Light Up the Season: D.C. Children’s National Hospital Fundraiser Brings Everyone Together

“Light Up the Season” is the name of a month-long string of fundraising events for Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. In partnership with the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington D.C. the annual event honors the patients, families and staff of the hospital. The hotel started working with Children’s National Hospital in 2017.

Patient Installations

“Light Up the Season” kicks off with patient installations. Eight patients from the hospital work with volunteer designers to make their holiday dreams come to life in unique displays. Displays are available for view throughout December.

When explaining what was most important to her about the kickoff event, Meagan Davis, Associate Director for Marketing at Children’s National Hospital Foundation, said “Seeing smiles on patients' faces [when they see their installations] and them seeing how special they were and how they make a difference in the community.”

Volunteer Work

The Founders Auxiliary Board at Children’s National Hospital helps coordinate this event each year by asking employees at partnering companies to give their time. For example, in 2024, the board invited ballerinas to entertain at the Teddy Bear Tea. Davis also explained, “there is a mixture of volunteers on the Founders Auxiliary Board.”

Teddy Bear Tea

The Teddy Bear Tea is one of the highlights and main fundraising events. At this event, guests enjoy tea sandwiches, desserts and different types of tea or hot chocolate. There are also performances by local artists, Santa Claus and a life-size Doctor Bear entertains children. 

I spoke with Heather Guay Yoo, the co-chair for the event, and she explained that the “theme of teddy bears comes from Doctor Bear – Children’s National Hospital’s mascot.”

Mattel recently joined forces with the Founders Auxiliary Board, and because of this, each child who attended any of the three Teddy Bear Teas received a special gift with a matching donation to a patient at the hospital.

Because of the many donations the Founders Auxiliary Board received from last December’s “Light Up the Season,” Children’s National Hospital was able to reach their fundraising goal of $30,000 and help The Fund For Every Child, an organization that makes sure every child gets the medical help they need.