Each April, during National Volunteer Month, I think of my parents. They embraced the meaning of the phrase “actions speak louder than words.” My mom, Joanne Woodward, and dad, Paul Newman, were pretty busy people (as are all parents), but they always made room to help others.
Their actions even resonated with me as a self-involved teenager; I was always struck by their commitment to community. When I was around 19 or 20 years old, Mom was in the middle of filming a major project, and yet she made the time to travel to Washington, D.C. to lend her voice to a gathering of women against nuclear war. Dad modeled this kind of commitment to causes he cared about, too. They showed up for their communities in so many ways — for local theatre groups, for the environment, and for issues they believed in — but especially for kids living with serious illnesses and their families.
In 1988, Dad saw an unmet need for those same children and families, and decided he’d use his skills and resources to address it. He founded our first SeriousFun camp, a place where children living with cancer, HIV, and other life-altering illnesses could simply be kids — or as he put it, “kick back and raise a little hell.” But he didn’t do it alone.
Dad understood that the power of creating something truly great — something transformative and sustainable — came from community, not a single hero. So he brought together caring, passionate, brilliant, and generous people to not only build, but sustain SeriousFun Children’s Network, which is now 30 camps and programs strong. To this day, some 20,000 plus volunteers remain the backbone of our programs each year, delivering joy to families navigating pediatric illness — always free of charge.
The first time I volunteered, in my mid-twenties, I was nervous — very nervous. I’d heard so much about camp from Dad, but I worried I wouldn’t “get” it — I was unsure of what to expect and if I’d be any good as a volunteer. During that session, three little boys in one of the youngest cabins were homesick. I got called over to help, and a fast friendship formed: We played games, sang silly songs, and shared meals and laughs. But what began with me taking care of and supporting these young kids flipped around when I got poison ivy mid-week. My three new pals — each facing their own life-threatening illness — simply wanted to take care of me. Their kindness floored me. They taught me so much about what it is to find joy and to live a good life, whatever life holds.
These kids, facing incredible challenges, reset my perspective. They reminded me of the profound delight each of us can discover in the little things. While I didn’t have the words that summer to describe the experience, I’ve since realized that “the magic” of SeriousFun camps is the gift of reciprocity. At camp, you’re not simply part of a community, you’re wholly embraced and celebrated by it. My three young pals felt cared for and wanted to reciprocate that care to me.
I’ve spoken with countless people whose lives have been profoundly changed by giving back. A doctor shared how his volunteer experience at our medical specialty camps transformed his approach to patient care; he now takes a whole-child approach (treating the child first and the illness second). It’s not uncommon to hear of young people, college-aged kids, whose volunteer experiences inspire new career paths, too. I recall a counselor in that youngest boys’ cabin who, because of his time at camp, changed his major and went on to become a doctor. These stories aren’t rarities; a groundbreaking study shows how volunteering at SeriousFun camps reduces stress and re-energizes doctors’ and nurses’ passion for medicine—pretty weighty stuff. Dad always said when you give 100% to camp, you get 1000% back, and it turns out that science backs this up.
To me, volunteering isn’t just an act in which you devote your time to a cause; it’s the ultimate exchange. Volunteers get a chance to learn new skills, gain perspective, build meaningful connections, and find the profound joy that comes from giving. While doctors and nurses are essential to operating our programs for kids with complex medical needs, you don’t need to be a medical professional to get involved at SeriousFun. Far from it: Whether you’re a college student, parent, retiree, quilter, art teacher, lifeguard, or a cook, there’s a role for everyone at camp. And there’s never a shortage of joy.
Mom and Dad always said one of the most important things to do is just show up: for your friends and for the people and causes you care about. Whether you lend your time, money, or energy, becoming engaged in your community is life-changing, soul-filling work. As my parents so beautifully demonstrated, it’s our actions, not just our words, that count, and I couldn’t agree more — volunteering changed my life.
Clea Newman is the youngest daughter of actors and philanthropists Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. She is the Ambassador of SeriousFun Children’s Network, a family of 30 free camps and programs founded by her father for children with serious illnesses and medical challenges.
