The Bethesda Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA Bethesda), a non-profit that promotes partnerships between government and industry, today announced event highlights, including special guests, auction items and the raffle prize for the 2012 “A Night for the Children” Gala to benefit The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The event will take place on April 14 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner.

Core News Facts

• In its 14th year, The AFCEA Bethesda Children’s Inn Gala has grown to become one of the most important fundraising events of the year for The Children’s Inn at NIH, contributing 14 percent of the funds that make the residence possible.

• To date, The AFCEA Bethesda Children’s Inn Gala has raised over $4.1 million for the Inn, which opened its doors in 1990. The Children’s Inn relies primarily on the public’s generosity to support its mission to serve as a healing environment for more than 10,000 seriously ill children across the country and around the world.

• Each year, one of the most memorable moments of The Children’s Inn Gala is hearing from an Inn family. This year’s special guests include a mother and daughter from Louisiana who have been coming to the Inn for nearly two decades. Their uplifting story proves how much of a difference each contribution makes.

• Another key highlight is a raffle for a five-night stay in Paris including round trip airfare and cooking lessons for two at Le Cordon Bleu Paris. All raffle proceeds benefit the Children’s Inn at NIH. Attendance is not required. Find out how you can purchase a ticket here: bit.ly/wpUcge.

Quote Attributable to Linda Berdine, Children’s Inn Board Chair

• The Children’s Inn keeps families together as they participate in groundbreaking medical treatments at the National Institutes of Health. With the help of AFCEA Bethesda and the Gala’s sponsors, The Inn cares for the families’ hearts, souls and spirit, while the NIH tends to their medical needs. There are so many ways you can help the Inn, from attending the Gala or donating a gift to the auction to purchasing a raffle ticket or directly participating in the auction.

Quote Attributable to Robert Guerra, Children’s Inn Gala Chair

• Over the past 14 years, The Gala has made a big impact in the lives of the children and families at The Children’s Inn at NIH. Exciting Gala events including the raffle and the live and silent auctions will help AFCEA Bethesda provide the Inn with much-needed financial support. The Inn depends on the generosity of our sponsors and we hope to continue helping this wonderful cause each year.

Links to additional resources:

• Visit the Children’s Inn Gala Website: bit.ly/wO7gmi
• AFCEA Bethesda: twitter.com/afceabethesda, www.facebook.com/afceabethesda
• The Children’s Inn: twitter.com/TheChildrensInn, #childrensinngala
• The Children’s Inn Gala: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161065367275752

Spread the Word! Tweet about the Children’s Inn:
• @TheChildrensInn provides a place like home for sick children & families. Support the Inn through #childrensinngala: bit.ly/wO7gmi
• Support @TheChildrensInn at NIH & the #childrensinngala by entering the raffle for a trip to Paris: bit.ly/wpUcge
• Learn more about @TheChildrensInn at NIH, see this video: I am One of 10,000 youtu.be/lAW4PSL5m7s

###

About the Children’s Inn
The Children's Inn at NIH is a private, non-profit, family-centered residence for pediatric outpatients at the National Institutes of Health and for their families. Its purposes are to keep children together with their families during serious illness, reduce their stress and facilitate their healing through mutual support. For nearly 20 years, it has served as a healing environment for more than 10,000 children and their families from the United States and around the world. For more information about the Children’s Inn at NIH, visit The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

About AFCEA Bethesda
Founded in 1998, the AFCEA Bethesda Chapter is a non-profit organization that encourages greater government/industry partnerships and fosters networking among its peers. In 2004, the Chapter formed a Young AFCEA group whose goal is to foster an environment where young professionals from the private and public sectors can meet, interact, and learn from each other. AFCEA Bethesda has earned the distinguished honor of being awarded “Model Chapter of the Year” by AFCEA International since 2000. For additional information please visit www.bethesda-afcea.org.

Ilina Dimitrova
Sage Communications
(703) 531-8256
ilinad@aboutsage.com
1651 Old Meadow Drive
McLean, VA 22102

This release was published on openPR.