The Glass Slipper Guild Gala is our largest fundraising event of the year and raises critical funds for the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center at CHOC. This year, we invite you to experience Versailles: L'Art de Vivre - "the art of living beautifully." Inspired by the French philosophy of celebrating life with joy and gratitude, the evening honors resilience, progress, and the beauty of life in all its complexity.
Date & Time
May 2, 2026
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Location
Balboa Bay Resort
1221 West Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Jim and Heather Madden have built a life centered on leadership, philanthropy, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of children and families.
In 2004, after years of supporting charitable causes, Heather sought a more hands-on role and began volunteering at CHOC in the oncology playroom. Her time working with children and their families left a lasting impact, shaping her perspective on resilience and the importance of joy, even in the face of serious illness. Her involvement grew into leadership with the CHOC Foundation, where she joined the Board of Directors in 2008. Over three terms, she served on the executive committee, as secretary and vice chair, chaired the stewardship committee, and supported numerous fundraising initiatives, including captaining CHOC Walk teams.
During her first board meeting, the need to fund a new hospital tower inspired her to ask why CHOC lacked a signature gala. That question led to the creation of the CHOC Cherishes Children Gala, which she helped found and chaired multiple times, including milestone events that supported the Thompson Autism Center.
Through a close friendship with Bill and Nancy Thompson, she helped spark the vision that led to the creation of the Thompson Autism Center at CHOC. Her work in this area deepened her understanding of autism and its impact on families. Today, she chairs the Thompson Center Advisory Board, helping guide efforts to improve care and support for children with autism.
Jim is the Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Co-Chair of the Investment Committee at Carrick Capital Partners, where he has led more than a dozen investments in technology-enabled services and software companies. He previously founded Exult, Inc., a pioneer in human resources outsourcing, growing it to over $500 million in revenue before leading its IPO and eventual sale. His achievements earned recognition including Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year.
Jim has held leadership roles with General Atlantic and Accretive, LLC, where he co-founded Accolade. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at SHL Systemhouse, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, and Accenture. He currently serves on multiple boards, including Genpact, where he is Non-Executive Chair, and has been involved in several successful IPOs.
He has also demonstrated a strong commitment to philanthropy, including serving as Chairman of the Hoag Hospital Foundation and helping lead campaigns raising over $100 million. He is an active member of YPO, an advisor to Saint Michael's Abbey, and a published author.
Donate Now
The vision of the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center at CHOC is for every child and family to achieve the best possible quality of life. The Glass Slipper Guild thanks you for your support toward their $1 millon pledge.
No act of generosity is too small to make a difference.
How your support helps CHOC
Funds raised by the Glass Slipper Guild fund a $1 million pledge to the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center at CHOC. This innovative, multidisciplinary center is devoted to providing diagnostic evaluations, behavioral consultations, therapy and medical management for children and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurodevelopmental challenges.
Through the center's unique programs, children have a centralized place where they can receive care toward reaching their true potential and fully reclaiming their childhoods. CHOC is a nonprofit pediatric health system that relies on community generosity to give their patients the critical assistance they need, regardless of their ability to pay. Philanthropic support of the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopment Center provides vital, non-reimbursable services to children and their families to help improve health outcomes and overall quality of life.
Share With Others
