Our Story

On February 15, 2023, our lives changed forever when our daughter, Evelyn, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at just two years old.

Over the next two years, we experienced the fear, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion that every family facing childhood cancer knows all too well. We also discovered something unexpected—the smallest acts of kindness often made the biggest difference. A meal after a long day at the hospital. A helping hand. A reminder that we weren't fighting alone.

When Evelyn completed treatment, we made a promise that no family should have to walk this journey without support.

That promise became the Evelyn Balash Foundation.

Our mission is simple: to ease the burden on families navigating childhood cancer through practical support, compassionate community, and programs that provide hope during life's most difficult moments.

The Golden Hour Gala is more than an evening of celebration—it's the launch of our flagship Family Meal Voucher Initiative, providing meal vouchers to parents spending long days and nights at the hospital so they can remain focused on what matters most: their child.

Every sponsorship and every ticket purchased helps us turn compassion into action for families throughout the Hudson Valley and surrounding communities.

Together, we can ensure that no parent has to choose between caring for their child and meeting their family's basic needs.

Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us bring hope to families facing childhood cancer.The Golden Hour Gala is the Evelyn Balash Foundation's inaugural fundraising event—a night dedicated to hope, compassion, and community.

Inspired by the warmth and promise of the "golden hour," this elegant evening brings together families, local businesses, healthcare professionals, and community leaders who believe no family should face childhood cancer alone.

Guests will enjoy an unforgettable evening featuring:

• Cocktail Hour
• Dinner & Dessert
• DJ & Dancing
• Silent Auction
• Inspiring Stories of Hope
• Recognition of Our Sponsors & Community Partners

Most importantly, every dollar raised during the evening will help launch the Foundation's Family Meal Voucher Initiative, providing meal assistance to parents spending long days and nights beside their child in the hospital.

Together, we're not just hosting a gala—we're building a foundation of hope for families across the Hudson Valley and surrounding communities.

Why Attend?

When you attend the Golden Hour Gala, you're doing more than purchasing a ticket.

You're helping provide comfort during a family's darkest days.

You're investing in a local nonprofit founded by parents who have walked this journey.

You're helping ensure that parents can stay where they belong—by their child's bedside—without worrying about something as basic as a meal.

Together, we can create a future where every family facing childhood cancer knows they are supported, valued, and never alone.

Join Us

Saturday, February 20, 2027
The Grandview – Poughkeepsie, NY
6:00 PM

Whether you attend, sponsor, donate, or share our mission, you are becoming part of something bigger than one evening.

Together, we can turn compassion into action and hope into lasting impact.

Golden Hour Gala

A Night of Hope