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Camp Boggy Creek Remembers Its Founder, Paul Newman
Eustis, FL (September 29, 2008) - Camp Boggy Creek, Florida’s camp for seriously ill children, is saddened by the loss of its founder, Paul Newman, who died Friday night at his home in Connecticut.
From the earliest stages of its development, Newman was an integral part of the formation of Camp Boggy Creek. Modeled on Paul’s original Hole In The Wall Camp in Connecticut, Paul infused $100,000 seed money and Boggy Creek was incorporated as a 501-c-3 not-for-profit in 1990. Its mission is to enrich the lives of children dealing with chronic or life-threatening illness.
In 1992, newly retired General H. Norman Schwarzkopf was recruited onto the team and Paul Newman committed $1 million and solicited an additional $1 million from New York financier Ted Forstmann. At this point, both fundraising and construction began in earnest. $15 million was needed for the first phase of construction on the 232 acre property that was donated by Florida Hospital. Camp staffers at the time were amazed at the “hands on” effort that Paul applied into the project. He personally solicited the funds to build the SeaWorld Swim Center from August Busch III joking that he had been that good of a customer of the company’s beverage line. He attended board meetings and reviewed with interest the site plans and architectural renderings.
On February 25, 1994, Newman and Schwarzkopf hosted 200 enthusiastic supporters and turned the first shovels of dirt to begin construction on Camp Boggy Creek. Following the opening of the camp in 1996, he continued to help guide the camp’s growth and programs expansion with the design and construction of the Universal Orlando Resort’s performance theater. He insisted on an authentic stage set up, knowing full well that campers would never use a three curtain set up, but wanting them to have the full experience of a Broadway-type theater.
Prior to retiring from racing at age 80, Newman was a frequent visitor to the Daytona International Speedway, where he and fellow Camp Boggy Creek board member, Michael Brockman raced in the annual Rolex 24 At Daytona. He delighted in the racing connection between his Florida camp and Grand-Am, the premiere sanctioning body for sports car racing in North American. To date, that organization has raised over three quarters of a million dollars for Boggy Creek.
As his family of camps grew nationally and internationally, he continued to attend and support Camp Boggy Creek fundraisers like the camp’s annual Daytona Harley-Davidson Ride for Children and Starry Starry Night at Universal Orlando. His signed movie posters were among the most treasured auction items and his signature on a camper-built wooden race car made it priceless. Thanks to him, and so many others, over 40,000 children and family members have attended Camp Boggy Creek to date.
Because of his foresight and diligence, his Hole In The Wall Camps, including Camp Boggy Creek, are well positioned to continue his legacy of serving seriously ill children at no cost to their families. All of the monies required to fund the camp annually are provided by donations from generous individuals, corporations, foundations and healthcare partners. The Board, staff, volunteers and campers of Camp Boggy Creek now pause to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man.
Camp Boggy Creek Remembers Its Founder, Paul Newman
Eustis, FL (September 29, 2008) - Camp Boggy Creek, Florida’s camp for seriously ill children, is saddened by the loss of its founder, Paul Newman, who died Friday night at his home in Connecticut.
From the earliest stages of its development, Newman was an integral part of the formation of Camp Boggy Creek. Modeled on Paul’s original Hole In The Wall Camp in Connecticut, Paul infused $100,000 seed money and Boggy Creek was incorporated as a 501-c-3 not-for-profit in 1990. Its mission is to enrich the lives of children dealing with chronic or life-threatening illness.
In 1992, newly retired General H. Norman Schwarzkopf was recruited onto the team and Paul Newman committed $1 million and solicited an additional $1 million from New York financier Ted Forstmann. At this point, both fundraising and construction began in earnest. $15 million was needed for the first phase of construction on the 232 acre property that was donated by Florida Hospital. Camp staffers at the time were amazed at the “hands on” effort that Paul applied into the project. He personally solicited the funds to build the SeaWorld Swim Center from August Busch III joking that he had been that good of a customer of the company’s beverage line. He attended board meetings and reviewed with interest the site plans and architectural renderings.
On February 25, 1994, Newman and Schwarzkopf hosted 200 enthusiastic supporters and turned the first shovels of dirt to begin construction on Camp Boggy Creek. Following the opening of the camp in 1996, he continued to help guide the camp’s growth and programs expansion with the design and construction of the Universal Orlando Resort’s performance theater. He insisted on an authentic stage set up, knowing full well that campers would never use a three curtain set up, but wanting them to have the full experience of a Broadway-type theater.
Prior to retiring from racing at age 80, Newman was a frequent visitor to the Daytona International Speedway, where he and fellow Camp Boggy Creek board member, Michael Brockman raced in the annual Rolex 24 At Daytona. He delighted in the racing connection between his Florida camp and Grand-Am, the premiere sanctioning body for sports car racing in North American. To date, that organization has raised over three quarters of a million dollars for Boggy Creek.
As his family of camps grew nationally and internationally, he continued to attend and support Camp Boggy Creek fundraisers like the camp’s annual Daytona Harley-Davidson Ride for Children and Starry Starry Night at Universal Orlando. His signed movie posters were among the most treasured auction items and his signature on a camper-built wooden race car made it priceless. Thanks to him, and so many others, over 40,000 children and family members have attended Camp Boggy Creek to date.
Because of his foresight and diligence, his Hole In The Wall Camps, including Camp Boggy Creek, are well positioned to continue his legacy of serving seriously ill children at no cost to their families. All of the monies required to fund the camp annually are provided by donations from generous individuals, corporations, foundations and healthcare partners. The Board, staff, volunteers and campers of Camp Boggy Creek now pause to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man.
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