In celebration and support of the 25th anniversary of Paul Newman’s The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Natalie Merchant and director McG have put together a new “Wonder” music video recorded at the camp in Ashford, Connecticut. Merchant participated in a special sing-a-long version of her 1996 hit “Wonder” and performed it along with campers this past summer.
McG shot the video which features campers singing and talking about what the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp means to them. The video also includes clips of founder/iconic actor Paul Newman.
Unveiling the video, CEO James H. Canton said, “Natalie Merchant has given us a great gift with this song. And McG’s music video is a beautiful snapshot of our mission: to give these kids so much love and acceptance that they leave Camp with a smile, knowing how beautiful and special they are. It is a powerful, moving and uplifting tribute as we begin our 25th anniversary and we can’t thank Natalie Merchant and McG enough for capturing Paul’s dream so beautifully.”
“Paul Newman was a visionary and I feel extremely honored that I was asked to be part of this celebration. The work the Camp does is phenomenal,” said Natalie Merchant. “For years, I’ve been told by parents of kids with special needs and medical staff and children themselves that ‘Wonder’ has become an anthem for sick kids. So I know the healing power of the song. I am delighted to add my voice to all the love, camaraderie and sharing that goes on at Camp. Paul really did it so well. The Camp is a magical place.”
About the Camp:
In 1988, Paul Newman opened The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut so that children coping with serious illnesses could have a special hideout where they could simply be kids. The Camp, which served 288 campers its first year, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2012-13 with 20,000 children and family members now experiencing “a different kind of healing” annually. Each year, 2,500 are served onsite and 19,000 visits by the Hospital Outreach Program bring the fun and friendship of Camp into more than 20 sites throughout the Northeast – all free of charge.
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is celebrating this milestone with events and initiatives that will gather the Camp family together and invite new friends to support Paul Newman’s dream.
