March of Dimes gala raises record $1.6 million for moms, babies
March of Dimes drew more than 700 guests and 50 lawmakers to Washington, raising a record $1.6 million for moms and babies.
A bipartisan cook-off at the National Building Museum helped March of Dimes turn a Washington gala into a record fundraiser, bringing in more than $1.6 million for moms and babies and drawing more than 700 guests, including 50 members of Congress.
The 44th Annual Gourmet Gala, held Wednesday, May 12, in the museum at 440 G St. NW, mixed food, politics and philanthropy in a format that has become one of the organization’s most visible annual showcases. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle served personal recipes and hometown favorites to a panel of leading Washington chefs, while attendees cast votes in a People’s Choice category. The evening’s structure gave the event the feel of a friendly culinary competition, but the mission stayed front and center.
March of Dimes President and CEO Cindy Rahman said too many U.S. families still face pregnancy or postpartum complications, including preterm birth and maternal or infant loss. That message gives the gala its larger meaning in a season when baby showers, registries and community gifts are increasingly tied to more than blankets and strollers. The same impulse that sends friends to chip in for diapers, meals or nursery basics also shows up in cause-based giving, where celebration is paired with support for health, nutrition and access to care.
The growth in this Washington event underscores how durable that message has become. The 43rd Annual Gourmet Gala in 2025 drew 52 members of Congress, more than 650 guests and raised over $1.5 million. The 2024 gala brought in more than 650 guests, more than 100 sponsors and more than $1.47 million. This year’s total pushed the event to a new high, with attendance and fundraising both climbing again.
For March of Dimes, the gala is more than a polished night out. It is a sign that maternal and infant health still commands attention from donors, lawmakers and sponsors who are willing to turn a celebratory format into a serious source of support. In a city full of fundraisers, this one has become a reliable annual fixture, and in the broader baby-shower culture, it reflects a shift toward gifts with purpose as well as sentiment.
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