YEARS YEARS ACH

“In the hospital time gets really fudgy,” said HOP participant mom Gabrielle. “Every minute your mind is occupied when you are inpatient is a minute your mind cannot wander or wallow. The time interacting with others is obviously so valuable.”

And in 2022, as Hole in the Wall celebrated 20 years of HOP, the program continued to expand with the launch of a new regional office in the DC Metro Area, providing programming to additional locations in the Mid-Atlantic region including Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital and Children’s Inn.

“I had always seen the HOP social posts and thought that I would love to have that down here,” said Jamie Gentille, System Director of Child Life Services and Community Engagement at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital, Hole in the Wall’s first partner in the region. “It’s been such a seamless addition to our program, bringing joy and play to kids when they are most vulnerable. Kids have responded really well and parents love seeing someone take good quality time with their kids. It warms my heart to see the magic of Hole in the Wall come into the hospital every day and hear the constant belly laughs from the rooms.”

Just like all other Hole in the Wall programs, HOP is provided to parents, caregivers and siblings so that the whole family can get in on the fun. And neither the hospitals nor families are charged for HOP programming, which is made possible thanks to the generosity of Camp’s community of donors who allow all programs to be provided completely free of charge.