As we reflect on the past year at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, it is clear that every milestone was made possible by your unwavering generosity and our shared belief in Camp’s healing mission.
In 2025, we welcomed thousands of children and families facing serious illness into a place defined by belonging and compassion. Across every area of Camp — from overnight programming in Ashford, Conn. to offerings at hospital bedsides and in homes and communities throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic — we continued to share “a different kind of healing” that is rooted in laughter, connection and the freedom to simply be a child who is not defined by their illness. For our campers, whose childhoods are anything but normal, this is life-changing.
This year invited us to be both steady and bold. We strengthened and expanded programs and built new partnerships while staying focused on what matters most — showing up for our families in the most meaningful ways. Through it all, the spirit of Camp and our Founder Paul Newman remained at the heart of our work and will lead us confidently into the future.
Thank you, again and again, to our donors, volunteers, partners and champions. Because of you, children and families continue to experience joy and healing during some of life’s most difficult moments.
As we look ahead, we do so with profound gratitude for you.
Most sincerely,
Jimmy Canton CEO, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
$18,119,627 3,815
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9,303 donors made 14,024 gifts totaling volunteers donated 88,505 hours of time children and family members enjoyed on-site programming exceptional summer staff members from states and countries
92 16 6
Brett and Genevieve describe the transformational impact of Camp on their daughter.
37,703
Family Outreach Participants served through offerings healing Hospital Outreach Program experiences provided through partner locations
960
4,056 39 168 holiday care packages enjoyed by over campers and family members 207
Exciting things are taking shape at our new Queenstown, Maryland location! Renovations are complete, and preparations are well underway for the start of programming this May. What was once a quiet conference center is quickly becoming a vibrant, welcoming space designed with families at the heart of every detail.
From a light-filled infirmary intended to support the highest level of care, to thoughtful accessibility enhancements that ensure everyone can navigate Camp with ease, each feature reflects a deep commitment to inclusion. Outdoors, new gathering spaces invite families to slow down and connect or to share meals with views of the Wye River, while a joyful mural at River House signals what Camp has always promised: you belong here.
As the physical space transforms, so does the vision for how it will be used. Led by our Maryland Camp Director and a growing team of program staff and volunteers, experiences are being crafted that will foster creativity and play. We are also thrilled to welcome Dr. Nick Evageliou of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who is joining us part-time as Maryland Medical Director.
In 2026, eight Family Camps will take place, serving families affected by sickle cell disease, metabolic disorders and cancer. Additional camps will support those navigating neurofibromatosis, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) and progeria, extending Camp’s reach to communities that are too often underserved.
Perhaps most exciting is the sense of momentum and possibility that surrounds this new chapter. The Maryland location represents more than a new facility — it is an expansion of our ability to reach and support more families, closer to home, when they need it most. We cannot wait to see families gathering, healing and making memories here this spring and are so grateful to everyone who has helped to make this dream a reality.
Just having the Hospital Outreach Program is so important for kids, for their self-esteem and for their self-worth. It’s a little piece of kid joy in all of the hospital craziness.
– Camper mom jaime
The overall Camp staff, family pals, nurses, volunteers and every family here helped all of us rediscover joy beyond illness. You reminded us that healing isn’t just medical — it’s emotional, it’s spiritual and it’s found in community.
– Camper dad Daniel
At Camp, you’re no longer the “kid that has or had cancer," you’re just a KID. A kid who has wants and dreams of their own, who has their own likes and dislikes. You’re a kid, you’re known and accepted for being you, and that is really amazing.
– Camper riley
Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides “a different kind of healing” to thousands of children with serious illnesses 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 dozens of hospitals and clinics, directly in camper homes and communities, and through other outreach activities across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.