Gala Guide

Second Chance Employment
Services Last Kiss of Summer Gala
Thursday, September 23, 6:30 p.m. – Midnight

Join special guest of honor Katie Hinda, activist and author, at the Four Seasons for cocktails, dinner, dancing and silent and live auctions to benefit Second Chance Employment Services. Second Chance Employment Services provides free employment placement services and training to battered and abused women in the Washington metropolitan area.

Black Tie optional
Ticket price: Individual tickets beginning at $400 For more information contact 703-356-3099 or visit scesnet.org

“It was from my frustration with the lack of employment services for battered women that I decided to found Second Chance Employment Services in 2002. I witnessed too many women coming out of domestic violence shelters return to their abusers because they couldn’t find a job that would support themselves and their children.
Despite the daunting facts about abuse victims and their inability to find and maintain good jobs, Second Chance Employment Services has spent the past nine years overcoming the obstacles these women face. To date, we have secured over 700 career-track jobs with health benefits for victims of domestic violence.
— Ludy Green

Wolf Trap Ball: Canada
– Keep Exploring
Friday, September 24, 7pm

Join honorary host, Ambassador of Canada Gary Doer, in celebrating the culture and grandeur
of Canada. Dance on the stage of Wolf Trap’s Filene Center to close this year’s summer season. Proceeds from the Ball benefit Wolf Trap Foundation’s renowned arts and education programs.

For more information about Wolf Trap Special Events, please call (703) 255-4030, or email events@wolftrap.org.

Living in Pink
Friday, October 8, 10:30 – 2:30pm

Support Breast Cancer research and enjoy an afternoon of boutique shopping and a luncheon at the Fairmont Washington Hotel. This year’s honorees include Marilyn C. Jerome, M.D. and Jennifer Griffin, FOX News Correspondent.

Hosted by Living in Pink founder and two-time breast cancer survivor, Michele Conley, with emcee Greta Kreuz, Anchorwoman of ABC 7/WJLA. Ticket price: $135 per person

“Most people who are diagnosed with cancer don’t look at it as a gift, but in my case I did. I was probably the least likely to ever have a health issue and at 35 had breast cancer. The journey was one that was an amazing learning experience. I often feel that the purpose of my diagnosis was so that I could help others who were diagnosed as well. That is how Living in Pink was born. I wanted to help find a cure so that the next generation of women would not have to endure the treatments and issues that we currently face during the battle with breast cancer.” — Michele Conley

Meridian Ball
50th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, October 1, 9:30 p.m., Preceded by dinner at an ambassador’s residence or Meridian’s White-Meyer House.

Join Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama, 50th Anniversary Celebration Chairs Mrs. A. Huda Farouki and Mrs. Frederic V. Malek, and White-Meyer Chairs Amanda Smith Hood and Elizabeth Miller at Meridian House for a special evening of dessert, dancing and cocktails.
Black tie.
$650 per ticket for dinner at Ambassador’s residence and Ball
$400 per ticket at White-Meyer dinner and Ball
For ticket information visit www.meridian.org/ball/tickets

Harman Center for the Arts Gala
Sunday, October 3, 6pm

Spend an evening with His Excellency the British Ambassador and Lady Sheinwald at the annual
gala inspired by Shakespeare’s Italy. The Shakespeare Theatre Company will host the evening’s
festivities, beginning at Sidney Harman Hall for cocktails and followed by the Gala performance. The evening will culminate at the National Building Museum with dinner and dancing in a Venetian setting. The Harman Center for the Arts Annual Gala benefits the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s artistic programs including the Free for All — two-and-a-half weeks of free Shakespeare presented by the Company.

Black Tie
Ticket price: Individual tickets and tables to the Harman Center for the Arts Annual Gala range from $750 to $50,000.
For more ticket information contact Joanne Coutts, Associate Director of Special Events, at 202.547.3230 ext. 2330.

The DC Jazz Festival Annual
Benefit Dinner
Tuesday, October 5, 7:30 p.m.

This year’s DC Jazz Festival Annual Benefit Dinner is hosted by the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, H. E. Giulio terzi di Sant’Agata and Ms. Antonella Cinque, along with Michael Sonnenreich, Chairman of DC Jazz Festival. There will be a special performance by Grammy and Tony-award winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. This year’s 2010 DCJF John Conyers Jr. Advocacy award goes to Thomas Hale Boggs Jr., chairman of Patton Boggs LLP.

Cocktail Attire
For more information call 202-457-7628

“We are proud to honor Mr. Thomas Boggs with the John Conyers Jr. Jazz Advocacy Award for the role that he has played in supporting arts, especially Jazz in DC.”
—Michael Sonnenreich, Chairman of the DC Jazz Festival

Georgetown Gala
To Russia with Love
Sponsored by Citizen’s Association
of Georgetown
Friday, October 15, 7 p.m.
Embassy of the Russian Federation

Hosted by the Ambassador and Mrs. Sergey Kislyak, enjoy an evening of cocktails, a dinner buffet, a live auction and dancing to the music of the Right On Band.

Black Tie
For more information call 202-337-7317

I got involved in CAG this year to give back to the neighborhood I love so much – Georgetown. I feel like this community gives me everyday and historical communities that don’t exist on their own. We need trees planted, architecture preserved, safe streets and a healthy balance between commercial and residential.
— Nancy Taylor Bubes

National Italian American Foundation 35th Anniversary Awards Gala
Saturday, October 23, 7 p.m.
Dinner and Awards

Join Giuliana DePandi Rancic, anchor/managing editor of E! News and emcee for this year’s NIAF Anniversary Gala at The Washington Hilton. Rancic will be joined by sports greats Yogi Berra, Daryle Lamonica, and Mike Piazza, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Hon. Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hon. Samuel A. Alito Jr., culinary notable Lidia Bastianich and Bill Rancic of the Style Network show “Giuliana & Bill.”

Proceeds benefit NIAF educational programs.
Black Tie
Tickets begin at $400 per person
For tickets contact Jerry Jones at 202-387-0600 or jerry@niaf.org

“With great excitement and anticipation, NIAF will celebrate its rich Italian heritage and the contributions of Italian Americans during the 35th Anniversary Gala Weekend, on October 22-23 in our nation’s capital. The star-studded weekend will be packed with conferences,
speakers, receptions and parties, all culminating with NIAF’s black tie 35th Anniversary
Gala Dinner. Visit www.niaf.org for the latest updates!”
— Robert E. Carlucci, NIAF Gala Dinner Chair and member of NIAF’s Board of Directors

Arena Stage Opening Gala
Monday, October 25, Red carpet and tours beginning
at 6:30 p.m. Special performance starring
Brian Stokes Mitchell at 7:30 p.m. with dinner to follow.

Join Honorary Chairs President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama, as well as co-chairs Adrian and Michelle Fenty, for an inaugural black tie gala to celebrate the grand opening of the Mead Center for American Theater. This special evening will include cocktails throughout the Mead Center, an exclusive one-night-only performance featuring Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell and dinner in the evening glow of the spectacular glass-encased Mead Center.

Black Tie
Tickets and table prices range from $1,500 – $50,000, For more information, contact April Irwin at amirwin@arenastage.org or 202-600-4022.

“The opening of Arena Stage at the Mead Center
for American Theater will mark a new milestone
in the national theater world. Encasing the historic Fichandler and Kreeger Theaters and adding the new, stunning Kogod Cradle within this magnificent modern building creates
not only a new Washington landmark but establishes Arena Stage as the premier theater dedicated to American work.”
—Beth Newburger Schwartz and Michele Berman, Co-Chairs of the Executive Committee for Arena Stage’s Opening Gala Celebration

Knock-Out Abuse
Thursday, November 11
6:30pm Silent auction and reception
8:00pm Dinner

Join co-founders Cheryl Masri and Jill Sorensen, along with Dinner Chair Sarah Guinan Nixon, at the Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC for the biggest girls night out of the season. Celebrate the 17th anniversary of this event with an evening of dinner, dancing and entertainment. Knock-Out Abuse has raised more than $6.5 million to aid women and children whose lives have been shattered by abuse, poverty, and homelessness.

Cocktail Attire
Tickets are $500 and are available by calling Ellen Blankenstein at 202.725.5604, email at ellen@knockoutabuse.org or by visiting www.knockoutabuse.org.

The Lab School of Washington’s 26th Annual Outstanding Learning Disabled Achievers Awards Gala
Wednesday, November 17
6 p.m.

Celebrate the Lab School’s 26th Anniversary Gala at The National Building Museum, Co-Chaired by Hilary Rosen and Elizabeth Birch and Emceed by CNN’s Candy Crowley, as they honor outstanding achievers with learning disabilities. The evening begins with cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and awards at 7:30, with dancing to follow.

Black Tie
Ticket price: $250 per ticket
For more information visit: www.LabSchool.org/content/gala

Capitol City Ball
Saturday, November 20
8pm-1am

Since 2007, the Capitol City Ball has brought people together for a night of fun including an open bar, heavy hors d’ oeuvres, assorted desserts, a live auction and a band to benefit charities devoted to ending human trafficking. This year’s ball will benefit Courtney’s House, FairFund, and the Polaris Project.

Black Tie
Ticket Price: Tickets begin at $125
For more information visit www.CapitalCityBall.
org/index.htm

The Lombardi Gala
Saturday, November 6
6pm

Celebrate the 24th anniversary of the Lombardi Gala and the 40th anniversary of the Lombardi Center at the Washington Hilton. This year’s theme is “Color the Cure” to recognize all the people who have helped in the fight against cancer. The Honorable John F. Potter, M.D., founding director of the Lombardi Center, will be honored this year for his ongoing dedication. The 2010 awardees for the Margaret L. Hodges Leadership Award are Mr. and Mrs. Ronald and Carol T. Crawford.

Black Tie
Ticket price: $400
For more information contact Elena Jeannotte, 202-687-3866