Since 1988, SeriousFun camps and programs have served 1.3 million children and family members, serving 127,153 children and family members in 2015 alone. The name SeriousFun is said to acknowledge Paul Newman's playful humor and the belief that it is important to take fun seriously. According to a 2014-2015 Outcomes Evaluation conducted by Yale's Child Study Center, 79% of camper parents reported an increase in their child's confidence, 74% reported an increase in their child's independence and 80% reported greater openness in their child's willingness to try new things after camp. According to the Global Partnership Program Camp Outcomes Evaluation conducted by San Diego State University in 2013, there was a 58% improvement in campers taking their ART (antiretroviral therapy) medicines in Ethiopia, India and Vietnam after having attended camp.
