R Baby Foundation Raises $2 Million at Cirquetacular Gala for Pediatric Emergency Care

On October 21, 2026, 500 guests gathered at Capitale (130 Bowery, New York, NY 10003) for the Cirquetacular Gala, a fundraising event co-hosted by R Baby Foundation and COPE Foundation. The sold-out event honored families who have turned the loss of a child into action, raising nearly $2 million to support emergency room readiness for children and bereaved family support.

The evening featured a cirque-inspired program emceed by Tina Cervasio of FOX 5 New York. Sheryl Crow introduced the Courage Award recipients, Libby and Scooter Weintraub, in a recorded video message. The Weintraubs received the award in memory of their daughter, Magnolia Grace. Jesse Bongiovi, co-founder of Hampton Water Rosé, and soul singer Jac Ross also participated in the event.

R Baby Foundation, founded by Phyllis and Andrew Rabinowitz after the loss of their nine-day-old daughter, Rebecca, in an emergency room unprepared to treat her, has been working tirelessly for 20 years to ensure that every emergency room in America is ready for every child. Since Rebecca's death in 2006, R Baby Foundation has raised over $18 million and trained 6,500+ physicians across 1,000+ hospitals. The organization has established INSPIRE, the world's largest pediatric simulation-based research network, impacting the lives of over one million children annually.

COPE Foundation, founded by Lillian Julien after the loss of her daughter Michelle in 1992, serves more than 1,100 families and individuals through professionally facilitated support groups, Camp COPE NY, and healing programs. COPE Foundation provides a safe space for individuals to grieve and heal alongside others who understand.

The crisis in pediatric emergency care is stark. Every year, 2,100 children die in emergency rooms unprepared to treat them. 83% of U.S. emergency departments lack the equipment, training, and protocols to care for children, despite 30 million pediatric ER visits annually. Proven solutions and a National Pediatric Readiness checklist, created by medical experts, cost as little as $0 to $12 per child, yet they are not mandated by law.

R Baby Foundation's advocacy has contributed to pediatric readiness laws in Texas, Florida, and Utah, with momentum building toward federal action through the Babies' and Children's Emergency Care Act (BECA), a national policy initiative aimed at ensuring all emergency rooms are equipped to meet the unique needs of infants and children.

The funds raised at the Cirquetacular Gala will support R Baby's pediatric emergency readiness programs and COPE's grief support services. The event marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to improve emergency care for children and support families through unimaginable loss.