The annual Winter Wonderland Charity Gala held at the magnificent Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods raised more than $500,000 for the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, setting an impressive new fundraising record for the beloved event and powerfully demonstrating the Granite State’s extraordinary generosity in supporting pediatric healthcare for the state’s most vulnerable young patients. The elegant black-tie affair, which attracted more than 400 distinguished guests from across New Hampshire and the broader New England region, featured a memorable evening of fine dining, live musical entertainment, inspiring program elements, and a spirited live auction that drove the final total well past the organizing committee’s ambitious initial goal.
The substantial proceeds will directly fund several critical and urgently needed initiatives at the children’s hospital, including the planned expansion of the neonatal intensive care unit to accommodate growing demand for specialized newborn care, the purchase of cutting-edge pediatric surgical equipment incorporating the latest technological advances, and the establishment of a comprehensive new family support program that will provide subsidized housing, transportation assistance, meal support, and professional emotional counseling for families whose children require extended hospital stays far from their home communities.
Event chairwoman Patricia Newcomb, who has devoted her considerable organizational talents to the gala for the past eight consecutive years, expressed overwhelming gratitude for the community’s remarkable and generous response, noting that this year’s record total represents an extraordinary 30 percent increase over the previous fundraising record set in 2023. She credited the impressive growth to a substantially expanded outreach effort that successfully engaged new corporate sponsors, attracted first-time individual donors from previously untapped networks, and connected with people throughout the state who were deeply moved by the powerful personal stories of children and families served by the hospital.
The evening’s formal program featured compelling and emotional remarks from Dr. Keith Loud, Physician-in-Chief at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, who shared deeply moving stories of young patients whose lives have been profoundly transformed by the specialized medical care available at the facility. He emphasized with conviction that for many New Hampshire families living in rural and remote communities, the children’s hospital represents the only realistically accessible option for advanced pediatric treatment and specialized care, as the nearest alternative facilities of comparable capability are located in Boston, more than two hours from most Granite State communities and often inaccessible for families without reliable transportation or the financial resources to travel.
A highlight of the evening was the lively and competitive live auction, which included luxurious vacation packages to Caribbean and European destinations, autographed sports memorabilia from New England professional athletes, and unique experiential lots including a private dinner prepared in the winning bidder’s home by a renowned and celebrated New England chef. The most hotly contested and emotionally charged item was a week-long stay at a stunning lakefront property on picturesque Lake Winnipesaukee during peak summer season, which ultimately sold for an impressive $28,000 after spirited bidding. The extensive silent auction, featuring more than 150 carefully curated donated items from local businesses, artisans, and artists, generated an additional $85,000 in revenue for the hospital.
Corporate sponsorships played a crucial and foundational role in the event’s unprecedented financial success, with more than 50 New Hampshire businesses contributing at various sponsorship levels ranging from presenting sponsors to table hosts. Major sponsors included several of the state’s largest employers, prominent financial institutions, and leading healthcare organizations, many of which have consistently supported the gala since its inception and view their participation as both a philanthropic commitment and a meaningful investment in the health of New Hampshire’s children and families.
The gala also served as a meaningful opportunity to publicly recognize outstanding individual contributions to pediatric healthcare in New Hampshire. The evening’s distinguished honoree was Dr. Sarah Chen, a dedicated pediatric oncologist at the Children’s Hospital who has devoted her entire 20-year career to improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer. Colleagues, grateful patients’ families, and hospital administrators offered deeply emotional tributes to her extraordinary compassion, clinical excellence, and unwavering dedication to her young patients, drawing a prolonged and heartfelt standing ovation from the assembled guests.
Organizers have already begun enthusiastic planning for next year’s event, with an ambitious goal of surpassing the $600,000 mark and expanding the gala’s reach to engage an even broader and more diverse cross-section of the New Hampshire community including younger donors and emerging philanthropists. Individuals and businesses interested in supporting the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock through sponsorships, auction donations, or direct giving, or who wish to learn about future fundraising events and volunteer opportunities, can visit the hospital’s comprehensive development website or contact the hospital’s development office directly for information about the many giving opportunities available throughout the year.
