NINR Hosts Pumpkin Decorating Contest for CFC

Elaborately detailed carving of a face vaguely resembling E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

A pumpkin from Acting NIH Director Dr. Lawrence Tabak kicked off the Directors Challenge; the gourd was designed by his nephew Daniel Proto, a sculptor and high school art teacher.

Dr. Chiang with skullcap and fake beard along side a smiling pumpkin with skullcap and fake beard ala "Happy" of Disney's Snow White

First place winner “Disney Characters Snow White and Doc” NEI Director Dr. Michael Chiang

Marrazzo seated at table with large green pumpkin carved in the shape of a margarita glass, with lime and straw

NIAID Director Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo won second place for “Taco Tuesday-inspired Give Happy Hour.”

Gilman beside two stacked pumpkins wearing surgeon's mask and cap, painted with a black skeleton torso

Clinical Center CEO Dr. James Gilman took third place for “Dr. Hope.”

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) held the NIH Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Fall Charity Fair and Institute and Center Directors Pumpkin Decorating Contest on Oct. 26. Institute and center directors decorated pumpkins using household materials such as paint, beads, fabric, feathers, clothing, etc. to design a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Winners of the challenge were the National Eye Institute’s Dr. Michael Chiang, first place; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, second place; and Clinical Center’s Dr. James Gilman, third place. NIH’ers who tuned into the virtual event voted for their favorites. There were 28 entries total.

For information about donating to the CFC, the annual workplace fundraising drive among federal employees that serves more than 5,000 charities, see https://cfc.nih.gov/donate.html.