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The fundraising gods were smiling down on The Valerie Fund event held just days before all things pandemic put a halt on life the way we knew it. The spirit of generosity, characteristic of almost a decade of elegant A Taste of Giving evenings, was as strong as ever. Each year, the passion to give back in a significant way inspires the event founders Sharon and Josh Weintraub, the host committee, and dozens of new Valerie Fund guests who come to nurture Valerie Fund kids' recovery and aspirations for the future.

The night was emceed by two of The Valerie Fund's all-stars, Sylvie, a junior in high school, and Will, a TVF Scholarship recipient who is about to complete a Master's degree in Finance from Bentley University in Massachusetts. Sylvieand Will introduced fifteen patient ambassadors to the assembled crowd, the ambassadors ranging in age from seven and in 2nd grade, all the way up to 27 and in the final year of medical school!

As the nearly 300 guests met with the ambassadors throughout the evening, the kids credited their Valerie Fund Centers with making their treatment experiences less scary for them and their families, and how important Camp Happy Times was for connecting with kids like them who understood their experience with childhood cancer. Eleven-year-old TVF patient Grace took center stage to give guests a peek into her journey with a brain tumor that began two years earlier with symptoms of slowed growth, through treatment and radiation, and back to excellent health and normal activity. She also introduced the newest Valerie Fund video, which you can access by clicking here.

Patient ambassador Owen joined the event virtually to demonstrate how he connects to his classroom from home using a VGo robot. Guests were able to see firsthand how kids in treatment could successfully be part of classroom instruction and stay connected to their peers. Owen promised the guests he'd be with them in person for the next event in February 2021, a promise that was met with unanimous applause!

Sharon Weintraub, who sits on the Valerie Fund Board and on the scholarship committee, proudly introduced several current and former scholarship recipients and invited them to update guests on school and career.

• Sierra Spriggs, now a licensed social worker who credits her first social worker as inspiring her to go into the field
• Shelby Caban, now a Physician's Assistant
• Richie Suarez was heading toward completion of medical school and looking forward to marrying "the girl of his dreams"
• Joyce Tumfour had just begun medical school
• Chris Lamberto was looking forward to graduating with a finance degree

The ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental was filled with laughter thanks to comedian, auctioneer and proud new daddy Michael Kosta, who was visibly moved as he auctioned the services The Valerie Fund provides to patients and families. Kosta helped raise nearly $1,000,000 to support the work of The Valerie Fund Children's Centers' Child Life Specialists. It also included named and general scholarships for secondary education and Camp Happy Times camperships, which will send current and former patients to Camp Happy Times for an amazing overnight experience in the Pocono Mountains.

To get your invitation to the 2021 A Taste of Giving Event, email LAbrams@TheValerieFund.org.