2024 Congressional Pumpkin Carving Contest
Every year Members of Congress and their Staffs compete in the Congressional Pumpkin Carving Contest. This event is a great opportunity for Representatives and Senators to come together and support efforts to develop new treatments for pediatric brain tumors. Congressional Offices may carve the pumpkins but YOU get to decide the best!
Voting will be open until October 30th.
"CLAY BEAR DAY"
July 2024 Delivered Bears and Smiles to Children's National in Washington, D.C.
For two days the Clay Bear Delivery Team gave every patient a bear to help them get through treatment day.
Thank you to all of you who helped make this inaugural program a success!
These few days in July brought feelings of gratitude for so many devoted and kind people who work in pediatric care, and understanding for the families whose worlds have been turned upside down by tough diagnosis. Hope for a brighter future for all these little people. And honored to see Clay Derderian's spirit of kindness and joy brought forward in the children's smiles inspired by these bear friends. Thank you to Dr. Kilburn, the Foundations Team at Childrens, and Dr. Packer for the good work you do each day.
Our Signature Event: The Pumpkin Bash
Since the inception of Imagine An Answer, our signature event has been a "Pumpkin Bash" held in Washington, D.C.'s Eastern Market building. This event brings together Members of Congress, Doctors and scientists, corporations and charities, families and friends, patients and parents. The trick -- delivering 100's of pumpkins ahead of the event to the House and Senate, so Members of Congress can get carving their pumpkins! These wildly creative carvings are proudly displayed at the event (and of course, voted upon!)
The event, held each fall, celebrates childhood and the joys of the season -- pumpkin carving, dressing in costume, and of course, candy! Lots of candy! A silent auction, spookily delicious food and drinks, and treats for the little ones are always included. Speakers and entertainment vary year to year, but the cause remains the same: raising resources to fund research to help kids with brain tumors live a better life.
2023
This year Representatives Brett Guthrie and Debbie Dingell headlined our event. Abigail Tindell, an IAA-funded lab scientist at Hopkins spoke about how IAA and Hopkins changed her career and education goals as she leans into oncology. The best speaker however was Sammy, who is currently under treatment for a JPA.
2016
The 2nd bash focused on the science of this disease and what was needed to move the dial forward: Dr. Lindsay Kilburn, Children's National Medical Center, and Dr. Eric Raabe, John's Hopkins Medicine, shared their perspectives. Senator Leahy and his grandson Patrick also spoke about their friendship with Clay. Patrick and Clay met in preschool.
2015
The inaugural bash! IAA was founded this year by Clay's parents. Clay was diagnosed with a JPA at age 3. After years in treatment they realized how underfunded scientific research was for this pediatric cancer.
