Blake Maher (second from right) with counselors, campers, and Paul Newman at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, part of SeriousFun Children's Network.
Blake Maher’s job is, quite literally, fun. Since his teenage years, Blake has built a career working with kids through experiential recreation, learning, and leadership: think swim instructor, camp counselor, wilderness outdoor trip leader. As a senior in college, Blake came across a LIFE Magazine article about a camp in Connecticut that Paul Newman had started for children with serious medical conditions, and the profound impact it had on their lives. “I was determined to get a job there,” Blake shared. “And am happy to say I did. The experience I had working with the children at the camp that summer changed the course of my life.” As the camp season kicks off, we are thrilled to name Blake Maher our Newmanitarian® of the Month!
Blake knows the power of connection firsthand: he watched a close family member undergo experimental bone marrow transplant treatment and witnessed the realities of medical isolation up close. 30 years later, he’s served as the CEO and Executive Director of the SeriousFun camp in California (The Painted Turtle), helped open up the SeriousFun camp in Ireland (Barrettstown), and acted as Chief Program Officer at SeriousFun Children’s Network. Now, Blake leads the organization as the Chief Executive Officer—overseeing the Network’s programming, development, growth, quality, and long-term sustainability.
What is your “Recipe for Change”?
It starts with a clear understanding of why the change is needed and what success should look like: a vision, a goal, a shared sense of where you are trying to go. Just as important is the input and buy-in of the people who will be most affected by that change. Real change is much more likely to last when people feel part of shaping it. Another key ingredient is a team that is willing to work together toward a common purpose. The most meaningful change rarely happens because of one person acting alone. It happens when many people contribute in different ways, working collaboratively, consistently, and openly toward something better. As a leader, I know how tempting it can be to move too quickly or try to carry too much on your own. But in my experience, that rarely leads to the kind of lasting change you hope to create.
Paul Newman was an actor, race car driver, activist, and a salad dressing philanthropist. In the spirit of Paul Newman, how are you “raising a little hell” in your community?
At SeriousFun, “raising a little hell” means challenging assumptions about what children with serious illnesses can do and experience. We create environments that replace limits with possibility—where children who are often told “no” hear “yes, you can.” That spirit comes to life in powerful, practical ways: a child who uses a wheelchair soaring down a zipline, a teenager entering a pool without fear of triggering their condition, or a camper on dialysis spending time away from home with the medical support needed to do so safely. These moments are more than camp experiences; they open the door to confidence, independence, and a new sense of what is possible. And that impact extends beyond camp itself. Through family programs, in-hospital programs, leadership development, school partnerships, day camps, and virtual experiences, SeriousFun continues to create opportunities for children and families year-round—meeting needs with imagination, care, and an unwavering belief in every child’s potential.
Photo courtesy of SeriousFun Children's Network.
Photo courtesy of L'Envol, part of SeriousFun Children's Network
What’s something you wish more people knew about camp?
The impact of SeriousFun lasts far beyond a week at camp. These experiences can change the trajectory of a child’s life. When children with serious medical conditions are given the chance to belong, take healthy risks, build friendships, and discover what they can do, they begin to see themselves differently. They grow in confidence, independence, and resilience—and that shift stays with them. SeriousFun helps open doors: to greater self-belief, to bigger aspirations, and to a future shaped less by limitations and more by possibility. For many children, camp is not just a joyful experience in the moment; it is the beginning of a stronger sense of identity, purpose, and belief in what their lives can hold.
What brings you joy in your work?
Witnessing the transformation that happens when a child realizes more is possible than they imagined. Sometimes you see it in a single week at camp; sometimes you see it unfold over years. Again and again, we hear from children and parents that camp became a turning point—a place where confidence took root, independence grew, and joy broke through.
I think of one child who came to camp with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, which made everyday activities seem out of reach. Our team adapted activities so he could fully participate. He rode a horse, slept in a cabin, and performed on stage night. Years later, he told me how much that experience had changed the way he saw himself and what he believed he could do. Knowing that SeriousFun helped spark that kind of joy, confidence, and possibility in one child’s life is amazing. And then you realize we have had the privilege of doing that for millions of children and family members around the world. Research now shows that a single SeriousFun camp experience plays a significant role in the development of lasting traits and qualities—like empathy, self-confidence, perseverance—that our alumni use, even years later, as adults. That’s powerful.
How can people support your work?
There are so many ways to help. Whether you are young, retired, or anywhere in between, there is a place for you. Our camps rely on tens of thousands of volunteers and donors each year to make every program possible—and to keep them completely free of charge. That means families facing serious medical challenges—and the financial strain that comes with them—never have to worry about whether they can afford camp.
Apply to volunteer or donate to support kids with serious illnesses and their families.
Blake Maher dancing at camp. Photo courtesy of SeriousFun Children's Network.
We are SeriousFun
A Newman’s Own Foundation grantee partner since the beginning, SeriousFun is a global community of 30 camps and programs serving children with serious illnesses and their families—always free of charge. Since the first camp opened in 1988, SeriousFun has served more than 2.4 million kids living with more than 100 different life-altering diagnoses. Learn more at seriousfun.org.