About the SeriousFun Children’s Network

While Paul’s philanthropic donations were wide-ranging, he was especially committed to the thousands of children with life-threatening conditions served by the SeriousFun Children’s Network (formerly known as the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps), which he founded in 1988. Paul envisioned the camps as places where kids could escape the fear, pain and isolation of their conditions, kick back, and “raise a little hell.”

When asked why he started the first Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut, Paul spoke of luck: “I wanted to acknowledge luck; the chance and benevolence of it in my life, and the brutality of it in the lives of others, who might not be allowed the good fortune of a lifetime to correct it.”

Today, there is a thriving global network of 28 initiatives - 14 member camps around the world in Connecticut, New York, Florida, California, Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington, France, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, and United Kingdom - with additional programs in Africa and South East Asia and more camps and programs under development. Over 384,700 children have attended a SeriousFun Children’s Network program free of charge since the first one opened. The Network strives to serve 30,000 children a year, many of whom will enjoy the magic of camp without leaving the hospital through the Hospital Outreach Program.

Laughter is the best medicine.

“The gift of life and living, which you have generously given to each camper fortunate enough to be with you is such a magical gift and will live forever in these children’s dreams.” — Cindy Wofford, parent of a camper

To learn more about the SeriousFun Children’s Network, please visit:
http://www.seriousfunnetwork.org

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