Aspen Snow Ball Gala raises $3.5 million

The Children’s Oncology Support Fund, founded by film producer and philanthropist Thomas Pierce, held its third annual Aspen Snow Ball Gala on Feb. 8 at the St. Regis Aspen, with Jay Leno serving as host. 

The “black tie fantasy” event, themed “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” raised $3.5 million for pediatric cancer research. 

The evening honored Christie Brinkley with the Philanthropic Impact Achievement Award, while the late Rollie Jordan was recognized with the Community Leadership Award. Entertainment included a full concert by Swedish pop star Zara Larsson and a surprise performance by platinum recording artist Parson James.

The gala concluded Aspen Snow Ball Week, a five-day series of fundraising events. 

The festivities began with a “pre-game” gathering at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, followed by an educational panel at the Wheeler Opera House. 

The kick-off benefit concert, hosted by honorary chair Brooke Burke, took place at the Aspen Art Museum on Feb. 6, featuring performances by Robin Thicke and emerging artists Luke K., Chloe Jane, and Alexis Silva. 

Additional events included a private shopping bazaar and a VIP Night Before Benefactor Dinner hosted by Pierce, with DJ Julia Sondstrom providing music. The official after-party and a Super Bowl closing event were held at the newly opened ZigZag restaurant, owned by COSF founding board members Scott and Carly Weber.

“For our third annual signature gala, we raised the bar by offering curated programming for donors that enhanced the guest experience and fostered meaningful engagement with our mission,” said Pierce, COSF’s founding chairman, in a news release. “This year, we aimed to educate our guests and inspire them to help push our impact forward. We wanted our motives to be clear about what we stand for and where we are going.”

Funds raised from the gala will support pediatric cancer research at Children’s Hospital Colorado, the selected beneficiary for 2025.