SeriousFun Children’s Network
The Phi Kappa Tau national philanthropy
The SeriousFun Children’s Network (formally The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps) serves children with serious illnesses through camps stationed throughout the world. Over the last 25 years, SeriousFun Children’s Network has evolved from a single camp to a global community of 30 camps and programs serving over 30,000 children with serious illnesses and their families every year – always free of charge.
More than two decades ago, Paul Newman (Phi Kappa Tau, Ohio University ’43) had a vision: imagine if children living with serious illnesses had the chance to simply be children. To just have fun. So he started a camp where kids could, in his words, “raise a little hell.” Today, we continue Paul’s legacy with SeriousFun Children’s Network, a growing global community of independently managed and financed camps and programs. Our dedicated team helps children and their families reach beyond illness to discover joy, confidence, and a new world of possibilities—always free of charge.
Today, as we continue to grow globally, we have changed our name from The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps to SeriousFun Children’s Network. Our new identity embodies the root of our work—highlighting Paul Newman’s belief that taking fun seriously can make a real difference in the lives of children who need it most.
The SeriousFun Children’s Network is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization created to support the shared interests and activities of the existing camps, and to foster the responsible development of new camps and programs. Our mission is to provide the magic of the SeriousFun Children’s Network experience to many more children and their families worldwide. The Network is governed by a board of trustees made up of representatives of each camp. Its offices are in New Haven, Connecticut.