Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides "a different kind of healing" to more than 20,000 seriously ill children and family members annually - all completely free of charge. For many of these children and families, Hole in the Wall provides multiple Camp experiences throughout the year at the facility in Ashford, Conn., in more than 40 hospitals and clinics, directly in camper homes and communities, and through other outreach activities across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Camp's programs are designed to restore normalcy, nurture powerful friendships and supportive social networks, and challenge perceived limitations associated with pediatric illnesses. This is accomplished through an integrated "Camp-Around Care" model to engage children and families throughout the year. Camp provides seamless year-round programming to support families through the illness process. Our programs have a unique healing impact on the seriously ill children and families we serve.

Camp’s signature summer program consists of 7 week-long sessions for seriously ill children and one session for siblings of children with serious illnesses. Children aged 7 to 15; with a diagnosis of malignancy, genetic blood disorder, HIV, or metabolic disorders, residing in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania attend sessions 1-7.

Camp continues to work with NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) to identify children and families living with rare illnesses in need of a Camp experience. 

Family weekends allow families to bond with each other and experience the simple joy of being together away from the day-to-day medical stresses they face. The weekends also offer a needed opportunity for families to forge new friendships with kindred spirits who share common hardships and hopes.  

Since its founding in 1988, the Camp has evolved from a summer program to a vibrant year-round community that operates both onsite and regional programs throughout the Northeast. Our organizational growth has and continues to be inextricably linked to the diverse needs of the children and families in our care. Parent-specific programs were added in the early 1990s, followed shortly by family retreats during weekends throughout the spring and fall. In 2002, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp launched its Hospital Outreach Program, which extends the hope and healing power of Camp to hospitalized children across the Northeast. Altogether, Camp’s year-round program offerings enable a continuity of care that seamlessly engages children, families, and healthcare professionals. 
 
The programs of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp are designed to enhance peer support networks and strengthen the social and emotional capital of the children and families in our care. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp maintains scalable and sustainable program growth designed to preserve our core values - safety, camaraderie, possibility, appreciation - while expanding services impacting the lives of more children, families, and healthcare professionals each year. 

We accomplish our funding goals through specific action steps related to event fundraising, individual gifts, capital campaigns, a corporate sponsorship program, event auction income, foundation grants, external events sponsored by organizations, website contributions, planned giving, stewardship, and gift processing and reporting. Contrary to popular belief, more than 98% of our operating support is derived from sources other than Newman's Own.

Donate Through Workplace Giving

One of the best ways to support our work is to take advantage of recurring payroll deduction donations through your employer's workplace giving program (or the Combined Federal Campaign if you're a Federal employee). With recurring payroll deduction, you can have just a little bit of money automatically deducted from your paycheck each pay period over the course of a year, adding up to make a big difference for us - and providing us with a source of funds we can rely on to operate and focus on our mission. And don't forget to check - if your company offers to match donations you can double your impact! If your employer does not have a payroll deduction campaign, does not match gifts, or does not offer the choice of giving to our organization, ask about bringing America's Charities to your workplace. America's Charities works with employers to develop employee-friendly, cost-effective workplace giving campaigns that benefit charities like ours.

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