Events
Charity Ball
Kaleidoscope, Endless Possibilities
117th Anniversary Charity Ball – Kaleidoscope
Chairman Caroline Wohl invites you to join us for a spectacular evening of celebration and generosity as we dine, dance and raise a glass to the elegant tradition of the Charity Ball.
Started in 1909, Charity Ball is celebrated as San Diego’s oldest and grandest philanthropic event. Since 1954, Charity Ball has exclusively benefited Rady Children’s. This year’s beneficiary is the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, a leader in research and care providing children and families hope for a cure.
Details:
When:
February 28, 2026 @ 6:00 pm – 11:59 pm
Registration Fee:
$600Schedule
- 6 – 8 p.m. – Dinner in the Historic Crown Room
- 8:30 p.m. – Midnight – Dancing in the Grand Ballroom
Black Tie | Valet Parking
For More Information
Please email Leena Laumann or call 858-966-8089.
Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children’s
The nationally recognized Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children’s brings together state-of-the-art treatment, personalized care, and wraparound support to offer healing and hope to young patients and their families.
Accelerating Lifesaving Progress and Defining Best-in-Class Care
Ranked among the best children’s hospitals in cancer by U.S. News & World Report, the Peckham Center is at the forefront of advancements in research and care that are accelerating lifesaving progress and helping end the threat of pediatric cancer and blood disorders for every child.
Serving thousands each year through more than 15,000 outpatient visits, 7,000 inpatient visits, and care for 300 newly diagnosed cancer and blood disorder patients, the Peckham Center team addresses the needs of the whole child and family in a space designed for healing, applying transformational discoveries made by its preeminent experts to improve outcomes. Home to renowned pediatric oncology and hematology specialists, the center’s physician-scientists partner with San Diego’s unparalleled medical, pharmaceutical, and biotech communities to propel research into promising translational therapies and potential cures.
The Peckham Center team addresses the needs of the whole child and family in a space designed for healing, applying transformational discoveries made by its preeminent experts to improve outcomes.
Guided by Rady Children’s commitment to excellence, the Peckham Center provides the highest-quality care for children of all ages—from infants to young adults—facing cancer and blood disorders, including:
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Brain tumors
- Histiocytosis
- Sickle cell
- Hemophilia
- Anemias
Expanding Psychosocial Services to Enhance Well-Being for Kids Braving Cancer and Blood Disorders
Promoting whole-child and family health means meeting physical, emotional, and social needs with a holistic approach. The Peckham Center team prioritizes the overall well-being of young cancer and blood disorder patients and their loved ones through outstanding, integrated programs that allow them to still be kids while in and out of the hospital—and focus on getting better. Support from generous friends like you enables enhancement and expansion of leading psychosocial programs that help children braving cancer and blood disorders thrive.
Among key priorities for philanthropic investment to strengthen psychosocial services at the Peckham Center:
HOPES Fund
Provides financial assistance to meet vital needs of families receiving care at the Peckham Center who are unable to afford expenses not covered by insurance that arise during a lengthy treatment—which can include food and taxi vouchers, gas cards, parking passes, wigs, miscellaneous emergency expenditures, pharmacy co-payments for critical medications and therapies, and even items such as space heaters for homes without heat—ensuring they can achieve the best possible outcomes.
San Diego Padres Spring Training Experience
Offers teenage patients currently receiving cancer treatment at the Peckham Center the opportunity to attend spring training alongside the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Arizona, providing a reprieve during their long healing journeys and allowing them to feel supported and confident as they connect with peers facing similar life-changing experiences.
“Holistic psychosocial support directly influences a child’s ability to heal, recover and ultimately thrive following a cancer or blood disorder diagnosis. Integrated with advanced treatment and personalized care, these critical services—tailored to each patient and family’s needs—create a stable foundation for their success throughout the healing process. Additional resources will help Rady Children’s Peckham Center expand the capacity of psychosocial programs to support patients most effectively as they persevere and overcome health challenges.”
William Roberts, MD, Director, Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and Division Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Rady Children’s and UC San Diego
Thank You to Our Sponsors, Underwriters, and Donors
Sponsors
Silver
Nicolas & Caroline Nierenberg
Pearl
John & Dulie Ahlering
Allison Gildred
PNC Bank
Whittington Property Management
Patron
American Medical Response
Ronald & Karen Harper
Hensel Phelps
Mission Federal Credit Union
Weaver Assurance, Tax, & Advisory
Benefactor
Barbara Brown
Michael & Julie Connelly
Theodora L. Fleming & Jon S. Hauser
Laura Maly
Micki Olin & Reid A. Abrams
Neda Safarzadeh
Friend
Lauren Lek
Underwriters
Floral & Décor
Robert & Tommi Adelizzi
Invitation
PNC Bank
Champagne
Emma & Leo Zuckerman
Donors
Michael & Julie Connelly (in memory of John Rush)
Thomas & Jane Fetter
Barbara McColl (In memory of John Rush)
David & Noreen Mulliken (In memory of John Rush)
Hank & Robin Nordhoff
Micki Olin & Reid A. Abrams (In memory of John Rush)
