Centennial Founders Signs on as Sponsor of Shell We Camp, Annual Benefit for Painted Turtle Camp in Lake Hughes

Lake Hughes, Calif – Centennial Founders, the community builders planning the new town of Centennial, will sponsor this year’s annual North Los Angeles County benefit for The Painted Turtle camp on September 29. Funds will go toward sponsoring campers, all of whom are seriously ill children who attend at no cost. Centennial Founders will work with the camp’s North Los Angeles Regional Advisory Board comprised of community leaders from the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita on the event that will be held at the camp in Lake Hughes.

“The Painted Turtle Camp is an amazing adventure for children with chronic and life threatening diseases, who normally could not attend summer camp,” said Greg Medeiros, vice president of Centennial Founders. “It is a life-transforming opportunity and we want to insure that every child who wants to attend is able to do so. It is so rewarding to play a small part in supporting this great program that is in our back yard.”

This year’s event is Shell We Camp, Guests of this third annual event will wear camping gear and enjoy a camp dinner, carnival-style games and dancing under the stars. Last year’s event attracted 500 guests and raised more than $175,000.

In 2006 more than 700 kids, ages 7 to 16, afflicted with one or more of 12 different medical conditions were able to forget about illness and have an authentic summer camp experience at the Painted Turtle, according to Michael House, PhD, CEO of The Painted Turtle Camp. “In addition we have year round activities including family weekends and day camps that serve more than 1,000 additional children and family members.

“We are pleased to have our neighbor Centennial helping us to bring our mission to life and partnering with the committed members of our Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita Vally Regional Advisory board,” noted House.

“The Painted Turtle is important to all of us in the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita communities,” reported Sherry Lasagna, chair of the North LA County Advisory Board. “Giving to these children offers us a deep feeling of connection to humanity and a powerful sense of purpose.”

Campers at The Painted Turtle Camp enjoy all the typical camper experiences including archery, woodworking, horseback riding, boating, fishing and much more. Their medical needs are supported by a unique Well Shell that is staffed 24 hours a day by top medical professionals. The Painted Turtle serves children with arthritis, asthma, severe burns, Crohn’s and colitis, diabetes, hemophilia, kidney disease and transplant, liver transplant, muscular dystrophy, primary immunodeficiency diseases, spina bifida and skeletal dysplasia.

The Painted Turtle is part of the international family of the Paul Newman-founded Hole in the Wall Camps and monies raised from the annual event go toward camp sponsorships which are free to the participating children. The unique facility was designed by world famous architects Richard Meier and Partners.

Located on the historic Tejon Ranch in Los Angeles County, Centennial is a master-planned self-sustaining new town proposed to address not just the region's housing needs, but also local needs – from emergency services and health care to entertainment and recreational opportunities and jobs. Centennial will build eight K-8 schools, two high schools, one branch library, three fire stations, one sheriff’s station, two water treatment plants, two transit stations, numerous parks, trails and open spaces. One-half of the 11,700 acres will be preserved as open space in its natural state.

Centennial Founders is a partnership of Tejon Ranch Company and three prominent community developers, Lewis Operating Company, Pardee Homes and Standard Pacific Homes.

About Centennial
Centennial is planned as a 21st century new town -- a sustainable community built on smart growth principles that fully integrates housing, jobs, shopping, medical facilities, cultural and recreational amenities and educational institutions. Over 20 years Centennial will create approximately 30,000 jobs along with 23,000 homes (12,800 single-family detached homes; 6,200 attached condominiums and townhomes; and 4,000 rental apartments). The homes are designed to be affordable to 74% of those working in the community.