Aetna Inc. awarded a $50,000 grant to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, founded by late actor Paul Newman as a haven for children with cancer and other serious illnesses.
Aetna also announced that its employee volunteers will develop and manage the camp’s inaugural Team Hole in the Wall Camp Challenge bicycle ride, beginning Sept. 27 in Ashford. The regional cycling fundraiser will expand in 2010 to other camps in California, Florida, New York and North Carolina.
The funding will be used to support the health and human resource needs of children coping with cancer or other serious illnesses and conditions served by the organization’s year-round programs and outreach.
The grant builds capacity of the five Hole in the Wall Camps in America, as well as engages their communities through charity bike rides developed by Team Hole in the Wall. The rides are modeled after the successful AngelRide, a Connecticut-based event that raises funds and awareness of the camp’s mission.
“This relationship will help bring additional resources to children in need and increase our own employee volunteer efforts for those who are committed to giving back to their local communities,” said Floyd Green, Aetna’s head of community relations.
Newman founded the summer camp in 1988. Through outreach to hospital and other care center and camp affiliates, Hole in the Wall Gang serves at no charge more than 15,000 children annually.
