John Puig
Debbe Magnusen, Activist
for Abandoned Babies
Charting a Course
Debbe Magnusen felt bereft after hearing
about an abandoned baby found suf-
Less Traveled
focated in a trash bag close to her Costa
Mesa home in California. As a compas-
by lily viola
sionate woman who had already fos-
tered more than 30 drug-exposed babies
W
hen John Puig isn’t volunteer-
ing his time to teach local resi-
while raising two biological children,
dents and area school students about
sustainability principles, organic gar-
dening or the ocean and marine life,
he’s using his mechanical expertise to
convert engines from diesel to biofuel
or captaining a boat for individuals
with disabilities and youth at risk. Or, he’s involved with his duties as vice president of
the Collier Fruit Growers Council.
Puig began charting his “course less traveled” 37 years ago, during youthful
years spent sailing the waters of Lake Hopatcong and combing the forest of Green
Acres, a New Jersey state park near his childhood home. After studying meteorol- Debbe Magnusen
ogy at the State University of New York Maritime College, Puig set his sights on
the open sea and sailed as an officer with the Merchant Marines for four years,
Magnusen chose to channel her anger
traveling international shipping lanes to Africa and Israel on cargo ships and oil
and frustration into constructive action.
tankers. When a shipping injury forced him to leave commercial sailing behind
“As a foster mother, I had always
and anchor his life in the safe haven of Naples, his entrepreneurial spirit unfurled
hoped that unwanted babies would
and Puig successfully established several businesses: Collier Marine Canvas,
be brought to me,” she recalls. “But it
Bristol Fashion Yacht Management, Naples Biofuel Organization and a partnership
didn’t occur to me until that moment
with the Freedom Waters Foundation.
that no one knew where I was or that I
Success in his first business, Marine Canvas, afforded him the opportunity to
wanted to rescue their newborn.”
grow into his role as an environmental humanitarian. “I learned a lot from my time
The insight led her to create a 24/7
with the Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) in Fort Myers,”
crisis hotline in her Orange County liv-
says Puig, who wanted something more meaningful in life than his businesses.
ing room in 1996. Within 12 hours, she
The “more” turned out to be the rewards of long hours spent with children from
received her first call, from a frantic,
Veterans Memorial, Calusa Park, East Naples, Shadowlawn and Lely Elementary
frightened woman who had hidden her
schools. His present focus is on the garden project at Eden Florida’s Eimerman
pregnancy from everyone she knew. To
Educational Center for autistic children and adults in Naples.
date, Project Cuddle has helped rescue
Referring to the most challenging aspect of his volunteer work in planning
663 unwanted babies. “No baby de-
and planting edible gardens for schools, Puig says, “It’s tough to get school ad-
serves to die before having a chance to
ministration officials to understand that a garden project has to be continuously
live,” says Magnusen, who understands
underwritten from year to year. There will always be a new set of faces in the gar-
the desperation of girls and women
den, which makes education a reinvestment proposition.” Puig helps to raise funds
who can be in labor while still denying
to keep the Eden Florida garden project going by selling its extra produce at the
that they are pregnant.
Freedom Park farmers’ market. His own business of private consulting on edible
This tireless activist imagines
garden projects helps to keep Puig afloat.
herself in the place of every abandoned
child and is inspirationally refueled each
Freedom Waters Foundation is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization that provides
time she sees a newborn baby crying
boating opportunities and marine-related education for people with disabilities
safely in a hospital. “For me, God is in
and youth at risk. Call 305-588-2082 or 239-601-2919 or visit FreedomWaters-
every person,” says Magnusen, whose
Foundation.org. Join John Puig on Saturday, March 27th at Garden of Eden Florida
biggest lesson from Project Cuddle, now
for lecture and tour from 12-2pm. See calendar March 27 for details.
operating nationally, is the grace to be
nonjudgmental. “I’m alive,” she main-
For information about the Collier Fruit Growers Council, visit CollierFruit.org or
tains, “so that I can unconditionally love
email CaptJohn@NaplesBioFuel.com.
every scared girl or woman [who comes
to me] through her ordeal.”
Natural Awakenings magazine applauds those who give their time and talent
to make a difference within our community. If you know a homegrown hero,
Contact Debbe Magnusen, Project
we’d like to share his or her story. Please contact us at 239-434-9392 or
Cuddle, non-crisis 714-432-9681 or
Naeditor@Naturalawakeningsmag.com.
info@ProductCuddle.org; crisis hotline
888-628-3353.
 Collier/Lee Counties swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
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