Bill Kubicek’s vision and first hand experience are the cornerstones for the programs, network and support that Next Step provides to adolescent and young adult survivors of life threatening illnesses. Bill found his interest and expertise with this population as a twelve-year employee of Paul Newman’s The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, CT. As Assistant Camp Director, he developed and implemented a protocol for physical intervention with campers in crisis, a handicapped accessible high ropes program for teen campers, and a publishing program that brought computers to Camp. As Director for The Hole in the Wall Discovery Program, he brought together fifth graders from inner city and suburban schools for a week-long residential and experiential education program with the goal of integrating Connecticut’s increasingly segregated public schools. Bill also facilitated a pilot program for at risk youth in the bush of Botswana, Africa in 2002.

Bill was instrumental in bringing the young adult survivors to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1998 2000. Next Step is based on these pilot programs and was officially incorporated in 2001. In the years since its founding, Bill has overseen the growth of Next Step and its reach in more than seventeen states throughout the US serving approximately 3,500 teens and young adults. Under his leadership, Next

Step received national press in HemAware, the Journal of the National Hemophilia

Foundation. Bill has been the keynote speaker for the National Hemophilia Foundation and the National Sickle Cell Disease Association of America as well as featured speaker on transition for the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation.

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