Lawrence J. De George, Camp Boggy Creek Board member and Founder passed away on April 13, 2009. Larry first became involved with the Camp in 1997 when he participated in a fishing tournament hosted by General H. Norman Schwarzkopf to benefit the Camp. It was there that Larry learned about the mission of Boggy Creek. Later that year, Larry was unanimously voted onto the Board of Directors where he remained a champion for seriously ill children and their families until his recent passing.

Larry was actively involved with the Board until this past year when continued health issues required him to scale back his travel. Pat Cooper, Chairman of the Board stated "He introduced me to the Camp's mission and encouraged me to join the Board. His commitment to the Camp was strong and he brought skills he used successfully in the private sector to the camp. I'm thankful to have known and been a friend of Larry's."

Larry De George began his career in the early days of cable television after serving in the Navy during World War II. His success began in New York City where he rose to be CEO of Times Wire and Cable, a major supplier of cable in that industry. After retiring in 1980, he continued to apply his entrepreneurial skills and enjoyed great success as a venture capitalist, purchasing troubled companies and restoring them to profitability.

Since 1997 Larry and his wife, Florence have lived in Jupiter, Florida. Over the years, Larry and Florence received numerous awards for their philanthropic endeavors to help children's charities. In 1998, Camp Boggy Creek welcomed Larry and Florence as Founders, a special group of friends who have contributed over $1 million. They were steadfast in their commitment to the Camp's endowment and joined The Schwarzkopf Society when it was initiated in 2007 as Charter Members at the highest level - Four Stars.

General Schwarzkopf recalls "Larry became involved with the camp because of what we do for kids and his influence as a Board member has been profound. We owe a great deal to his extraordinary vision - encouraging growth and sustainability of the Camp programs."

The Camp's main street is appropriately named "De George Boulevard." Each year Larry made several trips to the Camp for Board meetings and other events and always made time to visit with the campers. President and CEO, June Clark, added "He always emphasized the importance of our mission and reaching more children in need of our programs. Our campers held a special place in his heart." Larry will be truly missed by all that knew him and we will be forever grateful for his guidance and dedication to seriously ill children.