fandango benefit gala

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A not so long time ago at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn., 250 guests gathered for Once Upon a Camp: A Celebration of Hole in the Wall Stories, raising more than $1.18 million for Camp’s growing programs.

Camper Correspondents Leyma and Violet helped build excitement ahead of the big day, offering behind-the-scenes previews of the Gala and its auctions on Camp’s social media channels. During the event, they continued their reporting, capturing funny interactions, heartfelt stories and candid interviews with performers and guests. Under a bright autumn sky, Camp’s downtown transformed into a festive scene filled with the sounds of music, laughter and cheers. Guests sampled tasty bites from Cowabunga, The Big Green Pizza Truck and Pitaziki Truck, while Newpark Brewing poured local beers and refreshing non-alcoholic beverages. Guests mingled, snapped photos and soaked up the magic of the day.

As the afternoon continued, guests moved into Sports & Rec for the Live Auction. Following an update from Hole in the Wall CEO Jimmy Canton, Camper Nate shared about the healing role Camp has played in his journey with Sickle Cell. Then, celebrity emcee and journalist Frank DiLella joined professional auctioneer Erin Ward of Star Benefit Auctions to lead a spirited auction. The bids were hot and fast for sought-after items like a weekend buyout of Granville House featuring dinner with a private chef, a Perfect Game Ticket Stub autographed by baseball legend Sandy Koufax, and the chance to sleep at Camp in the Founder’s Cabin. As the auction wrapped, friends shared in a moment of pure philanthropy, pledging their support of various Camp programs with their gifts.

Next up, the Fandango performance in the theater opened with a presentation of the Most Wanted Award to Mike and Eileen Kolakowski for their friendship that extends back to the start of Camp. Then nine talented campers—Desiray, Fidel, Ismail, Matteo, Michaela, Quinn, Ren, Wyborn and Zuzanna—took to the stage alongside Sara Chase, Melinda Doolittle, Sidney Dupont, Ali Stroker, Vishal Vaidya and other sensational Camp friends for a show packed with funny skits, powerful musical numbers and inspirational Camp stories. The McMorran family shared how Hole in the Wall has impacted every member of their family after their daughter, Zoe, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2011 and later passed away, deeply moving the audience.

After the performance, guests returned to the Dining Hall green to find a festive buffet dinner and an array of sweet treats, from made-to-order crepes to fresh s’mores, all beneath twinkling stars. The evening wound down with jazzy tunes from Catnip Junkies and time to celebrate and reflect on a day that beautifully captured the heart of Hole in the Wall.