Dayton Children’s Women’s Board raises a record-breaking $1.3M to benefit pediatric mental health

The Women’s Board of Dayton Children’s raised a record-breaking  $1.3M to benefit mental health services and programs at Dayton Children’s Hospital at this year’s cha|cha fundraising gala. The biennial event took place at the Dayton Arcade on June 1.  

The event was presented by altafiber and supported by Diamond sponsors Danis Building Construction and Encore Technologies 

“Together with the support of our Women’s Board and our generous donors, we’ve raised a record amount of funds to benefit pediatric mental health, ensuring a brighter future for children in our community,” said Jena Pado, CFRE, vice president and chief development officer for Dayton Children’s.  

The Women’s Board auxiliary of Dayton Children's was founded in 1964 and has since raised more than $6 million for the hospital. The Women’s Board has a membership of 40 women whose major fundraising project is the biennial cha|cha dinner and auction. 

All funds raised during the event will support mental health initiatives and contribute to the new behavioral health building set to open next summer. The new building will create a continuum of care that will enable the hospital to: 

• Improve continuity of care by co-locating a full continuum of mental health services (inpatient, outpatient and crisis services) 
• Increase number of children leaving crisis center and inpatient unit who are connected to outpatient therapy 
• Expand bridge therapy to help kids connect to timely therapy services 
• Recruit and retain mental health staff 
• Provide customized outdoor space that is critical to healing 

The next cha|cha event will take place in 2026.