Reflecting on Paul’s Impact to Celebrate His 100th Birthday

“I wanted, I think, to acknowledge luck; the chance of it, the benevolence of it in my life, and the brutality of it in the lives of others, made especially savage for children because they may not be allowed the good fortune of a lifetime to correct it.” — Paul Newman on why he started The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp 

As I reminisce about Paul Newman on what would have been his 100th birthday, I am reminded of the purity of his vision – to pay forward good fortune by lending a hand to someone less fortunate. 

Indeed, Paul lived a life informed by his recognition of luck – but greater than that was his motivation to act on that acknowledgment, and truly make a difference. He was a tireless example of doing right, allowing others to see in him the qualities they would like to develop in themselves. 

Nowhere was this clearer than at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Paul was always aware of wanted to even the scales and provide children who were negatively impacted by factors out of their control the opportunity to simply have fun and be surrounded by friends who understood. 

Since then, hundreds of thousands of children and family members have found joy, hope and healing thanks to Paul’s selflessness and inspirational dream, and many more will be impacted in the years ahead. 

Over the years that I knew him, Paul was passionately involved at Camp, delighting in the joys that campers and their families experienced. He reveled in fishing with campers, though was known for never catching a fish while at Camp, and quietly listened in the Dining Hall as children shared their favorite activities and love for Hole in the Wall. 

And he was a brilliant leader, empowering, inspiring and trusting others to steward the success of his dream. All of us at Camp remain profoundly grateful for the examples of compassion, humility, loyalty, mischief and leadership that he left behind. 

To have someone of that celebrity and that influence be so humble and so committed to creating something so special — how extraordinary; what a legacy he left. 

If you’d like to help carry the inspiring torch Paul left behind, consider joining Camp as a volunteer or leaving a lasting legacy.