Step into an evening of strength, beauty, and resilience. Glimmer Gala is a one-of-a-kind celebration honoring childhood cancer fighters and survivors as they take center stage in an unforgettable runway show.
Set against the backdrop of an elegant pink garden party, guests will enjoy an inspiring night filled with fashion, live entertainment, signature cocktails, and special celebrity appearances—all coming together to uplift and honor those who have faced cancer with courage.
📅 Saturday, May 3, 2025
⏰ 5:00 – 10:00 PM
📍 Rhode Island Convention Center
1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903
Glimmer of Hope Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization showing girls and boys their strength and beauty through the donation of bald dolls and providing HOPE to families battling childhood cancer.
The story of Glimmer of Hope wouldn’t exist without the story of a beautiful, radiant girl, Ella Integlia.
Ella Catherine Integlia made the sun shine brighter when she came into the world. She was an avid reader, often lost in the world of Harry Potter or any book of her choosing. Surrounded with many loving, loyal friends she was a social butterfly. Ella was caring and sensitive, hysterically crying at sad movies. She loved animals and babies, and fell in love with her first job as a mother’s helper and her honorary “big sister” role to her twin cousins.
Upon her diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 11, Ella wrote a letter to American Girl asking them to create a bald doll, so that girls like her could feel confident, strong and courageous.
Ella lived by the motto “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” And dance in the rain she did. Ella courageously battled leukemia for two and a half years, finishing treatment on June 26th, 2018. She lived life fearlessly, visiting Ireland, spending time with friends, improving her makeup skills, and basking in the sun at Narragansett Beach.
In April of 2019, Ella relapsed. She spent the next four months fighting, awaiting a bone marrow transplant. Due to complications, Ella passed away on August 24th 2019, at the age of 14. She is forever loved, forever missed and forever shines bright.
When she got her bald doll she named the doll “Hope.” We are honored to carry on her legacy and her dream of every child battling cancer being gifted the bald doll through Glimmer of Hope Foundation.
No matter what the diagnosis we believe in cherishing every moment.
We believe girls are more than their hair and they aren’t alone!
Whether it’s a new diagnosis or a relapse, we will never forget you and your family.
To make the world a less scary place for children battling cancer, we sponsor and donate dolls and bald dolls to better help children feel represented and confident during their journey.
A magical day for a group of girls battling cancer. The Best Day Ever features: hair and makeup services, a gift basket, a catered lunch, crafts, a princess dress and a doll in a matching princess dress, followed by a professional photoshoot at a magical location!
To help heal a broken heart, we have created bereavement boxes for families we have served after their child has passed. We partner with Spencer Welch Studios to send watercolor portraits of each child as part of each box.
When our two-year-old was diagnosed with cancer on Father’s Day, life changed overnight. The Best Day Ever was a perfect escape for my now three-year-old princess, Mabel Breck, who calls the venue her “pink castle.” She was transformed into Princess Aurora by the kindest team, and her smile in the mirror was unforgettable. Since that magical day of dolls, tea parties, and fairytales, Mabel confidently struts through the hospital saying, “I am Princess Aurora.” Thank you for making her dream come true—it still feels like a fairytale. With love, Mandy (mom) and Princess Aurora (Mabel Breck)
Glimmer of Hope Foundation is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that shows girls and boys their strength and beauty through the donation of bald dolls and provides HOPE to families battling childhood cancer.
Glimmer of Hope Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity (federal tax ID #851607457). All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.
Alison Hornung, 24, is a passionate childhood cancer advocate and the current Miss Rhode Island. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, she holds degrees in Global Business Management, German, and Human Development & Family Sciences. Her advocacy work began at age 12, inspired by her honorary “little sister,” Ella, who courageously battled leukemia for three years. Ella’s strength and resilience continue to fuel Alison’s mission to bring comfort, hope, and tangible support to children and families navigating the challenges of cancer.
As the founder of the Glimmer of Hope Foundation, Alison has raised over $700,000 for causes dedicated to childhood cancer and holistic health. Her efforts include advocating at both the state and federal levels, including sitting on a panel at the White House for President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. Through her work, Alison has become a voice for change, raising awareness and securing critical support for pediatric cancer initiatives.
Alison’s achievements reflect her unwavering commitment to making a difference. From speaking to Congress to providing personalized bald dolls to children through her foundation, she remains steadfast in her mission to create meaningful, lasting change for families in need. You can reach Alison at alison@glimmerofhopefoundatio
Treasurer
Debbie is a math teacher at Cranston High School West. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in math from the University of Rhode Island. She then went on and received her Master’s degree in Secondary School Counseling from The Citadel in Charleston, SC.
Debbie loves to spend time with her family. She is the wife of Gary Hornung and has two beautiful daughters, Ali and Brooke. She also enjoys traveling.
She became involved in Glimmer of Hope through her daughter Ali who is the founder and executive director. She is very proud of the work Ali has done to help pediatric cancer patients and their families. She is often behind the scenes doing whatever she can to support Ali and Glimmer of Hope.
Board President
Lisa Egan, 22, is a graduating senior at Simmons University where she will obtain a BA in Sociology and minors in psychology, political science and law & justice. Alongside her academic career, Lisa began as an intern with Glimmer of Hope in 2021 and now holds the position of board president. Lisa has helped raise funds and advocate for more funding for childhood cancer research in Washington DC.
She has made personal connections with our families and has touched the lives of many children with cancer. She is passionate about making a difference in the children’s lives, and ensuring the parents are supported as needed. Despite this, Lisa has a love for Disney and loves to share Ella’s light in every way she can.
Outreach Coordinator
Maddie is a senior at the University of Rhode Island, finishing up her degree in public relations. A former director for an on campus pediatric cancer organization, she met the Bernard family who introduced her to Ali. After first meeting Ali, she attended the 2024 Glimmer Gala and was officially brought onto the board shortly after. She now chairs the volunteer engagement committee! Maddie is inspired by her childhood friend who beat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In her free time, Maddie can be found reading, painting, spending time with her sorority family, or listening to Taylor Swift with her friends. She loves meeting all of the patients and families, and is ecstatic to be on the Glimmer of Hope board!
Board Vice President
Reilly Cardella is a 25 year old passionate childhood cancer advocate after losing her best friend, Kassie, to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when she was 13. Reigning from Orlando, Reilly is extremely honored to be a Board Member for Glimmer of Hope Foundation for 2024. In 2020, Reilly began her own 501(c)3 nonprofit, Love for Ladybug, where she quickly connected with Ali through her work with Glimmer of Hope Foundation. She won the local title of “Miss Apopka 2024” with the Miss America Opportunity where she advocates for childhood cancer awareness nationally. To date, Reilly has raised $15,000 for childhood cancer awareness and has donated over $9,000 worth of brand new toys to pediatric oncology units. She has also lobbied for pediatric cancer legislation at Capitol Hill in Washington DC while attending CureFest USA. “To my best friend in the universe, Ali: Thank you for being my soul mate. Kassie and Ella are our guardian angels and I am so thankful our ‘little sisters’ brought us together. I love you so much, Bestie.”
Lindsay Iadeluca has a deep passion for helping people in various capacities and working collaboratively to help them achieve their goals. She is dedicated to creating bonds that will last a lifetime within the communities she cares about, and she carries the lessons learned from these connections throughout all aspects of her life. Lindsay embraces challenges with confidence and determination. With an impressive social media following of nearly 60,000, she shares psychoeducational videos that promote the concept of beauty from the inside out. Currently, Lindsay serves as a development director for the American Heart Association, is a graduate student at Rhode Island College, and is a mental health counseling intern at a private practice in East Greenwich, RI.
Giada is a student at Catholic University of America pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Art and Design with a Minor in Marketing. She has a strong passion for nonprofit work and has dedicated her time to use her love for art and design to support children battling cancer through multiple clubs and organizations. Giada was the social media coordinator for her Student Visionaries of the Year campaign with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, where her team raised over $150,000 and won Rhode Island Student Visionaries of the Year. Giada was childhood friends with Ella, and has been inspired by her bright spirit and courageous heart ever since. When she first heard of Glimmer of Hope’s Junior Board, as a sophomore in high school, she immediately knew she wanted to apply, and has been working with Glimmer of Hope ever since. Giada has absolutely loved being part of the Glimmer of Hope team. She takes pride in using her creative talents to help spread hope and raise awareness for pediatric cancer. In her free time, Giada enjoys designing, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is honored to continue supporting Glimmer of Hope’s mission and keeping Ella’s legacy alive.