Dan Worra – When Public Service Is A Passion

There are a few types of people who help keep society glued together. One of those types is the person who makes a point of dedicating their life to the greater good. Such is the case with Dan Worra, a Navy Veteran who was deployed five times and then later worked for the Port of Anacortes.

After his time in public service, Worra began a brand new career. It’s one that touched countless lives and helped create a legacy of healing for years to come.

A Man Of Public Service

For much of his youth, Dan Worra was a man who was dedicated to the military. More specifically, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a commissioned officer and served for 24 years. Over the course of his career, he was deployed five times and clocked in over 2,100 EA-6B Prowler flight hours, including 55 combat missions.

Serving the Navy is never easy. Even the strongest of men will find themselves struggling with the workload. However, he was never alone. It was a matter that was reflected when he had his retirement day from the Navy.

Worra explained, “My retirement from the Navy was a special day for me and my family.  We are very proud of our service to our nation.  A successful military career requires a lot of sacrifice from you and especially from your family.  I could not have done 24 years in the Navy without the support of my wife and two children.”

Though his time in the Navy was up, Worra has never faltered in his dedication to public service. He still cared about his country, which is why he worked for the Port of Anacortes for years. When his time at the Port came to a close, he knew he wanted to do something more.

Slowly but surely, his life turned from a world of combat service to one of service involving those around him. Incidentally, that’s also part of the reason how he found his new position in life. 

A New Calling

As an avid fan of giving back to the community, it comes as no surprise to hear that Dan Worra is an active member of the local Rotary club. That’s why he has been a member for the past nine years. 

His latest chapter in life all started during a Rotary Club meeting in Anacortes. That’s when he heard a presentation about a new opportunity to help others from a Camp Korey employee. 

Later that year, the guest mentioned that Camp Korey was looking for a new Chief Executive Officer. Camp Korey is a unique nonprofit that provides a transformative camp experience for children with life-altering medical issues adapted to their circumstances. It’s a nonprofit that operates year-round, offering hope and adaptivity for kids, free of charge.

Of course, there is an actual summer camp component to the Camp Korey cause. The program features a state-of-the-art Medical Center designed to meet capers needs as well as traditional camp experiences. Children who attend get to experience the magic and joy of camp, even when their medical diagnosis would prevent them from doing so in most situations.

It didn’t take too long for Worra to be awestruck by the nonprofit’s goals. Dan Worra has a mantra that he always followed: “mission, family, work hard, have fun.” All of his work would involve focusing on a mission. 

With Camp Korey, the mission also helped families have fun. It seemed almost like a sign from the universe. The organization made such a huge impact on Worra, he simply had to take a shot at a position within the group. 

It quickly became clear that he was the man for the job. At the time, Dan Worra was quite content with being semi-retired and enjoying time with his family. When he heard about Camp Korey, he knew he wanted to be a part of that story.

Inheriting The Desire To Help

Dan Worra is a man who truly dedicates his life to the greater good. Whether it is serving our country through the Navy, helping keep things ship-shape at the Port, or working to give kids a camp experience, Worra always makes a point of helping others.

It’s a trait that he very clearly inherited from his own father—quite literally. He explained that his desire to help others was sparked by watching his own father. Much like Dan, his father was famous for helping those around him. At his funeral, Dan learned a story about his father that helped cement his desire to help others.

“When I was at my father’s funeral in 2015, the receiving line extended well outside the funeral home.  My father was a high school band director for over 25 years and made quite an impact on many kids.  People were waiting hours just to pay their respects and have a short conversation with our family. He explained.

In the receiving line, one former student (whom I had never met before) came up to me and told me this story:  It was about 1962, and he was not having a very good high school experience.  He had no friends and was miserable. He did not like coming to school. My dad called him in and said, “I see you’re struggling and not having much fun.  I don’t want you to quit because we really need you in the band.  I think you would be really good at bass clarinet, that would really help us out.”  The student switched and really fit in with fellow bass clarinet players….He said “my dad saved his life.”

It didn’t take too long for the former student to admit that Dan’s father saved his life. It was one of many, many touching moments that cemented Worra’s desire to help others. His personal belief is one that growth and aiding others will help cement a person’s success. 

With his dynamic approach to public service, years of training, and dedication to making the world a better place, it’s clear that Dan Worra will transform Camp Korey. For families in need, news of Worra’s new position as CEO of Camp Korey will result in better experiences for everyone involved.

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