34th Annual Fandango Benefit Gala
When: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Time: 1:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Ashford, Conn.
The annual Fandango Benefit Gala tradition our Founder Paul Newman began to support Camp programs has evolved over time, but the touchstone of the festivities remains. The evening includes a variety show with campers performing musical numbers, families sharing inspirational stories and celebrity friends joining them center stage. Guests will enjoy an afternoon and evening filled with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, food trucks, interactive culinary stations, silent and live auctions, music and more! Check back for additional details!
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AMP UP FOR CAMP: A 35th ANNIVERSARY FANDANGO BENEFIT GALA CELEBRATION – SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
A little bit of rain didn’t wash out the fun at Amp Up for Camp: A 35th Anniversary Fandango Benefit Gala Celebration. On September 30, more than 250 guests gathered at Hole in the Wall to celebrate 35 years of Camp magic, raising more than $1.1 million for Hole in the Wall.
The day kicked off under festive tents, with food truck treats, milkshakes, custards and tasty beverages. As Camp friends enjoyed the epicurean offerings, they were entertained with music from Nine6Teen, captured memories from the event in the photobooth and bid on incredible items in the silent auction including a collection of Camp sketches from a Hole in the Wall camper and a Tipsy Scoop ice cream making class.
As the afternoon continued, the festivities moved indoors for the Live Auction in Sports & Rec. Guests were welcomed with a comedy routine by camper James, who later shared how Camp has helped him find friends who understand his challenges. Masterfully emcee’d by journalist and Camp friend Brian Williams, along with professional auctioneer Erin Ward of Star Benefit Auctions, the lively auction saw participants trying to outbid each other for coveted items, including a Book Club lunch with Lissy Newman featuring personalized copies of her new photobook chronicling her parents’ lives, and a buyout of the Granville House in Massachusetts. The auction wrapped up with a moment of pure philanthropy, as supporters pledged to support various camp programming with their gifts.
Then it was time to move into the theater for the inspiring Fandango Performance. The show opened by recognizing Dean and Marianne Metropoulos with Camp’s highest honor – the Most Wanted Award - for their longstanding dedication to our children and families. As the radio-themed performance began, eight inspiring Hole in the Wall campers – Abby, Hannah, Jaidyn, Jackson, Janiyah, Nate, Sky and Tori - took to the stage alongside celebrity friends including Maria Briggs, Dane DeHaan, Claybourne Elder, Linedy Genao, Mykal Kilgore, Kevin Kline, Beth Leavel, Bridget Moynahan, Lissy Newman, Rhonda Ross and Christopher Sieber. The audience was deeply moved by the show, which included a video celebrating our former campers who have remained an integral part of our community and a special segment where Leslie and Sammy Vega spoke about their experiences in Camp’s new Bereavement Program.
After the show, the celebrations continued well into the night, with guests enjoying a dinner buffet, s’mores bar, Whey Grilled Cheese and entertainment by Shake, Rattle & Roll Dueling Pianos. It was truly a day to remember.