The Children's Tumor Foundation
10/20/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/20/2026 08:33
Gabe Groisman to Receive Humanitarian Award at CTF National Gala
On November 16, 2026, the Children's Tumor Foundation will honor Gabe Groisman, Chair of the CTF Board of Directors, with the Humanitarian Award at the National Gala in New York City.
The award recognizes Gabe's extraordinary leadership, advocacy, and deep commitment to the NF community. Since joining the CTF Board in 2016, Gabe has helped guide the Foundation through a period of major scientific progress, expanded partnerships, and growing national visibility for neurofibromatosis.
For Gabe, this work is both personal and urgent. As a parent of a child with NF1, he understands the fear families feel when they first hear the diagnosis, and the determination that follows. Speaking at last year's Gala, Gabe shared a message that captured the spirit of his leadership:
"Hope doesn't just appear. Hope is something we choose. Hope is something we build, and here at CTF, hope is something we build together."
That belief has defined Gabe's service to CTF. During his ten years on the Board, including four years as Chairman, he has helped strengthen CTF's identity as a drug discovery engine for NF, advancing the partnerships, advocacy, and momentum needed to bring treatments to patients faster.
Under his leadership, CTF has continued to expand its work with researchers, clinicians, industry partners, policymakers, and families. During his tenure, CTF's strategic partnerships with companies including Alexion and SpringWorks helped support a new era of NF treatment, with approved therapies now available and additional treatments advancing through the pipeline. Gabe has also helped CTF grow its industry partnerships and bring new collaborators into the NF field.
His impact extends far beyond the boardroom. Gabe has used his personal and professional networks to raise awareness, build partnerships, and open doors for NF research. He helped create a new partnership between Dolphins Challenge Cancer and CTF, resulting in a $1.7 million investment to support an international research consortium at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami focused on genetically predisposed tumors.
He also helped broker a high-visibility awareness campaign with OUTFRONT Media, bringing CTF's "NFing" campaign to billboards across the country and helping make NF more visible to the public.
Most recently, Gabe led a historic advocacy effort in Florida that resulted in the creation of the Neurofibromatosis Disease Grant Program, a $5 million competitive, peer-reviewed research program focused on advancing diagnostics, treatments, and cures for NF. With this investment, Florida became the first state in the nation to establish dedicated funding for NF research.
Following federal cuts to medical research funding, Gabe also joined CTF's advocacy efforts to restore NF research funding through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, helping ensure that the needs of NF patients and families remain part of the national conversation.
Gabe's leadership reflects what the Humanitarian Award is meant to celebrate: action in service of others. He has brought energy, urgency, humor, and heart to the work of advancing CTF's mission. He has helped build partnerships that move science forward, advocated for public investment in NF research, and continually reminded the community that progress happens when people choose to act.
As Gabe said at last year's Gala, "The breakthroughs waiting for us tomorrow depend on what we all do tonight, and tomorrow, and the next day."
That is the spirit of this year's National Gala. The next frontier in NF is about turning scientific momentum into more treatments, better care, and more choices for people living with NF. By accelerating research and drug development, expanding access to expert clinical care, and bringing together the people and partners needed to move progress forward, CTF is acting now to change what it means to live with NF.
Join us on November 16 at Capitale in New York City as we honor Gabe Groisman and celebrate the people advancing that future.
The Children's Tumor Foundation published this content on October 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 20, 2026 at 14:33 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]