Travelers to match up to $1 million in donations to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which was ravaged by a fire

Traveler and the Travelers Championship announced it would match up to $1 million in donations to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, which was ravaged by a three-alarm fire on Friday afternoon, destroying several main buildings.

“For more than three decades, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has brought hope and healing to children and families struggling with serious illnesses,” Travelers chairman and CEO Alan Schnitzer said in a release. “Now, after this devastating fire, the camp itself is in need of hope and healing. The Travelers family is heartbroken for the kids and families who cherish the comfort, peace and refuge the camp offers. We’re honored to lend a hand to rebuild this special place as quickly as possible.”

Travelers and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp have worked closely together over the years, as the camp has been a primary beneficiary of the Travelers Championship’s charitable donations for the past 14 years. The tournament donates 100% of its net profits to charity every year.

“We know how much campers and their families were looking forward to returning to camp – and to a sense of normalcy – after in-person programming was suspended last summer due to COVID-19,” Travelers Championship tournament director Nathan Grube said. “The Travelers Championship is committed to being there for the camp at every step of the way as it recovers from this tragic event.”

Camp spokesman Ryan Thompson said in a statement Saturday that the cause of the fire is still unknown. Chief executive officer Jimmy Canton said that the Arts & Crafts, Woodshop, Cooking Zone and Camp Store buildings were all destroyed.

The camp said it is committed to rebuilding.

“We are moved beyond words by the extraordinary generosity of our friends at Travelers and the Travelers Championship, who have lifted the hearts of our camp community during a very difficult time,” Canton said in a statement.

The nonprofit camp, founded in 1988 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, offers summer programs for thousands of seriously ill children each year. Those who want to contribute toward the match can visit holeinthewallgang.org/rebuildcampfund, or by mail to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, P.O. Box 150448, Hartford, CT 06115-0448.

Shawn McFarland can be reached at smcfarland@courant.com.

___

(c)2021 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.)

Visit The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) at www.courant.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.