Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Hosts Carousel Ball Raising More than $7 Million, Benefiting Pediatric Care, Research and Innovation

Earlier this month, more than 1000 local philanthropists, corporate leaders and patient families came together for an evening of inspirational storytelling and impact at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) signature fundraiser, the Carousel Ball. The event raised more than $7 million directly benefiting pediatric care, research and education at CHOP.

The night underscored CHOP’s leadership at the forefront of pediatric innovation, advancing game-changing discoveries, leading patient care through clinical advancements, and building on a strong history of firsts. The event highlights included:

• Laura Jarrett, Saturday Today Show co-anchor and senior legal correspondent for NBC News, served as emcee of the program and explained as a mom of two young children, she understands the importance of researchers and scientists working on cures to help the smallest patients so they can grow up.

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  CHOP’s Chief Executive Officer, Madeline Bell, spoke about CHOP’s 170-year history of breakthroughs, particularly in the areas of cell and gene therapy and personalized medicine, and the organization’s commitment to research as highlighted by the Morgan Center for Research and Innovation.

• Event co-chairs Wendy McDevitt and Susanna Lachs Adler explained how powerful it can be when community comes together for a shared purpose and how philanthropy fuels discovery, innovation and bold ideas. They also thanked committee members for their dedication to making the Carousel Ball a success, bringing more hope and more possibilities to children in CHOP’s care.

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  Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan, honorary chairs of the Carousel Ball, shared the importance of philanthropy to their family and how they are grateful to be a part of CHOP’s history and bright future.

  • Longtime donors to CHOP, The Morgan family‘s most recent gift of $50 million played an integral role in expanding CHOP’s research footprint through the Morgan Center for Research and Innovation. The facility will aim to support cutting-edge research and discoveries that will help inspire everyday miracles – both big and small.

The event also featured a live appeal supporting ALK-targeting CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors. Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer of infancy. Despite decades of medical advances, cure rates have remained largely unchanged for more than 25 years. Children diagnosed with neuroblastoma often endure the most intensive treatment regimen of any pediatric cancer — including chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and immunotherapy. Yet nearly half of these young patients still experience relapse.

At CHOP, Yael Mossé, MD, a physician-scientist at the Cancer Center, and Evan Weber, PhD, a cell and gene therapy researcher with the Center for Childhood Cancer Research, are leading a groundbreaking effort to create a living therapy made from a child’s own immune cells, designed to seek out and destroy solid tumors without harming healthy tissue. With funding from the Carousel Ball, our scientists and researchers can launch the first-ever clinical trial of this therapy and bring new hope to countless children and families around the world.

Since 1957, the Carousel Ball, a signature fundraising event, has accelerated discoveries that have profoundly changed pediatric medicine, transforming the lives of millions of children around the world and building the foundation for tomorrow’s breakthroughs. 

To learn more about the Carousel Ball, visit carouselball.chop.edu.