Acclaimed actress Naomi Watts was joined by more than 1,000 guests dressed as ghouls, goblins, ballerinas, firemen, superheroes and more at the 25^th annual Light Up A Life Halloween carnival, benefitting the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children’s Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center on Saturday, October 18, at the Field House at Chelsea Piers. The event raised nearly $500,000 to benefit pediatric patient care programs.

To honor the 25^th anniversary of Light Up A Life, there was a grand ceremony
 that included a parade featuring the Knickerbocker Greys and NewYork-Presbyterian/Komansky physicians, remarks by Dr. Gerald Loughlin, pediatrician-in-chief at the Komansky Center for Children’s Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, and confetti cannons. The event is an annual Hospital tradition founded by Pediatric Support Committee member and chair of the Founders Committee, Kathleen Burns. The Founders Committee was formed to honor the role of several individuals who were instrumental in starting the event that continues to light up the lives of children in the Hospital, many of whom were in attendance this year.

Proceeds from the event will benefit pediatric patient care programs including: Child Life Services, a program that helps alleviate children’s fears surrounding the hospital experience; The Pediatric Emergency Department, a Level One Trauma Center that provides emergency care to ill and injured children 24 hours a day, seven days a week; The Family Advisory Council, a group of dedicated family members committed to providing exceptional, family-centered care to all patients; and The Pediatric Fellows program, supporting postdoctoral training in pediatrics.

Guests included Liev Schreiber, Phyllis and David Komansky, Dr. Loughlin; Dr. Steven J. Corwin, CEO, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital; Dr. Cam Patterson, senior vice president and COO at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center; Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, dean of Weill Cornell Medical College; and event co-chairs Sara DiPasquale, Susan Frehse, Jessica Kisling, Celia Nichols, Erica Silverman and Mindy Webster. 

The festive atmosphere featured games and attractions, including face painting, balloon art, batting cages, a rock-climbing wall, musical entertainment and relay races for the kids, as well as health and safety related activities, including interactive tours of an ambulance and bike helmet fittings.

The Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children’s Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center