MEET SUMEET MEET SUMEET

New York Pediatrician Sumeet Banker first found Hole in the Wall while interning at Yale when he joined a weekend retreat at the Camp. He knew immediately that there was something special about the place, and while he was there, then medical director, Dr. Space, planted a seed about volunteering. It would be several years before he was able to come back, but when he did, it had an impact.

“From the moment I stepped on Camp, I could feel the magic,” Sumeet said. “It helped me see the patients that I care for in a different light and reminded me that my kids and families are more than a diagnosis.”

For years he came back to volunteer, sharing his medical expertise at Family Weekends, summer sessions and the Hero’s Journey® program. He was impressed by the inclusive nature of Camp and how that extended beyond campers to the staff and volunteers, and that kept him coming back. He even participated in a Hospital Outreach Program Slime Day at his hospital, volunteering to be publicly slimed.

“When I walk through the hospital lobby and see the video from that event, it lifts my day knowing how fun it was not only for me but also the kids,” Sumeet shared. “It’s one of those experiences that comes so rarely in the sterile environment of the hospital and is a good reminder to all of us that children have full lives. We can do better in our jobs if we remember that.”

It was while volunteering that Sumeet learned about the Campfire Partner Monthly Donors. He had been more focused on giving back through volunteerism but realized that he could give back in other ways as well.

“Seeing all the different ways campers interact and engage with Camp furthers my interest and desire to continue to give back and give in all different ways,” Sumeet shared. “I can see the impact it has in the hospital.”

In aligning his professional, volunteer and philanthropic activities, Sumeet is able to maximize his impact on children with serious illnesses. And by supporting Hole in the Wall as a monthly donor, he is helping provide a steady and reliable source of support. We are so grateful to Sumeet and all of our generous Campfire Partners, who in their monthly gifts, ensure Camp’s programs can be offered at no charge to children and families all year long.