An Evening for Hope

On April 28, 2018, The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) held their annual An Evening for Hope Gala to benefit seriously ill children. The Children’s Inn is a nongovernment nonprofit located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, offering a free “home away from home” for families with children in need of lifesaving treatment. Thousands of people travel from across the globe to access NIH’s leading medical research facility as it is often the last hope for many children when conventional treatments have failed to cure their severe ailments.

Jordan LaRocco is one of those children. He is an energetic seven-year-old boy living with Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN), a rare neuromuscular genetic disorder. When Jordan was initially diagnosed with this terminal illness, the doctors advised his family not to Google it to avoid frightening them. Ignoring this advice, his mother began researching and discovered there were scientists studying GAN trying to find a cure. Jordan is now participating in a clinical trial at NIH that has produced positive results in other children suffering from the infection. The experimental GAN therapy is an “injection of hope” for Jordan and his family.

Corporate philanthropy and individual donations provide the funds necessary to be able to offer free housing, services, and support for families at the Inn. It reduces the burden of illness for children suffering and helps discover new treatments for life-threatening illnesses. This was Cognosante’s first year as a table sponsor at The Children’s Inn at NIH’s An Evening for Hope Gala, and we’re honored to contribute toward helping improve the lives of children like Jordan. Our very own Marcia DeFalco served as Raffle Chair Volunteer on the Program Committee and assisted Jordan with the raffle drawing. During this year’s event, the Inn raised a record of more than $1 million.

Learn more about Jordan’s story here.