each year, more than 1,000 children and adults with disabilities attended the free matinee performances at the local high school, many arriving by bus from organizations and care facilities throughout the region. The productions brought together Rotarians, musicians, dancers, local businesses, families, and volunteers in a remarkable community effort that supported Camp Haccamo, scholarships, youth programs, and outreach initiatives. 

Judy Dayton, granddaughter of Eddie and Kay Hawkins, still remembers the excitement surrounding the annual shows. She recalled her grandfather serving as the driving force behind the productions, while her grandmother spent countless hours writing letters and preparing tickets at the family dining room table. “Children with disabilities got to experience entertainment that we often took for granted,” Judy remembered. “When I was in school in the ’60s and ’70s, special needs children were not typically integrated into classrooms. It was enlightening to witness their joy in experiencing the shows.” 

Historic newspaper clippings from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s captured packed auditoriums, smiling audiences, Rotary musicians, and volunteers working together to create unforgettable experiences. Even after Eddie’s passing in 1969, Kay continued supporting the beloved Rotary tradition with unwavering dedication. 

Today, as Camp Haccamo celebrates its 70th Anniversary in 2026, the Hawkins family legacy continues across generations. Judy’s son, Dillon Dayton, married Erica Dayton, his high school sweetheart from Wayne Central High School. Erica now serves as Executive Director of the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, one of the nation’s leading organizations supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her leadership reflects the same spirit of compassion, service, and community that Eddie and Kay demonstrated decades earlier through Rotary and Camp Haccamo. 

Seventy years after Camp Haccamo first opened its gates, the values that inspired the Hawkins family and the Rotary variety shows remain at the heart of the camp community today — bringing people together through compassion, connection, laughter, and a shared belief that everyone deserves to feel welcomed and celebrated.