On Saturday, December 2, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn. held its annual holiday party for more than 500 campers and their families. This tradition serves as a special reunion for members of the Camp family and a time to celebrate the magic that happens at Camp throughout the year. This year, Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) employees were invited to participate in this celebration and to help give gifts of toys and games to the campers. In addition to the fun activities, the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps took the opportunity to recognize the Hasbro Children’s Fund for its support of all of the Camps. It was a fun-filled day for all involved, including children and their families, Hole in the Wall and Hasbro staff, as well as Hole in the Wall Camps Founder, Paul Newman, and Hasbro’s Chief Operating Officer, Brian Goldner.

This holiday season, Hasbro and the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps have many reasons to celebrate their partnership. The end of 2006 marks the first year of a 3-year grant of $675,000 from the Hasbro Children’s Fund for the benefit of all of the Camps. These funds will go directly to help the eight Camps that serve thousands of children every year free of charge. Also, this summer a portion of the grant helped fund seven 1-week sessions serving more than 1,000 children in Louisiana who were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Additionally, Hasbro recently donated over 5,500 toys to the Camps, which has an in-kind value of nearly $72,000.

The Hole in the Wall Camps are the world’s largest family of Camps for children with serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions. Children with cancer, sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS, and many other conditions come to Camp to experience the simple joys of childhood, without compromising any of their medical needs thanks to the Camps’ state-of-the-art medical care. Founded by Paul Newman in 1988, the Camps have served more than 100,000 children free of charge. For more information, please visit www.holeinthewallcamps.org.

Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world. Hasbro’s philanthropic efforts reflect this mission by providing gifts of “hope, play, and a helping hand” through the Hasbro Children’s Fund and other initiatives aimed to help children worldwide.

Approximately 8,000 children in the United States will be newly diagnosed with cancer each year. Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children. Children with cancer are subject to rigorous treatment regimes that impose considerable stress on their bodies, their families and their psychological well being. Treatment often requires surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Children with cancer face difficult challenges as a result of their treatment. They face losing their independence, losing their hair, and for some, losing a limb. In the 1960’s only 15% of children with cancer survived. Today, more than 70% of children with some form of cancer live into adulthood. Living proof are the many counselors at Camp who are themselves cancer survivors.

There are approximately 10,000 children and adolescents in the United States who are living with HIV infection or who have AIDS. What was once a disease that claimed the lives of children in their early school age years has progressed into a long-term chronic immune disease. Medical advancements allow these children much longer life spans. However, the life of a child with HIV infection is marked by frequent infections and hospitalizations, constant medical surveillance and rigorous medication regimes.

Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder that occurs primarily in males. These children lack a factor in their blood that allows it to clot. They are prone to repeated bleeding episodes primarily in their joints and muscles. This factor deficiency can be temporarily corrected by injecting a concentration of the missing factor directly into a vein. This treatment must be repeated with each injury or bleed. Repeated bleeding can limit joint mobility and force children to restrict their activities.

Sickle Cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that primarily affects African Americans. Children with Sickle Cell disease are born with abnormal, sickle-shaped hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of the blood that carries oxygen to your body cells, tissues and organs. Children with Sickle Cell disease often have painful “crisis” in which the flow of blood to a particular part of their body is blocked by clumps of their sickle-shaped hemoglobin. Their lives are marked by frequent hospitalizations, doctors’ visits and often severe pain.

Funding & Evaluation

Evaluation

Governance and Organization

The Camp is governed by a 22-member board of directors. The Board’s Committees include the Executive Committee, the Development Committee, the Finance Committee, the Buildings and Grounds Committee, and the Program Committee.

The Camp also has a Medical Advisory Committee. Under its guidance, the Medical Director establishes the medical program and criteria for camper enrollment; establishes protocols and procedures for camper care; recruits physicians, nurses, and laboratory technicians; and coordinates the resources of Yale-New Haven Hospital and other participating hospitals.

Internal Evaluation

Procedures are in place to allow the professional and seasonal staff and volunteers to be evaluated and for them to evaluate the Camp’s performance. These evaluations range from informal sessions with Camp administrators to written assessments.

External Evaluation

Verification of excellent service delivery and adherence to health and camping standards are derived from the following sources:

Annual evaluation by state and local health and fire officials to ensure compliance with mandatory health and safety codes.

Accreditation through the American Camping Association (ACA). The ACA evaluates compliance to hundreds of standards every three years. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was first accredited in 1993.

“Program Impact/Benefit Studies” on an annual basis, utilizing camper and parent satisfaction surveys.

Annual registration and compliance with State of Connecticut Attorney General’s Charity Division regulations.

National states’ charity registration

——————————————————————————–

Funding

Beginning in 1987, having recognized the need and dreamed the idea, Paul Newman, with profits from his food company, Newman’s Own, Inc., donated the major part of the early funds needed to build the Camp. With the help of Khaled Alhegelan, the Camp received a major gift of $5 million from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A number of foundations, businesses and individuals also donated those first funds that were crucial to make The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp a reality. Since that time thousands of individuals and organizations have identified with Camp and have made this dream their own.

From the Seabees who cleared the land to the Friends of Somers, who volunteered their labor, hundreds of professionals and volunteer workers donated their time, talent and resources to make the Camp a reality. The Konover Construction Corporation built the Camp at cost. The heated Olympic-size swimming pool was donated by the Connecticut Swimming Pool Association, the first time members ever joined together to work on a charitable project.

Though Paul Newman continues to energize the Camp, we must now rely on the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations from across the United States to help us meet the annual budget of $5.45 million. The current fundraising goal for annual operating expenses and future needs of the Camp is $6.35 million with an additional goal of $500,000 for capital renovation and improvements. The summer and year-round programs for the children and their families are free of charge.

Cost of Raising Money

The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund’s cost of funds raised based on IRS Form 990 for fiscal year 2005 was 10.6 cents. Approximately 10.6 cents was spent on fundraising for every dollar donated. If you would like to make a donation to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, our How You Can Help page provides instructions for making a gift. Your consideration is appreciated.

——————————————————————————–

Awards

In March of 1999, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp received the 1998 Eleanor Eells’ Award for Program Excellence from the American Camping Association The Eleanor Eells’ Award honors programs that develop effective, creative responses to the needs of people using the camp environment; encourage continued development of such ideas; stimulate the exchange of creative ideas and present to the public examples of positive contributions camp has made on the well being of individuals and society. Eleanor P.Eells was one of the founders of the Fund for Advancement of Camping and was an active participant within the American Camping Association. Her greatest contribution was helping individuals and camps start new programs. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is truly honored to have received this prestigious award from the American Camping Association.