Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine will host the fourth annual Giving Kids Hope benefit to help fund research in pediatric genetic disorders Saturday, June 8, at 6 p.m. at the newly renovated Agora Theatre and Ballroom.
WKYC-TV Senior Health Correspondent Monica Robins will emcee the event, with Cash Explosion host David McCreary as entertainment auctioneer.
Event highlights will include the presentation of the Giving Kids Hope award to a key contributor, a high-end wine raffle, silent and live auctions, and a performance by Hard Day’s Night, a Beatles tribute band.
Proceeds from Giving Kids Hope directly support the Research Institute for Children’s Health at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. The Institute aims to improve outcomes for children who suffer from devastating diseases and disorders by accelerating research breakthroughs into treatments.
“We are at a turning point with the treatment of many diseases,” said Research Institute of Children’s Health Director Mitchell Drumm. “We have disorders like cystic fibrosis where we now know not only what suppresses the symptoms but we are now pursuing ways to treat the disease at the genetic level. Support for our work allows us to look at a child’s specific genetic makeup and find exactly what treatments are most likely to have the best impact.”
This year, the institute will celebrate its fourth year of biomedical research focused on improving the treatment of genetic diseases and disorders. In 2015, the Institute began research on one disease, and has enhanced research efforts significantly to 21 diseases in 2019.
“Insufficient funding for this type of research is our most significant impediment to developing treatments,” added Drumm, who is also a professor in the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and the Connie and Jim Brown Professor of Cystic Fibrosis Research. “Events like Giving Kids Hope are critical for increasing public awareness and raising the support needed to bring new treatments to our kids.”
Sponsors for the event include lead sponsor, Tucson Inc.