Washington – October 19, 2026 -- Tigerlily Foundation will hold two events at the Grand Hyatt Washington on Saturday, October 24, 2026, marking 20 years of operations: the 4th Annual BEACON Symposium and the 20th Anniversary EmPOWER Ball.
BEACON Symposium runs 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET on clinical trials and drug pricing
The daytime program, titled "Transformation with Patients Leading in Healthcare," will run under the theme "From Access to Action: Scaling Patient-Led Solutions for an Equitable Future." It will gather patient advocates, healthcare leaders, providers and scientific experts.
Two topics anchor the agenda: building more equitable, community-centered clinical trials, and how drug pricing policies affect patients and access. Organizers say collaborative sessions are designed to move participants from identifying problems to contributing potential solutions.
Founder, President and CEO Maimah Karmo will moderate. Kimberly Aldridge, PhD, a healthcare executive and patient advocate, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies.
EmPOWER Ball begins at 6:00 p.m. as a black-tie-optional anniversary gala
The evening event will bring together patients, survivors, advocates, healthcare leaders, partners and supporters under the theme of 20 years of Beauty, Strength and Transformation. It will recognize two decades of advocacy, education, community engagement and health equity work.
Karmo will host. Lesli Foster, WUSA9 Evening Anchor, will act as Master of Ceremonies.
Foundation frames patients as leaders in research, policy, access and care
Karmo founded Tigerlily after her own breast cancer diagnosis as a young woman. The organization now describes itself as a national and global movement spanning patient advocacy, health equity and systemic change for women before, during and after cancer.
Karmo said the foundation's guiding belief is that patients should have a voice in shaping what happens next, not only a seat at the table. The foundation said October 24 is intended to extend that position into research, policy, access and care.