Woodward and Her Happy Campers

It takes “a huge reason,” said Joanne Woodward, to get her on a train west from her Westport, Conn., home of 36 years. (She hates to fly.)

The Rowdy Ridge Gang Camp meets the requirement. And enthusiasm for the camp spread faster than poison ivy at a party Thursday in honor of Woodward, co-chairwoman with Sherry Lansing of the 3-year-old San Gabriel Mountains camp for women and their children who have been affected by drugs or violence in their homes.

The party took place at Deborah Raffin and Michael Viner’s newly remodeled 4,500-square-foot Beverly Hills showplace with his-and-her offices and a fireplace in the master bathroom (“Deborah’s present to me,” Viner said).

Guests ate hors d’oeuvres including filet mignon wrapped in puff pastry, spicy tuna on cucumber slices and radicchio--and the Newman’s Own all-organic chocolate bar, smuggled into the party via Woodward’s purse--and saw a slide show about happy campers at Rowdy Ridge.

Following the brief slide presentation, Michael York said, “This sounded like a wonderful idea when I came in. Now, I think it’s a brilliant idea.”

The idea for the camp started several years ago with Woodward and Jacqueline McDonald, executive director of the Scott Newman Center, the drug education program founded by Woodward and husband Paul Newman. “At that time, we were dealing with kids who were drug-affected babies, babies who were born of mothers who were on drugs,” Woodward said.

The camp gives mothers and children a chance to bond in a safe, friendly and fun environment. Many of the children are canoeing or horseback riding or walking in the woods for the first time. For some, McDonald said, the camp is their first exposure to a positive male role model.

Though Woodward didn’t solicit money on this night, she did share the camp “wish list,” which includes everything from soda pop to vans to transport campers. “What I’m hoping for is that we will be able to grow,” she said, “because we have a waiting list of women who want to be there and need to be there.”

Among those hearing the message were Nina Foch, York with his wife Pat, Barry Kaye, newscaster Kelly Lang, Roddy McDowall, Army and Selma Archerd, former L.A. Ram Johnnie Johnson, Fay Kanin, Victor and Loryn Drai, Jeannie and Peter Wolf, and Shadoe and Beverly Stevens.