- Person
- Paul Newman
- Lived
- 1925–2008
- Field
- Philanthropy
- From
- American
The story
Paul Newman, the film star whose father came from a Jewish family with roots in Hungary and Poland, used his fame and the profits of his food company, Newman's Own, to help others. One of the projects closest to his heart was a place where children with serious illnesses could forget about hospitals for a while and simply have fun.
On 17 September 1986 Newman announced plans to build a summer camp for seriously ill children. Ground was broken in Ashford, Connecticut, on 10 December 1986, and the first campers arrived in June 1988. He named it the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, after the outlaw gang in his 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. His goal was for the children to just be kids and, in his words, to raise a little hell.
Children with serious illnesses often cannot go to an ordinary camp, because they need medical care close at hand. Newman's camp was designed so that they could enjoy camp life and make friends, with medical volunteers on hand to provide care. Crucially, it was free: families never pay for their children to attend. By the end of 2000 the Connecticut camp had served more than 10,000 children through its overnight programmes, and it also runs a hospital outreach programme that brings arts, crafts and games to children and families in hospital.
The idea spread. Newman founded what is now the SeriousFun Children's Network, a global family of camps and programmes for children with serious illnesses. Each member camp is an independent non-profit organisation, and all remain free of charge. The network today has 30 camps and programmes, and since 1988 it has delivered more than 2.2 million camp experiences to children and families from more than 50 countries. A second Hole in the Wall Gang location opened in Queenstown, Maryland, and held its first family camp in 2026.
For a child who has spent months in treatment, a week of ordinary childhood can mean a great deal. Newman's camps have given that gift to children and families across the world.
Why it matters
SeriousFun camps founded by Paul Newman still give children with serious illnesses free, medically supported camp experiences, reaching families from more than 50 countries.
About Paul Newman
Film star who gave away every dollar of profit from Newman’s Own, more than $600 million so far, and founded free camps for seriously ill children around the world.
More about Paul Newman
Sources
- Founder and History The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
- Our History SeriousFun Children's Network
- The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
- Paul Newman Wikipedia
Another act of tikkun olam. This is part of tikkun olam, the Jewish idea of repairing the world, and every one of us can add to it.