Schwartz knows importance of children’s issues

Friday, June 15, 2001 | 4:15 a.m.

Daniel Schwartz has a soft spot for children.

"Kids' issues are so important, particularly the underprivileged," the chairman and chief executive of Perma-Bilt Homes said.

That's why the father of three and grandfather of six is involved in helping organizations aimed at making children's lives better. Schwartz recently challenged his colleagues in the homebuilding industry to follow his lead and donate to the Sun Camp Fund, which provides camperships for needy children. He knows the value of camp and what it means in children's lives.

Years ago, when he lived in California, Schwartz's business partner had a young daughter with diabetes. She wanted to go to camp, but none accepted a child whose food and medication had to be so closely monitored. So Schwartz built a camp for diabetics in Northern California, complete with all of the facilities of a regular camp -- bunkhouses, a gymnasium and pool. He contacted a specialist in pediatric diabetes in the San Francisco area to help run the camp. Registered nurses volunteered to weigh the children's food portions and take care of their needs.

"It's tricky enough to bring kids to camp, but to see that they get the right things to eat and get their medication is even more so," Schwartz said. Each summer, 250 to 300 children attended the camp. Most of them could not otherwise have afforded to go to camp.

"People have to be dedicated to this and want to help children. That's what made it work," Schwartz said, adding that he spent a week at the camp himself, watching the children having fun. When he heard about the Sun Camp Fund, Schwartz didn't hesitate to help. He recently donated $5,000 and has written letters to other builders to make their own contributions. "I know how important camping is to kids," he said.

The Sun Camp Fund's goal for 2001 is to send 1,000 kids to camp.

Camps are not his only involvement in efforts to help children. Schwartz, who had homes in San Francisco and Palm Springs, helped Barbara Sinatra organize a child abuse center in Palm Springs. He is on the board of directors for the center that cares for 400 to 500 abused children a year.

His efforts to make life better for children go hand in hand with his goal of building better communities, which has been his profession for most of his adult life.

Schwartz entered the homebuilding industry in 1954 after serving in the Army in Europe during World War II. After the war, the New York City native moved to California with his bride, Natalie. He loved the California lifestyle and climate.

Schwartz joined Perma-Bilt in 1956 and, over the next 13 years, helped the company grow into a leading Northern California builder. In 1969 he sold the company to Boise Cascade, a major supplier of lumber and building products.

The following year Schwartz relocated to Palm Springs. He became executive vice president and chief operating officer of National General Corp. and later became a partner in the purchase of Zenith National Insurance Corp.

In 1988 he moved back to Northern California, settling in San Francisco. He "sort of" retired, he said, but became bored and went back to the homebuilding business.

"It was a natural thing to do," he said, adding that he looked at areas throughout California, Phoenix and Tucson before deciding on Las Vegas. He moved here in 1992.

Schwartz founded Perma-Bilt Homes of Nevada in 1993, which has developed such communities as Wildwood, Big Horn, Countryside, Red Hawk, Ponderosa and Shadow Hills. The company also is planning to build 800 homes at Southern Terrace, near Russell Road and Interstate 215. That community will be similar to the Shadow Hills master-planned community.

Schwartz dismisses those earlier notions he had about retirement. He has no interest in slowing down, he said.