HIGH POINT — A camp in Randolph County for children with serious illnesses is starting a fund to celebrate the philanthropic legacy of a High Point man.
Victory Junction is establishing the Big J Fund to Send Kids to Camp to celebrate the life and legacy of Jordan Washburn, who died March 29 at age 86.
The fund will help cover expenses so that all of the children who can benefit from a Victory Junction experience do so free of charge, a Victory Junction press release said.
Washburn was a founder, longtime friend and supporter of Victory Junction and served on its board of directors from 2004 to 2023, and this is not the first time that Victory Junction has honored his contributions. The nonprofit nominated him for High Point’s 2022 Philanthropist of the Year as well.
Victory Junction was established in 2004 in honor of Adam Petty, a grandson of Richard Petty who died in a crash at age 19, as a place for children with serious illnesses to be able to have fun together in a safe environment.
“Washburn focused his philanthropic efforts on children’s issues, and he felt strongly that all children, regardless of their ability, should have the opportunity simply to be kids,” the press release said. “That belief led to Washburn’s connection with Victory Junction when the camp was still just an idea.”
Washburn raised more than $4 million to begin construction on the camp, and raised millions more for Victory Junction since 2004.
Chad Coltrane, Victory Junction’s president and CEO, called Washburn “a ray of light in a world where children live with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions.”
“Every morning, he asked himself, ‘Whose life will be better because I woke up today?’ Well, I can honestly say that over a hundred thousand children have had better days because of Jordan,” Coltrane said. “We are committed to honoring his legacy through the Big J Fund to Send Kids to Camp. We are blessed to have known him and will miss him beyond words.”
