In 2021, the organizers of two established fundraising events — VIP Auction and Charity Ball — will join forces to create a new event to support children who receive care at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
The last Guild Evening Branch Charity Ball, held on Feb. 1, 2020, marked the 89th year of the formal gala celebration of community support and fundraising. The 32nd annual Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation VIP Auction, originally slated to be held in 2020, was canceled along with many other events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Next year, the Foundation will combine the two events into one to continue the legacy of community outreach and generosity in a new form.
“These two long-standing fundraisers have been part of our nearly 100 years of caring for children in our community,” says Connie Guinn, director of donor engagement at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation. “Our growth and focus on being fiscally responsible encouraged us to bring these two events together into one distinct gala to benefit the hospital and children’s services.”
Merging the two efforts into one also marks a new alignment of energies by combining the major activities formerly sponsored separately by the Guild Evening Branch and the Foundation. The new gala, to be called A Night for All Children, will debut virtually in April 2021.
“We’re approaching this as a distinctive new event that will incorporate the best aspects of our Charity Ball and VIP Auction,” says Deidra Church, senior gift officer of special events at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation. “We are still in the early development stages and excited to have co-chairs, Beth Vivio and Janis Weber help lead us in planning.”
Finding Hidden Gems
The 2021 gala will be held virtually. The theme of the night will be “Hidden Gems,” and guests can enjoy silent and live auctions, and the opportunity to hear from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital leadership. “Having been aware of Charity Ball since my youth because of my mother's involvement, I am happy to be co-chair of this new distinctive event,” says Weber, a Guild Evening Branch member. “It will incorporate the best aspects of Charity Ball, on its 90th anniversary and the popular VIP Auction."
“At this signature gala of the year, attendees will have fun while helping our mission through their attendance and support,” says Vivio, a Foundation Board trustee. “We are looking for volunteer committee members, silent and live auction donors, sponsors and attendees.”
“The need for funding continues,” Guinn adds. “We invite our community to plan to join us for a festive and exciting new celebration at A Night for All Children.”
To learn more about upcoming Foundation events and giving opportunities, please visit HopkinsAllChildrens.org/giving or call 727-767-4199. This story first appeared in For the Kids, a magazine published by Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation.