careholders - Camp Boggy Creek

emembering true journeymen
Bruce Rossmeyer leading the 2003 Daytona
Harley-Davidson Ride for Children
Bruce Rossmeyer
“Accelerate Your Dreams!” Bruce Rossmeyer placed
this quote over the entrance to his Daytona Harley-Davidson
dealership. While the meaning is clear to most who enter his shop,
those who knew him well knew that his
meaning lay in his belief that everyone
has the right to his or her dreams,
especially children who may be afraid
to try. The “big man with the big heart,”
Bruce Rossmeyer, will always be remembered
for helping Florida’s most seriously
ill children to believe in their Journey
and themselves.
As a Founder and Board member
of Camp Boggy Creek, Bruce committed
his success, influence, time, and talents to
the cause of enriching the lives of children
with chronic or life-threatening
illnesses. In 1995, he took his love for
motorcycles to the road when he began the first Daytona Harley-
Davidson Ride for Children to raise money for Camp Boggy Creek
and in 15 years, he helped raise almost $4 million dollars for
Florida’s only multi-disease, therapeutic, year-round camp.
Bruce Rossmeyer’s generous contributions to the community
were always done without the revelry and celebrations
synonymous with the many bike events that he helped organize.
On the contrary, Bruce Rossmeyer preferred the benefactors
of his philanthropy, especially children, to take the spotlight and
dream
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c a m p b o g g y c r e e k 2 0 0 9 r e p o r t t o c a r e h o l d e r s
center stage, because, as Bruce would say, “it’s all about the
kids.” On July 30, 2009, Camp Boggy Creek and the
community lost a dear friend and true philanthropist in a tragic
motorcycle accident. Bruce will always be remembered for his
dedication to continuing Boggy Creek’s mission of compassion,
its legacy of caring, and its commitment to give a “week of
normal” to seriously ill children.
Bruce Rossmeyer’s commitment to improving the
lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses was
unequalled. His philanthropic endeavors benefited many
children’s organizations and in 2007 he received the prestigious
Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Outstanding Philanthropist
award. Following the altruistic lessons taught to him by his
mentor, the late Jim Moran, Bruce believed with conviction that
each individual, each dollar and each action could make a significant
difference and he received his greatest reward knowing that
his good fortune was helping others.
Over 1,200 friends attended the 15 th Annual Ride for
Children and while the event was no doubt a success, the
noticeable absence of the Ride’s founder and biggest supporter
made the day somewhat surreal. Bruce’s wife, Sandy, and their
five children (Mandy, Wendy, Randy, Shelly and Will) took the
stage and graciously thanked all the supporters for their commitment
and announced that Bruce’s legacy and the Ride will
continue in his memory and will from hereon be known as the
Bruce Rossmeyer Ride for Children.
“ bruce
Pictured from top:
The Rossmeyer Family carries on Bruce’s legacy
during the 2009 Daytona Harley-Davidson Ride
for Children
David Roth, camper and Bruce Rossmeyer at the
2007 Daytona Harley-Davidson Ride for Children
it’s all about the kids and having a passion for helping others in need
”
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