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SeriousFun Children's Network

SeriousFun Children's Network is a founded in 1988 by actor and philanthropist , dedicated to providing free, medically supported camp and recreational programs for children and families affected by serious illnesses. It operates a global network of 30 camps and programs across more than 19 countries, serving children with over 130 life-altering medical conditions such as cancer, , , and , while emphasizing joy, belonging, and personal growth in safe, inclusive environments. All experiences are offered at no cost to participants, supported by donors, volunteers, and partnerships that ensure high standards of medical care, safety, and youth development. The network traces its origins to Newman's vision of creating a respite from the isolation of illness, beginning with the opening of The Camp in Ashford, , which provided its first sessions in the summer of 1988 and has since delivered over two million life-changing experiences worldwide. Over the decades, it expanded internationally, with milestones including the establishment of Barretstown Camp in in 1994 through a donation from the , the launch of a global Partner Program to adapt culturally relevant initiatives, and a 2012 rebranding from The Camp Association to SeriousFun Children's Network to reflect its broader mission. Today, the organization collaborates with independent camp operators who adhere to rigorous accreditation standards, such as those from the American Camp Association for U.S.-based programs, and supports multilingual services in 12 languages to reach children from more than 50 countries. Research highlights the profound impact of these programs, with 85% of former campers reporting camp as a of their ongoing , 90% crediting it with opening new possibilities in their lives, and 88% noting enhanced and . studies, including a 2025 analysis by , , and King’s College London, affirm the value of SeriousFun's diverse program models in fostering and emotional well-being, while additional shows benefits for medical volunteers, such as reduced and renewed professional . By prioritizing accessibility and innovation, SeriousFun continues to transform challenges into opportunities for connection and empowerment for thousands of children annually.

History

Founding by Paul Newman

Paul Newman's inspiration for founding the SeriousFun Children's Network stemmed from observing children with serious illnesses appearing isolated and fearful during hospital visits. These encounters profoundly impacted him, highlighting the emotional toll of serious illnesses on young lives and motivating him to create a space where such children could escape their medical realities and embrace childhood joys. In 1988, Newman established the first camp in the network, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, located in Ashford, , as a free specifically designed for children with serious illnesses. The camp opened on June 18, 1988, featuring a kid-sized Old West theme inspired by Newman's role in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and it served as a pioneering model for integrating recreational activities with comprehensive medical care to ensure safety and accessibility. Initial funding for the camp came from Newman's Own Foundation, which provided the financial backbone to launch and sustain operations without cost to families. The early setup emphasized on-site medical support, allowing children with physical and medical limitations to participate fully in camp programs tailored to their needs. Newman's core vision was to offer these children a "chance to be a kid" and the opportunity to "raise a little hell," fostering an environment of fun, friendship, and normalcy amid their challenges. This philosophy underscored the camp's role in providing transformative experiences that prioritized emotional well-being alongside medical oversight.

Expansion and Milestones

Following the opening of the first camp in 1988, the network expanded within the during the , with additional camps such as Double H Ranch in 1993 providing more opportunities for children with serious illnesses to participate in supportive recreational programs. This growth continued into the early 2000s, exemplified by the establishment of Victory Junction, which opened in 2004, further broadening access to camp experiences across the country. International expansion began in 1994 with the opening of Barretstown Camp in Ireland, marking the network's first venture beyond the U.S. and establishing a model for global outreach. This was followed by the launch of L'Envol in in 1997 and Over The Wall in the in 1999, extending the network's reach to and emphasizing culturally adapted programs for local children. In the 2000s, the organization introduced the Global Partnership Program to support camp-like initiatives in regions including , , and the , fostering collaborations that delivered experiences to thousands of children in underserved areas. A significant occurred in 2012, changing the name from the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps to SeriousFun Children's Network to better reflect its expanded, worldwide scope and unified mission. Key milestones include delivering 1 million camp experiences by around 2018, demonstrating the network's growing impact on families worldwide. By 2025, this had surpassed 2 million life-changing experiences across more than 30 camps and programs globally. Recent developments feature a 2023 outcomes study highlighting the long-term benefits of camp participation, such as increased confidence and among alumni, and 2025 promotional initiatives like "The Year of SeriousFun" celebrating the network's legacy while recruiting volunteers for ongoing expansion.

Mission and Programs

Core Mission and Goals

The SeriousFun Children's Network's mission is to empower children with serious and their families to reimagine what is possible by creating inclusive, medically supported and recreational experiences that foster joy, belonging, and resilience. This purpose-driven approach ensures that programs are provided free of charge, enabling access for children facing over 130 , including cancer, , and . The network emphasizes family involvement through dedicated family weekends and sibling support programs, allowing siblings to participate as campers or volunteers to build shared experiences and emotional connections. Core values underpin all initiatives, with a strong commitment to inclusivity that welcomes children from diverse backgrounds and over 50 countries, ensuring no one is excluded due to financial or logistical barriers. Medical safety is paramount, achieved through on-site healthcare professionals who provide expert care, allowing children to engage fully in activities while their health needs are continuously monitored. Youth development principles guide program design, promoting outcomes such as self-confidence, social skills, empathy, perseverance, and self-identity to help participants thrive beyond their illnesses. Originally inspired by founder Paul Newman's vision for summer camps offering fun and normalcy, the network's goals evolved in the 2010s to encompass broader year-round programs through the global Partner Program, extending support via adaptive , bereavement sessions, and outreach to sustain impact throughout the year. This expansion reflects a shift from seasonal retreats to ongoing opportunities that reinforce and community for children and families year-round.

Types of Camps and Activities

SeriousFun Children's Network primarily offers residential summer camps that provide week-long, medically supervised overnight experiences for children with serious . These camps feature a range of activities including arts and crafts, , and pursuits such as , , zip-lining, ropes courses, , and horseback riding, all designed to promote play and peer connection in a supportive environment. In addition to summer programs, the network delivers year-round offerings to extend support beyond the traditional camping season. These include family weekends that allow parents and to participate alongside campers, bereavement programs for grieving families, dedicated sibling camps to address the needs of healthy brothers and sisters, adaptive initiatives like tailored for medical , and hospital-based programs that bring camp-like activities directly to medical facilities. All activities across are adaptively modified to accommodate participants' needs, ensuring inclusivity and safety. Examples include wheelchair-accessible zip lines, sessions supervised by lifeguards trained in protocols, and therapeutic arts programs that integrate with physical limitations. care is seamlessly woven into the experience, with on-site administration of medications, counseling services, and teams of experienced healthcare professionals who monitor health while encouraging full participation. The network encompasses 30 camps and programs worldwide, with all experiences provided at no cost to families, enabling broad access to these adaptive recreational opportunities.

Global Network

United States Camps

The SeriousFun Children's Network maintains a network of camps across the , offering free, medically supported residential and year-round programs for children and families affected by serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions. These camps emphasize joy, belonging, and normal childhood experiences through adaptive activities, with on-site medical staff ensuring safety and support. Collectively, U.S. camps serve thousands of children annually, featuring accessible facilities such as wheelchair-friendly cabins, adaptive sports equipment, and challenge courses designed for varying abilities. The flagship Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, located in Ashford, , was founded in 1988 by as the first camp in the network. It provides summer sessions, family weekends, and hospital outreach programs, serving thousands of children each year with adapted activities including arts and crafts, climbing walls, and waterfront recreation. The camp's 300-acre facility includes medically equipped cabins and a health center staffed by nurses and physicians. Other notable U.S. camps include the Double H Ranch in , co-founded in 1993 by and philanthropist Charles R. Wood. This 320-acre Adirondack site offers year-round programs for children with life-threatening illnesses, featuring unique elements like horseback riding, zip lines, and adaptive boating, all supported by a full-time medical team. Further south, Camp Boggy Creek in , established in 1996 by and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, spans 232 acres in a state forest and provides trail rides, fishing, and arts programs for over 2,000 children annually, with Florida Cracker-style buildings and comprehensive medical oversight. Victory Junction, located in Randleman, , opened in 2004 and was founded by NASCAR driver in memory of his son . The 140-acre camp (as of 2024) delivers week-long sessions and family weekends focused on chronic conditions, with adaptive adventures such as ropes courses, go-karts, and a , all within a medically safe environment featuring on-site infusion rooms and 24/7 nursing care. Additional U.S. camps include Camp Korey in , founded in 2009, which offers year-round programs on a 200-acre site for children with life-threatening conditions, emphasizing outdoor adventures and family support. The Painted Turtle in , established in 2007, provides medically supported camps on 30 acres for children with chronic illnesses, featuring arts, sports, and waterfront activities. Roundup River Ranch in , opened in 2007, spans 110 acres and delivers adventure-based programs for youth with serious medical challenges, including and equine therapy. North Star Reach in , launched in 2013, is a 105-acre camp offering residential sessions with adaptive like and for children facing critical illnesses. Flying Horse Farms in Maysville, , founded in 2010, covers 46 acres and specializes in and team-building activities for children with chronic conditions, supported by on-site medical care. These U.S. camps collectively prioritize emotional and physical through play, aligning with the network's model of barrier-free .

European Camps

The SeriousFun Children's Network expanded to Europe with the establishment of Camp in in 1994, marking the organization's first venture outside the and serving as a model for subsequent camps on the continent. Housed on a 500-acre estate in the , provides free residential camps, family weekends, and therapeutic recreation programs for children with serious illnesses, welcoming participants from and more than 12 European countries. Since its founding, the camp has served over 125,000 children and families, emphasizing joy, belonging, and medical support in a safe environment. In , L'Envol joined in 1997, offering free summer camps and family programs designed to help children with serious medical conditions rediscover childhood experiences. Located near , the camp has provided over 40,000 experiences to children and their families, incorporating adaptive activities and on-site medical care tailored to diverse health needs. The 's Over the Wall Camp, co-founded in 1999 by Joe Woods and , focuses primarily on children from the living with over 130 different serious illnesses and conditions, delivering residential camps at multiple countryside sites across . Starting with just 25 campers in its inaugural year, it has grown to offer 3- to 5-day programs, bereavement weekends, and virtual sessions, all free of charge with comprehensive medical oversight. Bator Tabor in , established in 2000, operates multiple sites across the country, providing free camps for children with serious illnesses, including cancer and chronic conditions, with activities like archery and drama workshops supported by medical teams. Dynamo Camp in Italy, founded in 2005 in Limestre, , offers residential and outreach programs on a wildlife reserve for children with serious diseases, featuring adventure therapies such as climbing and animal-assisted activities. Although geographically in the , Jordan River Village in northern , opened in 2011 near the , is part of the network's European grouping and serves Jewish, Muslim, and Christian children with serious illnesses through year-round camps promoting interfaith inclusion and adaptive recreation. European SeriousFun camps adapt to regional contexts through multilingual programming to accommodate international participants and adherence to local medical protocols, ensuring accessibility for children across borders. For instance, activities at Barretstown integrate elements of Irish heritage, such as communal storytelling sessions that foster emotional connections among campers from varied backgrounds. These camps maintain rigorous health standards aligned with European Union guidelines for pediatric care, including on-site nurses, physicians, and emergency protocols customized to EU regulations on child welfare and medical treatment. Today, the network operates six camps in and the —Ireland, , the , , , and —serving children from more than 20 countries with a focus on cross-border inclusion and equitable access regardless of nationality. This expansion has enabled over 200,000 cumulative experiences in the region, prioritizing cultural sensitivity and collaborative medical practices to support diverse participant needs.

International Partnerships

The SeriousFun Children's Network's Global Partnership Program, launched in 2008, collaborates with independent organizations in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean to deliver camp experiences tailored to children with serious illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, by providing training, educational resources, and adherence to global standards for program quality and safety. This initiative enables local partners to implement SeriousFun's evidence-based curriculum, including psychosocial support activities, while conducting regular quality assurance visits to ensure consistent delivery of inclusive, medically supervised programs. Key examples include Camp Footprints in , established around 2010 in partnership with the Just Footprints Foundation, which serves HIV-affected children through residential and day camps focused on building resilience and community. In , Camp Colors of Love in , initiated in 2008 with Rise Alliance for Children (formerly Worldwide Orphans Vietnam), offers trauma-informed play-based sessions for children living with , emphasizing joy and belonging. Similarly, Camp Rainbow in , partnered with YRG for AIDS and since the early 2010s, supports children with and cancer via residential, family, and in-hospital programs that promote healthy habits and confidence. In the , Kan Etwal in , founded in 2012 through a with Rise Alliance for Children-Haiti, delivers camps for HIV-positive youth, incorporating adaptive activities and family support to foster emotional growth. Through these partnerships, the program has expanded to over 13 regions across more than 40 countries, enabling affiliate programs to serve thousands of children annually in underserved areas with limited access to specialized youth development. Growth has been steady, from three initial partners in 2008 to approximately 13 by 2025, with a focus on scaling impactful interventions like sharing and on-site to address regional challenges.

Organizational Structure

Governance and Leadership

The SeriousFun Children's Network is headquartered in , where its central support operations oversee the global network of camps and programs. The organization is governed by a comprising 43 members, including philanthropists, business leaders, and experts in child health and nonprofit management, such as John Frascotti, the current board chair and former president and COO of , Inc. As of November 14, 2025, the board includes recent appointees Denise Bailey-Castro and Camilla Castro. The board is supported by key officers, including Vice Chair Maurice Pratt, Treasurer Courtney LeBorious, and Secretary John M. Forester, who contribute to committees focused on finance, advancement, marketing, and personnel. Executive leadership is led by Chief Executive Officer Blake Maher, who has over 25 years of experience in child advocacy and previously served as CEO of The Painted Turtle camp, ensuring alignment with network-wide program quality and sustainability. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt with EIN 31-1794455, SeriousFun operates under a model that emphasizes and , with annual audited prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles () by independent auditors. Established to support camps founded in 1988, the network provides oversight through rigorous processes, requiring all member camps and partner programs to meet standardized medical, safety, and operational criteria designed to protect children with serious illnesses. This includes an annual assessment process to monitor program quality and adherence to these standards, ensuring consistent care across the . Paul Newman's legacy as founder endures through ongoing board involvement and family participation, with his vision shaping the network's mission since the opening of the first camp in 1988. Following Newman's death in 2008, the organization transitioned by rebranding from the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps to SeriousFun Children's Network in 2012, unifying international efforts under a single banner while expanding partnerships. His , Clea Newman, continues this involvement as a SeriousFun , advocating for the camps' impact on children facing medical challenges. Decision-making at SeriousFun involves board-led strategic planning to support global expansion, such as developing multi-year plans to enhance member camps and partner programs in over 50 countries. Annual board meetings and committee deliberations guide resource allocation and policy, with a strong emphasis on ethical guidelines for child safety, including medical response protocols and exercises to address individual camp needs. These processes ensure the network's commitment to inclusive, high-quality experiences while maintaining fiscal responsibility, with 87% of expenses directed to program services as of 2024.

Operations and Support

SeriousFun Children's Network provides centralized support to its 30 member camps and programs through comprehensive programs for staff and volunteers, including specialized medical protocols and inclusivity workshops that emphasize safe, accessible experiences for children with serious illnesses. The network shares essential resources such as standardized program curricula, best practices for , and tools to ensure consistent quality across global operations. These initiatives facilitate opportunities, with nearly 100 participants from 14 camps attending the 2023 SeriousFun Gathering for collaboration and skill-building. Operational standards mandate full medical integration at every camp, featuring on-site nurses and doctors who administer medications, monitor , and respond to emergencies during all sessions. Nurses are assigned to small groups of 8-10 campers for personalized daily care, while physicians oversee management and conduct routine checks. Volunteer , required for all participants, includes sessions—typically one day for overnight programs—and diagnosis-specific education, with 165,000 volunteer experiences delivered in 2023 alone. Camps also employ technology for camper tracking and safety coordination, supported by rigorous accreditation from the American Camp Association in the U.S. or equivalent international evaluations. The network's funding model delivers all programs free of charge to participants, relying entirely on donations to cover costs. In 2024, total revenue reached $16.9 million, with expenses of $17.3 million, of which 87% ($15.1 million) was allocated to program services, including $9.9 million in grants and financial support directly to camps for logistics such as transportation, equipment, and facilities. This structure ensures operational scalability while minimizing administrative overhead at approximately 7% as of fiscal year . Sustainability efforts focus on long-term organizational resilience, including the launch of the P.L. Newman Legacy Circle in 2021 to secure enduring donor commitments, and eco-friendly practices inspired by camp activities that promote reducing waste and reusing resources. By 2025, digital tools enhance global coordination, enabling efficient knowledge sharing and program management across 19 countries.

Impact

Participant Outcomes

Participation in SeriousFun Children's Network camps and programs has been associated with significant improvements in children's , , and emotional . Over 80% of more than 2,200 aged 17-30 reported that their fostered lasting traits such as self-confidence, , and the ability to form friendships. Additionally, more than two-thirds of these indicated that participation enhanced their health-related and medical skills. Surveys of former campers show that 85% attribute their current confidence to the , while 90% credit it with inspiring new possibilities in their lives. Families also benefit from these programs, which provide respite and opportunities for connection that reduce parental stress and strengthen bonds. In 2023, delivered 32,000 experiences specifically for siblings, allowing them to build relationships and engage in supportive activities away from the challenges of a family member's illness. Parents receive dedicated support, including 165,000 experiences focused on family involvement, which enhances overall family adjustment and relationships. Since the first camp opened in , SeriousFun has provided over 2 million transformative experiences to children and families, serving tens of thousands of children annually across 150+ such as cancer, blood disorders, and immunological issues. Long-term effects include improved medical adherence, as evidenced by studies showing significant increases in antiretroviral therapy compliance six months post-camp among children in programs. These outcomes demonstrate the network's role in promoting sustained . Anonymized stories from campers illustrate these impacts. For instance, one young participant named Perla, who attended camp with a serious illness, gained through activities and later returned as staff, rediscovering and pursuing roles. Similarly, Len, a camper facing medical challenges, built via adaptive adventures, enabling him to set and achieve personal goals post-program. Such narratives highlight how camps help children reclaim happiness and agency.

Research and Studies

The SeriousFun Children's Network has conducted and collaborated on multiple formal evaluations to assess the effectiveness of its programs in supporting children with serious illnesses. These studies employ rigorous methodologies, including pre- and post- assessments using validated psychological scales, to measure outcomes such as , , and social development. Longitudinal surveys track changes over time, providing evidence of both immediate and sustained impacts. A seminal multi-year evaluation from the , conducted in partnership with the Yale Child Study Center, examined the impact of residential camps on . This study involved pre-camp, one-month post-camp, and six-month post-camp surveys completed by parents of 645 campers from five SeriousFun camps, utilizing validated tools like the Pediatric Inventory (PedsQL) for functioning and the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents (RSCA) for relationship skills and adaptability. Findings revealed significant gains one month post-camp, including a 79% parental report of increased , 77% for , and effect sizes of 0.22 for adaptability and 0.30 for relationship skills (p < 0.001), with many benefits persisting at six months. The research highlighted camp's role in fostering pro-social coping and reducing problems, attributing these to elements like peer interactions and a sense of belonging. Building on this foundation, the 2023 Outcomes Study, led by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) in collaboration with SeriousFun, focused on long-term effects through a retrospective survey of 2,245 alumni aged 17-30 from 16 camps across eight countries. Methods included multilingual online questionnaires analyzed with descriptive statistics and effect size comparisons to evaluate personal, social, and health outcomes. Over 80% of respondents attributed lasting traits such as self-confidence, empathy, and friendship skills to their camp experience, while more than two-thirds reported improvements in health-related quality of life and medical self-advocacy. Key impactful elements identified were feelings of acceptance without judgment, a sense of freedom, and opportunities to try new activities. This study, published in the Journal of Youth Development, underscored the consistency of benefits across diverse demographics and diagnoses. Recent research integrates data from global programs to confirm sustained effects. An April 2025 by researchers from , , and King’s College London analyzed program models across SeriousFun camps and hospital-based initiatives, using qualitative of interviews with 24 aged 14-15. It affirmed that the network's approach delivers comparable transformative impacts—enhancing , healthcare , and patient-provider relationships—regardless of setting, with lasting memories and peer connections cited as core benefits. This work, funded in part by SeriousFun and Takeda Pharmaceuticals, builds on prior longitudinal methods to validate scalability worldwide. Publications from these collaborations, including in peer-reviewed journals on development and therapeutic , emphasize camp's evidence-based contributions to emotional and for seriously ill children.

Partnerships

Philanthropic and Corporate Support

The SeriousFun Children's Network relies heavily on philanthropic support, with Foundation serving as its primary funder since the organization's inception. Established in 1982 by , the foundation donates 100% of Newman's Own product after-tax profits to charitable causes, totaling more than $600 million as of 2022, with substantial portions directed toward SeriousFun to support medically inclusive camps for children with serious illnesses. For instance, in 2013, the foundation provided $5 million to the network, contributing to a total fundraising haul of $9.8 million that year for camp operations and program expansion. Corporate partnerships play a vital role in sustaining and enhancing SeriousFun's programs through financial contributions, in-kind donations, and initiatives. Co. committed $15 million over five years starting in 2016 to fund community-based camps and adaptive activities worldwide, including ongoing grants like $200,000 in 2024 for and wellness programs at network camps, and a 2025 donation of over 384,000 t-shirts to camps. , a long-term collaborator, supplies toys and games to camps, supports volunteer events such as the annual Global Day of Joy, and has provided targeted funding, including $150,000 over two years in 2019 for family engagement activities. Other corporate supporters, including Takeda, GSK, and Synchrony, contribute through sponsorships and customized partnerships that enable technology integrations and specialized recreational offerings for campers. Individual philanthropy, inspired by Paul Newman's personal legacy as the network's founder, bolsters these efforts through major gifts and high-profile events. Newman, who established the first SeriousFun camp in 1988, personally championed the cause until his death in 2008, embedding a commitment to child-centered giving that continues to attract donors. Annual galas, such as the 2022 New York event that raised $2.2 million from nearly 1,000 attendees including celebrities, generate millions to underwrite free camp experiences and family programs. This combined support ensures that all SeriousFun camps and programs remain free for children with serious illnesses and their families, facilitating more than 2 million transformative experiences as of 2025 while funding global outreach and adaptive infrastructure. Overall, the network's annual contributions exceed $15 million, primarily from these philanthropic and corporate sources, allowing sustained operations across 30 sites worldwide.

Global Collaborators

SeriousFun Children's Network engages in non-funding collaborations with international organizations to enhance program delivery, share in youth development and pediatric health, and advocate for improved support systems for children with serious illnesses. These partnerships emphasize expertise exchange, particularly with local and regional entities focused on and support, enabling the adaptation of camp experiences to diverse cultural and medical contexts across , , and the . In Africa, key collaborators include the Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation-Uganda, which supports the Sanyuka Camp by integrating HIV care with recreational programming for affected children, and the Botswana-Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence, contributing clinical insights to camp operations in the region. These alliances facilitate joint initiatives such as staff training on medical support during camps and community outreach to reduce stigma around serious illnesses. Additionally, partnerships with organizations like the RISE Alliance for Children enable camp programs in Ethiopia, focusing on orphans and vulnerable youth living with HIV through shared psychosocial strategies. In , SeriousFun collaborates with the Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRGCARE) in , where joint efforts have co-developed curricula tailored for children with AIDS, incorporating educational resources on and emotional . Similar collaborations extend to and , partnering with local health-focused NGOs to deliver hospital-based and community outreach programs that blend clinical care with youth development activities. These initiatives include training exchanges for program staff, promoting best practices in inclusive recreation for medically complex children. Across the , partnerships with organizations such as the Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO) in support camp-like experiences amid environmental challenges, enhancing outreach to children with serious conditions through shared logistics and programming. In and other areas, these collaborations emphasize resilient program design to address vulnerabilities like natural disasters, while advocating for broader pediatric care access in resource-limited settings. Overall, these global collaborations with over a dozen partner organizations in 13 regions foster knowledge sharing on pediatric health standards and , expanding SeriousFun's impact to thousands of children annually without relying on financial contributions from partners. By prioritizing advocacy for policies that integrate into frameworks, the network strengthens community-based support for seriously ill youth worldwide.

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