National Hope for Henry Day – October 25, 2025

History of National Hope for Henry Day

National Hope for Henry Day was created and first celebrated in 2019 by the Hope for Henry Foundation — an organization that focuses on giving special care to very sick children in hospitals by allowing them to experience activities and life events that would not normally be possible for them.

Henry Strongin Goldberg is a seven-year-old boy, who is considered a Washington D.C. hero for his cheerful attitude towards his most challenging life moments. He was born to Allen Goldberg and Laurie Strongin on October 25, 1995. He was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia, a rare form of a genetic disorder, on November 11 two weeks after his birth. Upon diagnosis, Henry began to frequently be admitted to the hospital. While undergoing several therapies to keep him in manageable shape, the little boy showed tremendous resilience in the face of his ordeals. He was always cheerful, happy, and active. Henry did not allow his terminal sickness to deter him from enjoying everything life had to offer to little children. He played sports and hunted fireflies just like other children.

While searching for a cure for their child’s sickness, Henry’s parents were told that only a stem cell transplant could give him a chance of survival. And so, they gave birth to another child in 1996, hoping he would be a transplant match for Henry, which, unfortunately, wasn’t the case. The year 2002 marked the painful occasion of Henry giving in to his illness. In 2003, drawing inspiration from the lessons they learned from his cheerfulness, his parents created the Hope for Henry Foundation, an organization that has inspired the lives of over 60,000 children in over ten hospitals. In 2010, Henry’s mother decided to document her child’s experience and published “Saving A Henry: A Mother’s Journey.” To extend their foundation’s reach, National Hope for Henry Day was created.