PLATINUM2024

Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, Inc.

A different kind of healing

aka The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp   |   New Haven, CT   |  http://www.holeinthewallgang.org

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Mission

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides “a different kind of healing” to children with serious illnesses and their families through year-round programs celebrating the fun, friendship and spirit of childhood.

Ruling year info

1987

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. James H. Canton

Main address

555 Long Wharf Dr

New Haven, CT 06511 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

06-1157655

NTEE code info

Patient Services - Entertainment, Recreation (E86)

Children's and Youth Services (P30)

Diseases, Disorders, Medical Disciplines N.E.C. (G99)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

"The need is great, and so are the opportunities to make a difference - one smile at a time." - Camp Founder Paul Newman The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp serves children coping with serious illnesses including cancer, sickle cell disease and other rare diagnoses. Long hospital stays, invasive medical treatments, fear and isolation are just some of the challenges they regularly encounter. Medical needs dictate their activities, with little room for personal input, and they often miss out on school and other activities. Hole in the Wall was founded with one simple premise in mind - that every child, no matter their illness, could experience the transformation spirit and friendships that go hand-in-hand with camp. Behind every seriously ill child is a family in crisis. Parents and siblings also face fear, uncertainty and helplessness. It is with this in mind that Hole in the Wall offers year-round programs that provide "a different kind of healing" to the entire family.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Summer Program

At the core of all of our programming is our signature summer program. Seven glorious week-long sessions in Ashford, Conn. that serve seriously ill children and one additional week dedicated to their healthy siblings. Campers aged 7 – 15 ride horses, create crafts, swim and so much more, as they bond with other children facing similar challenges and learn they are capable of so much more than they ever thought possible.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
People with diseases and illnesses

Adolescents aged 16-17 choose their own journeys towards adulthood with two distinct programs that provide opportunities for growth and self-discovery. In the Hero's Journey® program, participants spend a week in the woods of Connecticut learning self-reliance, positive communication and teamwork through a variety of exciting challenges and wilderness first aid training. With a home base in the Young Adult Lodge, Champion's Journey helps participants gain similar skills using the Camp environment. Participants from both programs will come together following the summer for a nine-month virtual program - Journey On - which will build upon their experiences from their in-person programming and solidify skills that will prepare them to embrace the full promise of their future.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
People with diseases and illnesses

Former campers aged 17-18 are eligible to apply for a Junior Staff position at camp. The program enables Junior Staff members to attend one-week sessions at Camp where they will gain personal and professional skills through immersive experiences that will help prepare them for whatever their future holds, whether at Camp or beyond. Participants will learn firsthand through summer counselor mentorship how the magic of Camp is created, while also becoming the Magic creators themselves.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
People with diseases and illnesses

The Hospital Outreach Program (HOP) allows us to bring the joy and fun of Camp beyond the Camp grounds to children and families in a hospital setting.

From arts & crafts to interactive games, HOP activities are inspired by our summer Camp program but are specially adapted to each unique hospital and clinic setting. And just like at Camp, all interactions are child-driven, restoring choice – something children undergoing medical treatment so often lack.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
People with diseases and illnesses

CampOut brings the joy and fun of Camp to campers and their families right in their hometowns. The program helps the magic and connections of Camp continue throughout the year as a team of traveling specialists drive a whimsical van filled with Camp-style activities, crafts and games to locations throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including camper homes and communities.

Population(s) Served
Families
People with diseases and illnesses

Running in the fall and spring at our facility in Ashford, weekend programs continue the healing power of Camp beyond the summer months and create a memorable experience for the entire family. Families share in Camp activities and enjoy the company of other families who understand the issues they are facing.

Population(s) Served
Families
People with diseases and illnesses

Parent Programs bring the healing power of Camp to parents and caregivers. Year-round opportunities such as opening day parent picnics, parent work days and parent retreats held on and offsite, Parent Programs offer current camper parents a multitude of ways to expand their supportive community and connect with other Camp families.

Population(s) Served
Caregivers
People with diseases and illnesses

For families who have lost a child aged 0-18 to serious illness, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp offers a residential bereavement program. The program includes a total of three weekends over the course of 12 months where families will find connection and a community of support among others who understand their experiences of loss. Families share in Camp activities, participate in group sessions facilitated by a trained bereavement specialist and a gathering each evening to remember and celebrate the children who have died.

Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Families
Parents

Where we work

Affiliations & memberships

Serious Fun Children's Network 2008

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

States served through Hospital Outreach

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Children and youth

Related Program

Hospital Outreach

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

After a significant regional expansion in 2015, the Hospital Outreach Program has focused on increased services within existing partners. In 2019, the program expanded further into the mid-Atlantic

Number of volunteers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Our volunteers make the magic of Camp possible. Each year, thousands of volunteers support Camp programs and special events and provide office and facilities assistance.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides “a different kind of healing" to more than 20,000 seriously ill children 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 more than 40 hospitals and clinics, directly in camper homes and communities, and through other outreach activities across the Northeast.

Through Hole in the Wall's year-round programs, seriously ill children find a community of friendship and support where they discover they are so much more than their illness. Activities are intentionally designed to meet children where they are at medically and physically, and help restore a sense of normalcy. Children are provided the ability to choose their activities, something they often can't have in a medical setting. They experience hope in the face of fear and uncertainty, and are able to simply be a kid. For many of the children and families that Camp serves, Hole in the Wall provides multiple interactions throughout the year, keeping the Camp smiles going.
We serve children and families both onsite at our facility in Ashford, Conn. and offsite through outreach programs all across the Northeast. Through Hospital Outreach programming, joy, laughter and connections to seriously ill children and families in in more than 40 locations. Family Outreach programs provide children and families with more frequent Camp connections throughout the year and a regional network of support right in their homes and hometowns.
Hole in the Wall continues to foster partnerships with organizations like the National Organization for Rare Disorders, the New England Hemophilia Association and others to ensure we are reaching those who are most in need of our services.
All programming is offered free of charge.

All programming at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is intentionally designed to maximize outcomes. Our staff undergoes in-depth training on skills ranging from helping campers build friendships to managing illnesses. The facility and activities are modified to meet children where they are at both medically and physically, thereby allowing children to challenge their perceived limitations in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment.
Camp's medical facility - the OK Corral - provides state of the art care via a significant, yet unobtrusive medical presence that provides the sophisticated care needed without distracting from the fun. Children are given treatments onsite, and where possible, directly in program so they don't miss out on activities. Treatments the infirmary can provide include medications (oral, IV, IM, subcu), IV infusions (medications, fluids, nutrition), G/J-tube feedings, chemotherapy, central line care and more.
Hole in the Wall's Hospital Outreach and Family Outreach teams consist of highly skilled facilitators of fun who bring Camp-style games and activities directly to children and family members. Their approach fosters joy, self-expression and a feeling of accomplishment, while helping forge connections, friendship and a sense of community beyond the gates of Camp.

During its first summer in 1988, Camp served 288 children. Since that time Hole in the Wall has evolved from a summer program into a vibrant year-round community that operates both onsite and with regional programs throughout the Northeast. Many of the children and families served experience multiple Camp programs throughout the year at the facility in Ashford, Conn., in more than 40 hospitals and clinics, directly in camper homes and communities, and through other outreach activities across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Our organizational growth has and continues to be inextricably linked to the diverse needs of the children and families we serve. Parent-specific programs were added in the early 1990s. Shortly after, spring and fall Family Weekends began. In 2002, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp launched its Hospital Outreach Program, which extends the hope and healing power of Camp to hospitalized children across the Northeast. In 2013, Hole in the Wall launched our mobile CampOut program allowing us to serve campers and families right in their homes and hometowns. CampOut’s goal is to continue the connections and healing of Camp throughout the year.

Each summer, Camp now welcomes campers aged seven – 15 to our Connecticut location where they experience joy, hope and healing surrounded by others who understand their challenges. Seven week-long sessions dedicated to seriously ill children offer traditional camp activities. An eighth session is dedicated to healthy siblings, who find kindred spirits in peers who simply “get it.” Additionally, for those who have aged out of our traditional program, our Young Adult programs offer a variety of choices to continue their journey with Camp.

In spring and fall, Camp offers Family Weekends, each weekend welcomes approximately 25 families for a joy-filled experience fostering powerful friendships and strengthening support networks. Families enjoy a full range of program areas complete with round-the-clock medical care. Like all Camp programs, Family Weekends are provided entirely free of charge.

Camp now offers a residential bereavement program for families who have lost a child aged 0 – 18 to serious illness.The program includes a total of three weekends over the course of 12 months where families will find connection and a community of support among others who understand their experiences of loss. Families share in Camp activities, participate in group sessions facilitated by a trained bereavement specialist and a gathering each evening to remember and celebrate the children who have died.

In 2024, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp plans to open a location on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, providing a centrally-located site for Mid-Atlantic families most impacted by serious illness.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, Inc.
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, Inc.

Board of directors
as of 10/30/2024
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. Raymond Lamontagne

Raymond Lamontagne

Adam C. Jed

Khaled F. Alhegelan

Daniel R. Kail

Richard D. Kayne

Sandy Koufax

Gregory P. Brousseau

Andy Crowley

James Naughton

Melissa S. Newman

Gary Kupfer

Lynn Fusco

Ursula L. Gwynne

Peter Schottland

Stefani LiDestri

Bradley Cooper

Terry Coughlin

Christina Horner

Bridget Moynahan

Allison E. Picott

JD

Bonnie Ferro

Jay Levine

Kingdar Prussien

Steven Choi

MD

Jeffrey H Horstman

Paula Johnson

MD

Patrick J Nichols

Matt Sheeleigh

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 10/30/2024

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 10/19/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.