The Children’s Inn at NIH Honors Hope, Resilience, and Innovation in Pediatric Medical Research at 11th Annual “Evening for Hope” Gala
BETHESDA, Md. – May 8, 2025 – The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health held the 2025 An Evening for Hope Gala on Saturday, May 3, at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, Va. The inspiring night of giving, community, and celebration gathered leaders from the biotechnology, health, philanthropic, and policy communities to raise over $1.8 million in essential funds for The Children’s Inn.
As a nonprofit partner to the NIH Clinical Center, The Inn provides access to clinical research studies and treatment by removing barriers for families battling serious diseases. The gala proceeds will support each of the seriously ill children and their families who come to NIH to participate in lifesaving clinical research this year.
“For 35 years, The Children’s Inn has provided hope and comfort to families facing challenges that are unimaginable to most of us,” said Jennie Lucca, CEO of The Children’s Inn at NIH. “Our partnership with NIH allows us to create a ‘Place Like Home’ for our families while they undergo treatment at the forefront of a new era of promising pediatric research. As part of The Inn’s strategic vision, we are accelerating our impact on medical discovery and care. The Children’s Inn will be able to do more for our families thanks to our partnerships with the wider NIH community and, of course, the generosity of each and every supporter.”
This year’s program spotlighted the inspiring story of siblings Lucy and Landon from North Carolina in their fight against Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), a rare genetic disorder. Despite shared family roots and diagnoses, they had wildly divergent paths to reach that point. Their medical journeys converged with lifesaving bone marrow transplants and visits to the NIH Clinical Center. Throughout their journey and as they forge their own paths to healthy lives, Lucy, Landon, and their family found a community at The Inn and got the treatment they needed to return home healthy and excited for the future.
“The partnership between The Inn and NIH Clinical Center brings hope to thousands of children and their families who have come to the NIH seeking a diagnosis, a treatment, or a cure,” said Todd Pantezzi, Gala Chairman, Children’s Inn Trustee, and Principal for Health with Credence. “While each of us has our own reason for getting involved, all of us are unified by our wish to cure any disease that takes a child’s life, and we believe that supporting The Inn is the best way to contribute and move us all from hopes to cures.”
Two-time Emmy Award winner and NBC News4 Anchor Tony Perkins emceed the event, which also featured welcoming remarks by NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. Auctioneer Billy Harris brought his high energy and charisma to the live auction and fund-the-mission. At this year’s event, guests enjoyed a beautiful evening with a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, raffle, silent and live auctions, and, new this year — live music provided by Capital Effect.
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About The Children’s Inn at NIH
The Children’s Inn at NIH is a private, nonprofit “Place Like Home” for children and their families participating in pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, the world’s premier biomedical research hospital. The Inn reduces the burden of illness through therapeutic, educational, and recreational programming – all at no cost to the families. As a partner in discovery and care with the NIH, The Inn strives for the day when no family endures the heartbreak of a seriously ill child. For more information about The Children’s Inn at NIH, please visit childrensinn.org.