Special Love’s Annual Gala

The Special Love Annual Gala will take place on Friday, October 2, 2026 at Hilton McLean in Tysons Corner, VA. Deal the cards and share the love! We will be bringing back a Casino Night to support Special Love’s mission of creating moments where kids with cancer can just be kids and where their whole family is also supported through the journey.

Sponsorships & Tickets NOW AVAILABLE! Click here!

View our Sponsorship Packet: Click here!

Questions? Reach out to Kelly Traynor at ktraynor@specialove.org 

Read about the 2025 gala here.

Special Love's Annual Gala 

Evening Emcee

Chuck Bell
NBC4 Meteorologist & Special Love Board Member

2026 Gala Committee

Margaret Bessette, Gala Chair
Quantum Real Estate 

Nicole Blocker, Microsoft

Jan Bresch

Eric Cole, Deloitte

Ken Dodelin, Capital One

Monica Hanson

Julie Judy, The Recovery Connection

Shannon Moore, Deloitte

Jyothi Raghavan

Lisa Schmidt

Melissa Steele, E & G Group

2026 Gala Honoree

Randy Schools Light of Love Awardee – Mary Prosser (MP) Brock Zimmerman

2026 Sponsors:

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Jyothi & Ram Ramachandran

Silver Sponsors

Eric & Monica Hanson

Bronze Sponsors

Jan Bresch

Dr. Francis Collins & Diane Baker

Nitin Ramachandran