This episode of Nonprofit Report features leadership from the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a nonprofit founded by Paul Newman to bring joy, hope, and healing to children with serious illnesses.
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Guests:
- James Canton, Chief Executive Officer
- Hilary Axtmayer, Chief Program Officer
Key Points:
- The camp offers year-round programs on-site, in hospitals, and at families’ homes.
- Services are always free of charge and focus on children with life-limiting conditions.
- Bereavement weekends offer continued connection and healing for families who’ve lost a child.
- A new campus on Maryland’s Eastern Shore will expand services to the Mid-Atlantic region.
- Volunteers, seasonal staff, and donors play a vital role in sustaining the camp’s reach.
- The program culture prioritizes kindness, laughter, creativity, and emotional safety.
- The organization receives 20,000 annual donations to support its $15–20M operating budget.
- A network of “SeriousFun” camps across the globe extends the founding vision.
Other Points on Hole in the Wall Gang Camp:
Founded by Paul Newman, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was designed as a place where children with serious illnesses could “raise a little hell”—and rediscover joy. Thirty-seven years later, the organization continues to serve thousands of kids and families with compassion and creativity.
Programs now span traditional summer sessions, hospital outreach in 40 facilities, and in-home activities for those unable to travel. Bereavement camps support families through grief, honoring a deep connection that doesn’t end with loss.
A newly gifted site in Maryland, formerly the Aspen Institute’s conference center, is being transformed into a second campus. With family programming set to begin in 2025, the expansion reflects a bold and deeply needed step toward meeting more families where they are.
Through it all, the heart of the mission remains unchanged: build community, celebrate childhood, and offer healing through kindness and play. For kids, families, staff, and supporters alike, Hole in the Wall isn’t just a camp—it’s a movement of empathy in action.
