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20TH ANNIVERSARY CONGRESSIONAL GALA This year the gala honored founding board member Debbie Dingell, whose longtime dedication and steadfast support has provided more than 8,000 families with “a place like home” while participating in groundbreaking medical treatment at the National Institutes of Health. From the begining, Debbie has served on our Board of Directors and has been the Inn's leading advocate.
In 1987, with the support of leaders in industry and government, “The Friends of the Children’s Inn” were founded to meet the challenge of designing and building a home for the families whose children were treated at the National Institutes of Health. Under the early leadership of Carmala Walgren, Dr. Philip Pizzo and the medical staff at the NIH, Chris Downey and Debbie Dingell joined the effort to create the first Children’s Inn Gala with Debbie Dingell as Gala Chair. The first Gala was an extraordinary success that brought together corporate leaders, Members of Congress, and the NIH leadership. It is thanks to the energy and determination of the original “Friends” that The Children’s Inn opened its doors in 1990 FIRST ANNUAL CHILDREN'S INNVITATIONAL AFCEA BETHESDA'S "A NIGHT FOR THE CHILDREN" GALA AFCEA Bethesda’s “A Night for the Children” gala, hosted at the Mayflower Hotel, celebrated its tenth anniversary of supporting The Inn. Since the first gala in 1999, companies and individuals representing all areas of the federal IT communities have generously contributed their time and financial support. This year’s Platinum Sponsors included Microsoft and Intel, followed by Gold Sponsor General Dynamics Information Technology. The Inn received $450,000 from this amazing effort. For the first time, the donation will be restricted to the newly created AFCEA Bethesda Endowment for The Inn. Inn mother, Sonia Cobar and her son Allen, who were celebrating his 10th birthday at the event, charmed the crowd with their speech about The Inn’s many blessings for families like theirs. For the past five years, they have stayed at The Inn when Allen receives treatment for Neurofibromatosis at the National Institutes of Health. The high-tech community enjoyed a lively and enchanting evening of dancing, casino games, and silent and live auctions. AFCEA Bethesda has raised more than $2.5 million for The Inn since its first gala in 1999. Back to Top |
