The Connection

In true red-carpet-event style, Parker Gioia, a high school junior from McLean’s Potomac School, will be interviewing guests as they enter Saturday’s Parent/Teen Golden Gala to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Chair of the Golden Gala teen committee is 16-year-old Amelia Mazloom. Amelia’s mom, Eunice Mazloom has been an active fundraiser for St. Jude for many years and Amelia has often worked by her side. “My mom inspired me to create a platform for other teens to come together in support of the teens of St. Jude,” says Amelia.

Amelia created a committee of 22 kids spanning McLean, Great Falls, Arlington, Alexandria, D.C., Chevy Chase, Potomac and Beltsville, Maryland.

Amelia has been encouraged by the amazing energy of the participating teens and while parents say they have taken a backseat, she is quick to express appreciation for their support.

Amelia hopes that not only will they meet their goal of raising $50,000, but that this event will help spread awareness of childhood cancer and become a model for teen fundraisers across the country.

Saturday’s event will feature WMZQ DJ, Aly Jacobs as emcee, a host of local performers from The Potomac School, St Andrews Episcopal, Winston Churchill High School and the Lab School and desserts from DC-area restaurants and bakeries. There will also be both a live and silent auction.

Tickets can be purchased online until Thursday at https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/find-an-event/dinners-and-galas/st-jude-golden-gala.html

What: Parent/Teen Golden Gala to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

When: Sept. 17, 2016 - 6pm – 10pm

Where: The French Embassy, 4101 Reservoir Road, NW, DC 20007

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened more than 50 years ago. One-third of patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are teenagers, ages 15 to 19. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.

Student Committee:

Catherine Burke, The Potomac School, Arlington VA

Caroline Case, The Potomac School, McLean VA

Mckenzie Crafton, Connelly School of the Holy Child, Chevy Chase MD

Caroline Culp, The Potomac School, McLean VA

Lily Delaney, The Potomac School, Potomac MD

Tayte Dupree, The Potomac School, Washington DC

Molly Dwyer, The Potomac School, Arlington VA

Parker Gioia, The Potomac School, McLean VA

Rachel Greenberg, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Washington DC

Amanda Heckler, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Arlington VA

Jarett Jones, The Potomac School, Beltsville MD

Sophia Li, The Potomac School, Great Falls VA

Nash Lougee, The Potomac School, Great Falls VA

Brendan Lui, The Potomac School, Potomac MD

Amelia Mazloom, The Potomac School, Arlington VA

George Mazloom, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Arlington VA

Izzy Moran, The Potomac School, Alexandria VA

Eleanor Nuechterlein, The Potomac School, McLean VA

Sara O'Brien, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Chevy Chase MD

GG Richmond, Bishop O'Connell High School, McLean VA

David Kiernan, The Potomac School, McLean VA

Parent Committee:

Gladys Abi-Najm, McLean VA

Karen and Richard Burke, Arlington VA

Lisa and Casey Crafton, Chevy Chase MD

Wendy and Larry Culp, McLean VA

April and John Delaney, Potomac MD

Marijke Jurgens-Dupree, Washington DC

Ellen and Tom Dwyer, Arlington VA

Piper Gioia, McLean VA

Tammy Haddad, Washington DC

Kim and John Heckle, Arlington VA

Julie O'Brien, Chevy Chase MD

Eunice and Al Mazloom, Arlington VA

Tara Richmond, McLean VA