the fabulous four

THE
FABULOUS
FOUR
Hundredsof liuesacrossCapeCod haue
benefitedfrom four dedicatedmen committed
to the well-beingof their communities.
lT MAY SEEM overwhelmingly impossiblefor one person to make an impact on a
life, yet within our own communities, four men's hearts were touched enough to help
fellow Cape Codders in need. Their creativity in fundraising is unbridled, their love
for their coastalcommunitiesis infinite, and their passionis conragious.Think one
person can't make a difference?These men prove otherwise.
DEWITT
DAV[:
L\t F) # l'r' T :
RACING FOR CHII-DREN
orn on Cape Cod to
processof understandingwhat we have,
"The LeMans creates a fun way to
a family that prided
what we need and whartwe ilppreciate."
fr"rnd raise," says Davenport of the
itself on giving back to
footsteps as the leader of Davenport
Unfortunately, Davenport's debut evenrthat has now raised$2.4 million
LeMans was scheduled for Septen-rber f o r c h a r i t i e s s u c h a s A l z h e i m e r ' s
1 5 , 2 0 0 1 , j u s t f o r - r rd a y s a f t e r o n e o f
Services of Cape Cod & the Islands,
our natiotr's dzrrkest moments. Rather Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape
Companies, which employs more rhan
than cancel the eveltt, Datvenport knew
Cod, IndependenceHouse and Marine
1,300 people at more than a dozen
pulling the communiry rogether was
Corps Toys for Tots.
companies throughout New England.
Although Davenport spenr his school
years off Cape and began his career as a
never more important than that tirne.
" l n l i g h t o f t h e s e r i o u s n e s so f t h e t e r -
of directors and executive direcror
r o r i s t a t t a c k s ,w e d e c i d e dt h a t t h e u n i t y
a n d S e a s i d eL e M a r l s e v e n t c o m m i r r e e
public accountant, the pull of the tides
was too strong to keep him away and he
for the community was critical," says
Davenport, recarllingthe first Le Mans,
t h e r a c e b e n e f i c i a r i e s 'w
, hich fall into
returned to join the family businessin
w h i c h r a i s e d$ 1 2 0 , 0 0 0 .
one of three categories: health and
its community, De'Witt
Davenport is following in his family's
the 90s. After a teambuilding evenr ar F-
T h e e v e n t , w h i c h t : r k e sp l a c e o n t h e
1 Boston, where he and his co-workers
streets of Mashpee Commons, fea-
were
tLlres relay relcers from
racing
around
the
track,
corporate
The Davenport Companies' board
spend 12 days each year identifying
human services, social services and
children. With so many organizations
soliciting donations, a due-diligence
Davenport thought it would be fun way
to give back to the communiry he loved
and Glen Builders &
and created the Cape's most unique
w h e r e b u s i n e s s m e ni r n d w o m e n l i t e r -
a g r e e m e n to n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , f u n d s
fundraising efforts, the SeasideLeMans.
ally change gears to
are distributed.
"Philanthropy has been an integral
part of my family and it started before
my
family founded the Davenporr
s p o n s o r sl i k e C a p e C o d 5 C e n r s B a n k
process to approaching goals is fol-
A s s o c i a r e s , l o w e d a n d a r f t e rr e a c h i n g u n a n i m o u s
climb
inro
Formul:r One-style go-carts, dressed
Davenport hopes his dedicationto his
h e a d - t o - t o e i n r e l c e a t t i r e . E r - r s u r i n g community sets an example for future
100 percent of all donations raised generations of Davenports saying,
Cornpanies ir-r 1956," says Davenport.
"Part of our legacyis to give back to the
g o e s t o c h a r i t y , D a r v e n p o r tC o m p a n i e s
"With an 80 to 90 percent parricipant
a n d F 1 B o s t o n , w h o s r - r p p l i etsh e v e h i -
return rate and the generosity of our
community.
c l e s , r n e c h a n i c s ,t r z r c k sa n d r a c e m a n -
sponsorswe're able to make significant
a g e m e n t ,c o v e r a l l c o s t s .
donatiorrsto Cape Codders in need."
Charitable
fundraising
through the Seaside LeMans is the
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61
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BILL
MURPHY:
BIKING FOR HIS COMMUNITY
Formerly a workaholic, J. William (Bill) Murphy
remembers the d^y he chucked it all to move to the
Cape, It was after a year he logged nearly a quarter of
a million miles in arr travel. "I decided that was
enough. I resignedand bought and ran a pack agestore
in Sagamorer"he reflects.
The slower pace and better quality of life got MurphS an avid biker, back on the
pavement,loggingbetween30 to 50 mileson his bicycleeverymorning. One summer
in199L, after Murphy and friendsdecidedthey would bike to Provincetown,meet a
friend with a boat and sail home,he had an epiphany."I had beenlooking for a way
to memoralizemy father,who had passedof cancerin 1983.After we biked and boated our way around the Cape, it struck me that this was the perfectopportunity to
blend fun with fundraising."
The next year, he launched The Last Gasp, a bicycle ride from Sandwich to
Provincetownthat endswith a cruise back to Sandwichacrossthe Bay.The first year,
47 peopletook part in the fundraiser,raising $3,750. By 2008, the event has raised
$3 million, with half of that raisedwithin the past six yearsalone and proceedsbenefiting children,the homeless,the community,medicineand culturaVarts.
"Our eventsfall under our parent organization,Cape Cod CharitableFunRaisers.
Our objectiveis to design,organizeand implementspecialeventsfor the benefitof
other non-profit organizationsheadquarteredon the Cape and Islands," he says.
The Last Gasp now attracts some 300 participants for the 62-mlle ride along
Route 64'. The averageride time is about four hours, and then is followed by an
hour-long cruise across Cape Cod Bay followed by ^ traditional Cape Cod
Clambakewith all the fixin's.
Although successful,
The Last Gaspdid not remain Murphy's only venture.Seeing
the number of peopleinterestedin helpinga good causewhile havinga good time, he
developedtwo more fundraisingevents:Roll the Rock and the Spectacle
of Trees.
"The three eventsrepresenta Trinity of Seasonality.The Last Gasp is held in the
summer,Roll the Rock is a springtime bowling event comprised of 40 corporate
teamscompeting,and the Spectacleof Treesis a Winter Christmastree-decorating
'We
event.
handle all the event set up and facetsof marketing, promotion, organization and orchestration so that 98 percent of the participants' efforts are on
fundraising. Ife are blessedwith a true partnership on all fronts," says Murphy,
adding, "'Wehave fun, we stay fit and we help Cape Coddersin need.I think that
of all the accomplishmentsI've had in my life, The Last Gasp would probably
make my dad the most proud."
BOB
MURRAY:
\flALKING FOR HOUSING
"As a child, we used to spend summers at our family cottage in
Rexhame,which is part of Marshfield on the South Shore," saysBob
Murray while taking a break during walking legs of the 2009
'Walk,
Housing for Love
the six-day walk from Provincetown to
Falmouth he founded in 1993. "It was a wonderful childhood at the
beach,very different from my home town of Arlington, Mass., and I
absolutely loved that place. \When I was 13, my
1993, generating $28,000. By 2008, Murray's
father pledged the house in a businessdeal that
went bust and he lost the house. I was crushed. I
1O4-mile walk from Provincetown to Falmouth
through all 15 Cape Cod towns generated just
realized the difference between a house and a
over $300,000. This summer, Murray's walk
home, and how important a home is to a family.
included nearly 400 participants and was set to
The bad times are manageableif tackled from the
eclipsethat record and hit $350,000.
security of a home, and the sweet times, well,
"I'm 70 years young, so we break the walk
i n t o m a n a g e a b l es e c t i o n s .P a r t i c i p a n t sw i l l c o m e
they're simply sweeter."
After a life-long career as a pharmacist and
for the day, walk the designated stretch, and
owner of a string of North Shore pharmacies,
then head home until the following morning.'We
Murray retired to Famouth in 1987, looking to
have a tremendous amount of fun along the
reconnect with the pleasurable feelings of the
wayr" he says.
beach and the saltwater he enjoyed in his youth.
The event, which collects funds budgeted for
Never forgetting how it felt to lose a home, he
temporary housing in hotels and other associated
began working with local groups that focused on
relocation expenses, are channeled through 12
issuessurrounding homelessnessand stumbled on
participating agencies to individuals in need of
an idea: the cheapestway to reduce homelessness assistance.The seriesof daily legs are walked by
groups of volunteers from the Cape-wide agencies
is to prevent it.
"One
doesn't plan to be homeless," says
Hyannis'
ing reasonsare job loss, illness or death of the pri-
Homeless Prevention Program, with
mary income generator. More common these days
sponsors like Cape Cod Five Cents Bank, which
are elderly folks waiting for public-provided eld-
has sponsored all 17 walks, and new sponsor
Champ
Homes
Falmouth's
and
corporate
Cape Air, also dedicating both time and money
Dedicating his new-found free time to help raise
CAPE
Hopeless to
Murray "but sometimesit just happens.The lead-
erly housing to open up."
64
including Orleans' Homeless Not
along the way.
money for housing, Murray decided a walk would
"Housing for Love Walk donations in the form
be the perfect motivator. "'Walking is something
of additional monthly income helps folks stay in
everyone can do, which makes an event fun. And
their homes until public housing becomes avail-
the moderate elevations on Cape Cod combined
able," says Murray. "Over the years we've helped
with scenicand historical views is motivating."
'IWalk
The first Housing with Love
began in
year helping more."
COD
MAGAZINE
. Seotember/October
2oo9
a lot of folks, and we'll be right back at it next
www. capecodmagazrne.com
fo tll
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(loD
'
September/October
2OO9
www.caPecodmagaztnecom
E.J.
JAXTIMER:
FISHING FOR CANCER FUNDS
"Thelirst
ost to cancer was my good friend and Osterville
6ighboi
ressLee Remickr" recallsE.J. Jaxtimer."It was in 1991
and it
de me reflecton what life is really about. For me it has always
familS friends and children. Family and friends are the ties that
bind, and childrenare our future."
Jaxtimer knew he didn't want to let more friends go
without a fight, but it wasn't until sisters Susan
Foodwin and Harriet Sesen approached him to
finance cancer fundraising efforts that the lightbulb
went off. Approachedfor being a successfulbusinessman (he is well-known Cape-wide for his custom
homebuilding and remodeling business based in
Hyannis, E.J. Jaxtimer, Builder,Inc.), Jaxtimer decided to put the "fun" in fundraising and launched a
fishing tournament.
"'S7hatbetter way to add to a charity event on Cape
Cod than through a fishingtournament?"saysthe passionatefisherman,who called on his equally successful
friends to initiate the tournament in 1993. The first
tournamentfeaturedonly eight boats,but the fisherman
had a ball and raised$20,000.
Held at Natuicus Marina in Osterville, owned by
friend Bill Koch, who donatesthe marina for the event,
word spreadabout the tournament, with leisurefisherman wanting to enjoy the spirit of competition for a
good cause.Named for their fellow Osterville friend,
residentand former Red Sox standoutand managerduring the 1930sand 1940s,the annualJoe Cronin Fishing
Tournament peaked with 71 boats in 2003, pushing
Jaxtimer to cap the number of boats at 55. "And we've
beenat full capacitymost yearssince," he adds.
In 2008, the tournament raised and donated more
than $300,000 to the Dana Farber CancerInstitute in
Boston. "Our objective is to create a "Life Raft" for
families with membersreceivingcancer treatment. A
Life Raft is a financial donation thar covers some of
the bills surrounding medical visits and treatments.
Uncoveredmedicalexpenses,mealsand lodging while
on overnight hospital visits, gas, parking, you name
it. Our goal is to help familiesfocus on what is important: getting their patient well by beating cancer,"
saysJaxtimer.
Jordan Leandre, a teenagerreceivingongoing cancer
treatment at Dana Farber,has attendedthe tournament
every year for the last five years, including last year's
event,where he watched from a wheelchair,weak from
cancer treatment. Last week, Jaxtimer received an email from the boy's father, announcing that Jordan
recentlypitched his first baseballgame. "To me," says
Jaxtimer,"that's what it's all about." l
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