Auto shop owner flags down NASCAR for Camp Sunshine
photo/Matt Dodge
Ron Eby, owner of Windham Automotive, is in the running for a national humanitarian award recognizing his fundraising efforts for Camp Sunshine
In early September, Windham Automotive owner Ron Eby was named one of four finalists for the NASCAR Foundation's 2012 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award in recognition for his support and fundraising efforts for Camp Sunshine.
The 52-year-old repair shop owner has already earned the camp $25,000 from the foundation by being named a finalist, and now has a shot at securing an additional $75,000 for the Casco-based camp that helps families with children facing life-threatening illnesses. Voting for the award is open to the public through Nov. 29 and the winner will be announced during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards in Las Vegas Nov. 30.
Eby has long been a supporter of Camp Sunshine, helping to raise over $250,000 for the camp in part by soliciting donations from his professional network, including Hancock Lumber, NAPA Auto Parts and Shaw's Supermarket.
Mainebiz sat down with Eby to discuss his passion for Camp Sunshine, and how a business owner balances his own responsibilities with considerable fundraising efforts. An edited transcript follows.
Mainebiz: Why do you have a passion for Camp Sunshine?
Eby: When my daughter was very young, I almost lost her to meningitis, and my best friend lost her son to brain cancer when he was 14. Those are the kinds of events that catch your attention. Being able to give back through the success of my business is very important to me. Camp Sunshine is a perfect fit for that because those families have memories that no one can take away from them; it's a pretty incredible thing to be able to do.
How did you become involved in fundraising for it?
I got involved about seven years ago while kicking off Windham Summerfest. I was helping to organize that and built a portable Mexican restaurant — Ron's Mexican Cantina & Grill — to draw some attention to Summerfest and decided to start raising money for Camp Sunshine [with it.]
Is it difficult to balance your business responsibilities with your charitable efforts?
Yes and no. It becomes such a priority that you find the time to do it. From a business standpoint, it's been important to incorporate that into what we do. It's tough, and it adds to the workload, but when your business is established around that, it becomes part of your daily routine and we have a persuasive enough story to make it happen.
How did it feel to have the governor name Oct. 12 as "Ron Eby Day" in Maine?
It's pretty cool, but I'm just the guy carrying the flag in front of the parade. I am humbled and amazed to be there, and grateful for it, but there are thousands of people behind me who made that possible.
What sort of intangible value does this award bring to the camp?
We've had the opportunity to open the Camp Sunshine door to a national audience, which is huge. We are trying to generate revenue for Camp Sunshine and to get information out to families. n
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