The Children’s Inn at NIH Announces Details for 6th Annual “Evening for Hope” Gala
NIH Director and Longtime Inn Supporter Dr. Francis Collins to Keynote
BETHESDA, MD – April 17, 2019 – The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health, a private nonprofit in support of children with rare, often terminal illnesses, today announced details of its upcoming 6th annual “An Evening for Hope” Gala. This-sold out event is expected to draw over 800 government and industry supporters to the Ritz Carlton Tysons on May 11, 2019.
Keynoting this year’s gala is NIH Director and renowned physician-geneticist Francis Collins, M.D. Collins has been recognized for his landmark discoveries of disease genes, as well as his leadership of the international Human Genome Project.
Radio and television personality Tony Perkins will be returning as emcee alongside Collins. The gentlemen will be joined by ten-year-olds Avery and Autumn, each of whom have visited The Inn over 20 times while undergoing treatment at the NIH. During the reception, the young girls will share their unique testimonies while staying at The Inn.
Since 2012, An Evening for Hope has been The Inn’s largest annual fundraiser. In 2018, under the leadership of Gala Chairman Todd Pantezzi, The Inn surpassed its benchmark goal and raised over $1 million toward providing a “place like home” to more than 1,700 children and families who stay at The Inn each year.
“Fundraising this year has been of paramount importance. These much-needed funds raised over the last year continued to support the brave children who are advancing medical discovery and meant that during the extensive roof damage that occurred at The Inn in August of 2018, no families were turned away,” said 2019 Children’s Inn at NIH Gala Chairman Todd Pantezzi. “During this eight-month period, families who could not stay at The Inn due to the emergency closure were able to reside in apartments near the NIH campus or in hotel rooms – at no charge to them.”
“While the roof damage was a major setback, we are still on track to beat last year’s milestone,” Pantezzi added.
This year, gala guests can anticipate a fun-filled evening complete with dinner, live and silent auctions, and networking opportunities with over 100 senior government executives. This diverse crowd is all united with one goal in mind: a commitment to childhood health and research.
“‘An Evening for Hope’ Gala is a celebration of life and the brave children who reside at The Inn. It is also an opportunity to recognize the individuals and organizations whose generosity are improving the health and well-being of these children,” said Children’s Inn CEO Jennie Lucca.
Follow The Inn on social media:
Facebook: @TheChildrensInn;
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LinkedIn: @TheChildrensInn;
Spread the word by engaging with #EveningforHope on social media and while at the event. Mark your calendar for May 11, 2019. #RaiseAwareness and #RaiseFunds for The Children’s Inn!
About The Children’s Inn at NIH
The Children’s Inn at NIH is a private nonprofit with the mission to provide “a place like home” at no charge for families of children and young adults participating in clinical research studies at the world-renowned National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Since opening in 1990, more than 15,000 families from all 50 states and 94 countries have found a second home at The Inn, helping advance medical discoveries and improve the health of people all over the world. For more information about The Children’s Inn at NIH, please visit childrensinn.org or call 301-496-5672.