Babies Heart Fund Gala

On February 24, more than 375 benefactors, faculty, and friends came together to celebrate the 36th Annual Babies Heart Fund Gala at The Plaza in New York City. The Gala raised funds to support Columbia’s pediatric cardiology and congenital heart surgery research that leads to breakthroughs in care for children with complex heart conditions, in our local community and around the globe. Columbia’s physician-scientists are world leaders in developing novel ways to treat and save children, and funding from the Babies Heart Fund accelerates innovation.

Hosted by Lisa Detwiler (Gala Committee Chair) and her husband Jim Cramer (Host of CNBC’s Mad Money), and featuring remarks by Christopher Petit, MD (Chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiology) and Emile Bacha, MD (Chair, Department of Surgery), this year’s Babies Heart Fund Gala recognized decades of progress by celebrating the stories of two patients: 76-year-old Dr. David Spencer of Texas, and 19-year-old Mirabelle Pitt of Brooklyn. Though treated nearly sixty years apart, Dr. Spencer and Mirabelle share one powerful thread: world-class care at Columbia that changed their lives.

2026 Babies Heart Fund Gala

 

 

For more information, please contact:
Heather Messina
917-708-1451
babiesheartfund@cumc.columbia.edu

Babies Heart Fund Council and Gala Leadership

Gala Committee

Lisa Detwiler, Chair
Ashley Balaban
Kelly Connor
Michelle Diliberto
Kara Gerson
Alexandra Gralton
Patricia Grayson
Elizabeth Moran    
Ellen Oppenheim
Nancy Roskind
Haley Walsh

Babies Heart Fund Leadership

CO-CHAIRS
John Minio
Scott Roskind

VICE CHAIRS
Lisa Detwiler, Gala, Research
Michael Diliberto, Outreach
Michelle Diliberto, Stewardship
Evan Licht, Corporate Partnerships

MEMBERS
Brett Carrey
Tyler Fischer
Kara Gerson
Cynthia Godsoe, Esq.
Alexandra Gralton
Patricia Grayson
Thomas Irwin
Elizabeth Moran
Michael Moran
Aaron Moss
Ellen Oppenheim
Eric Pitt
Beatrice Riccardo
Lorenzo Sargenti
Louis V. Sorsaia
Allison Stabile
Christian Wall
Maggie Wall
Fritz Woelfel
Sarah Woelfel

FACULTY ADVISORS
Emile A. Bacha, MD
Matthew A. Crystal, MD
Christopher J. Petit, MD

FOUNDERS
E. Robert Roskind
Diane Roskind