Save the Date: Children's Ball 2027

Saturday, April 17, 2027

6 pm - Midnight

The Anthem | Washington, D.C.

Children's Ball 2026 Banner: Imagine! Envisioning the future of pediatric healthcare

The Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy

Joseph E. Robert, Jr., was a successful entrepreneur and generous philanthropist. Most of all, he was a stalwart advocate for children. Nothing was more important to Joe than making kids' lives better. He constantly challenged us to "think bigger."

We remember Joe through the Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy, our community's most prestigious philanthropic award. Presented annually at the Children's Ball, the Prize recognizes Children's National benefactors who improve the lives of patients and families through transformational investments and advocacy.

Previous recipients include:

2014: Amy and Bret Baier
2015: His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the United States, and Abeer Al Otaiba
2016: Diana and Stephen Goldberg
2017: Diane and Norman Bernstein
2018: The Legacy and Impact of The Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Center for Surgical Care
2019: Carrie and David Marriott
2022: The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
2023: Kurt Newman, MD, President Emeritus, Children's National
2024: Daniel and Jennifer Gilbert
2025: The Gerard B. Lambert Foundation
2026: Van Metre

Joe's involvement with Children's National went far beyond his generous financial support. His visionary legacy, which we honor through this Prize, will continue to benefit generations of children and families worldwide.

Past Recipients and Award Presentations

Horacio Rozanski, Children’s National Hospital board chair, presents Kurt Newman, M.D., with the Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy.

2023: The Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy was awarded to Kurt Newman, MD, President Emeritus, upon his retirement in honor of his 40 years of service to Children’s National.

The Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy was awarded to Daniel and Jennifer Gilbert, whose vision and generosity have transformed the field of neurofibromatosis research.

2024: The Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy was awarded to Daniel and Jennifer Gilbert, whose vision and generosity have transformed the field of neurofibromatosis research.

The Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy was awarded to The Gerard B. Lambert Foundation for their transformational support funding The Bunny Mellon Healing Garden and their Professorship in Psychology and Behavioral Health.

2025: The Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy was awarded to The Gerard B. Lambert Foundation for their transformational support funding The Bunny Mellon Healing Garden and their Professorship in Psychology and Behavioral Health.

The 2026 Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy was awarded to the Van Metre family and Van Metre Companies for their enduring commitment to transform pediatric cardiology.

2026: The Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Prize in Philanthropy was awarded to the Van Metre family and Van Metre Companies for their enduring commitment to transform pediatric cardiology.