Foundation Fighting Blindness
• July 26, 2011

On Mar. 29, The Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) held the 9th Annual “For the Love of Sight” Visionary Awards Dinner at the Mellon Auditorium. The evening honored Arkansas Senator John Boozman and Smith W. “Smitty” Davis of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell emceed the event which benefited the Foundation’s mission to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. Created in 2003 by former Burson-Marsteller COO Worldwide Ken Rietz and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Ann McLaughlin Korologos, “For the Love of Sight” has raised nearly $3.5 million for blindness research, with a goal of $400,000 this year. [gallery ids="99636,105234,105238" nav="thumbs"]

Scavenger Hunt
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Rebecca Klemm purchased a Georgetown scavenger hunt for 30 happy hunters as an auction item at the 2009 Citizens Association of Georgetown Gala held at the Russian Embassy. The hunt was the brainchild of Colleen and John Girourard, Constance Chatfield-Taylor, Florence Auld, Jackie Pletcher and Charlie Eisen. On Nov. 19, Rebecca welcomed her guests to a “spirited” reception on P Street where they were divided into five teams and given instructions to unveil Georgetown’s hidden mysteries before reconvening at the Girourard’s home on 34th Street to enjoy a fabulous repast for their efforts. Clues took them on a merry chase that included The Georgetown Inn, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Georgetown Cupcake, The Tombs, 1789, Georgetown Club and the infamous Exorcist stairs. After the points were tallied, Rebecca’s team led the pack. [gallery ids="99570,104841,104839" nav="thumbs"]

Aidah Collection
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3rd Anniversary runway show and benefit. [gallery ids="99726,99727,99728,99729,99730,99731,99732,99733" nav="thumbs"]

Come and Play During the Day
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DC event planner Andre Wells hosted a Bagatelle style brunch bash on May 1. Lincoln restaurant was transfomred into an adult playground with DJs, bulresque dancers, and a photo to go station. Red velvet curtains blocked the sun while attendees danced the afternoon away. Far from your average brunch!! [gallery ids="99734,99735" nav="thumbs"]

Bejeweled Dream Home at Design Center
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Eight interior designers have used jewelry as their inspiration for room styles and decorations for the Washington Design Center’s 2011 Dream Home: Jewel Tones of Design. Seven jewelers and a jewelry designer helped the teams pick the fitting piece. The showcase is free and open to the public and runs through Dec. 9 — 300 D Street, S.W. — www.dcdesigncenter.com/dreamhome. [gallery ids="99627,105160,105156,105149,105152" nav="thumbs"]

National Rehabilitation Hospital Goes Gaming
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National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) held its 2nd Annual Last Vegas Nights Benefit on Feb. 18 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts with Carole Randolph and Karin DeFrancis co-chairing. Guests were met by plumed showgirls and could fortify themselves with a “black martini” before heading to the gaming tables with a special guest appearance by Texas Hold’em Champion Mary Jones. Mike Walter emceed the evening. Goodie bags included something for everyone—NRH playing cards, Baileys Irish Cream and Eucerin skin therapy. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, NRH is a private, not-for-profit facility in NW Washington and a proud member of MedStar Health. The benefit raised funds for the hospital’s various patient disability programs including brain and spinal chord injuries and stroke. [gallery ids="99192,103330,103314,103326,103322,103319" nav="thumbs"]

2011 Leukemia Ball.
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2011 Leukemia Ball. [gallery ids="99628,105165,105154,105162,105159" nav="thumbs"]

Meet the Artists Event at the National Museum of Women in the Arts
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President of the Women’s Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) Cyd Everett presented a special program on Mar. 14, “Meet the Artists” followed by luncheon at the museum. Korean-born abstract artist Su Kwak discussed her painting “Evening Light” on double canvas reflecting a metaphoric message of personal and spiritual healing. Clarissa Bonde followed as an internationally exhibited botanical watercolor artist who continues to study and expand. Attendees mourned the recent loss of the intended third exhibitor, Lisa Pumphrey Turner, whose triptych on permanent exhibit was displayed. With family members in attendance, she was movingly remembered for her many qualities by incoming Women’s Committee President Fran Luessenhop. [gallery ids="99211,103480,103469,103477,103474" nav="thumbs"]

‘Elvis’ Was in the House, and So Was the Speaker
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Alfred Wertheimer was the guest of honor at a party put on by Govinda Gallery in John Dreyfuss’s studio at Halcyon House, Oct. 22, the night before Wertheimer’s photo show opened at the National
Portrait Gallery. Chris Murray of Govinda Gallery collaborated with the Smithsonian on the Wertheimer exhibit, but it was his sister’s roommate from Trinity College who got the star treatment — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She happily embraced Murray whom she has known since he was a boy and greeted most everyone — and even danced with artist Howard Carr to the music of J.P. McDermott and Western Bop. — Robert Devaney [gallery ids="102501,102502,102503,102504,102505" nav="thumbs"]

Kitty Kelley & The Women’s Forum of Washington DC
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On Nov. 18, Teresa and Paul Klaassen hosted Kitty Kelley and The Women’s Forum of Washington DC for a holiday shopping extravaganza accompanied by festive hors d’oeuvres and wine bars. Vendors on each floor included Nina McLemore, Proper Topper, J McLaughlin of Georgetown, Ibhana Creations and Sissy Yates Jewelry. The Women’s Forum of Washington, DC, Inc. is an affiliate of International Women’s Forum, an organization of preeminent women who share knowledge and ideas to enrich each other’s lives and to provide a network of support to prepare future generations of women leaders. [gallery ids="102507,120185,120196,120192" nav="thumbs"]