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NIH Record - National Institutes of Health

NIH Hails Halloween Virtually, In Person

Screenshot of virtual meeting grid featuring several speakers, several in costume

The latest installment of NIH’s annual CFC Halloween Charity Fair and Costume Contest, held virtually

Screenshot of several people in yellow T-shirts, yellow skull caps, sunshades, and overalls

Costume contest winners included “Minions” from the CC.

Screenshot of dark translucent head with hands facing palm out

Deaf DJ in the Matrix popped into NIH’s CFC event.

Head and shoulders of man wearing large brown curly wig, beard and mustache with landscape painting on easel behind him

Costume contest winner “Artist Bob Ross” of NIAID

Large group of individuals, some in costumes, in front of an NIH fire engine

NIH’s Fire Department and Division of Police visited an outdoor costumed Halloween “Truck or Treat” gathering at the Children’s Inn. First responder vehicles provided the ultimate trucks for exploration.

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

Four individuals of various heights, in costumes, pose for photo

Family Affair. Halloween meant “Truck or Treat” time at the Children’s Inn.

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

Firefighter with youngster aboard a fire engine

Kids and their families explored first responder vehicles.

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

Youngster dressed as Batgirl sits behind wheel of fire engine.

Kids took turns at the wheel.

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

Youngster dressed as a jack o'lantern stands as dad and mom squat for photo

Toddler Great Pumpkin and family

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

Costumed family poses in front of a police vehicle adorned with fake spider web.

Even a first responder vehicle can wear a costume.

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

Annual Costume Contest Boosts NIH’s CFC Effort

A nurse, an angel and the Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy pop onto a Zoom meeting. Sounds like the beginning of a humorous story, but actually it was just the latest installment of NIH’s annual CFC Halloween Charity Fair and Costume Contest. In the end, among a movie-centric field, Gru’s Minions took first prize. 

Held virtually and hosted by lead institute NIMHD, the event also featured guest appearances by (people impersonating) Jurassic Park paleontologist Alan Grant and Star Wars’s Luke Skywalker. 

Several charities—Active Minds, 4PAWS Rescue Team, Inc. and the Thomas Gaiter Foundation—sent representatives to describe the positive impact donations can make through the Combined Federal Campaign. 

There were 10 entries for the costume contest and winners were announced Nov. 3:

1st place. Minions. Karina Bridges & Team (CC) 
2nd place. Deaf DJ in the Matrix. Kazeem Babatunde (NHLBI) 
3rd place. Artist Bob Ross. Michael Vance (NIAID) 

More than 5,000 charities are participating in this year’s campaign and there’s still time to donate. Visit cfc.nih.gov for more information.

Police, Firefighters Drive ‘Truck or Treat’ at Children’s Inn

Halloween meant “Truck or Treat” time at the Children’s Inn, as NIH’s Fire Department and Division of Police visited an outdoor costumed affair and brought goodies to share.

Kids and their families explored first responder vehicles and took turns at the wheel.  

Large group of individuals, some in costumes, in front of an NIH fire engine

NIH’s Fire Department and Division of Police visited an outdoor costumed Halloween “Truck or Treat” gathering at the Children’s Inn. First responder vehicles provided the ultimate trucks for exploration.

Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang

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