12-year-old inspires with fundraiser for beloved camp that burned in North Bay fires

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- A 12 year old is taking this "Giving Tuesday" to a whole new level. He has started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for his beloved summer camp. Camp Newman was destroyed by the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa.

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Avi Shapero first visited Camp Newman when he was just five years old. Now at age 12, the Jewish summer camp in Santa Rosa, is one of his favorite places. But on October 9th, the Tubbs Fire destroyed it.

"I was really devastated and I really wanted to do something ," Shapero said.

He immediately got his lap top out and started a GoFundMe page.

"I felt it was a good way to raise awareness and to raise money for rebuilding because I want to go back to camp," Shapero added.

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It didn't take long before the donations started pouring in. Ninety percent of the campus is damaged or destroyed. Twenty years of memories at the camp on Porter Creek Road, are gone.

It's the place Shapero always dreamed of having his Bar Mitzvah.

"He just took that grief and put it into action. It was pretty crazy and amazing," said Shapero's mother Joanne Cohen.

The camp's executive director isn't surprised by any of this. "He's a heart of gold. He's so sweet. He loves camp. He lives and breathes camp," said Ruben Arquilevich, camp executive director.

Camp Newman has already secured a temporary spot to hold the summer camp in 2018.

Click here to support the GoFundMe campaign for Camp Newman.