Prevention of Blindness Society Celebrates 75 Years at Night of Vision
• July 26, 2011

The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington (POB) celebrated 75 years of sight-saving services and community programs at its annual Night of Vision charity gala on Mar. 26 at the Four Seasons Hotel. POB is dedicated to the improvement and preservation of sight by providing services, education, advocacy and innovation. The Society also hailed the opening of its new Low Vision Learning Center in Alexandria. For decades, POB has partnered with numerous local organizations to bring eye health information to the community. Event Chair Gloria Boland received POB’s Appreciation Award and the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Twelve of the 24 past recipients of the Professional Service Award attended the gala. [gallery ids="99635,105224,105245,105241,105229,105237,105233" nav="thumbs"]

G’TOWN House Tour Parties Honor Frida Burling
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The Georgetown Hour Tour kicked off at the Steiners’ home on Q Street, April 28, with a classy patrons’ party for Saturday’s main event. During the house tour, the Georgetowner, along with Eagle- Bank, 42 Degrees Catering, Boffi Georgetown, Canal Builders, hosted a daylong hospitality suite at Boffi on M Street, April 30. (Special thanks to DC Greenworks, Ultra Violet Flowers and Euro Motorcars, Inc., Bentley Bethesda.) Saturday climaxed with a presentation to the house tour’s patron saint: Frida Burling — who lets you know that she is 95, just a little older than the house tour itself — and reminded all: the tour benefited the Georgetown Ministry Center and other charities. [gallery ids="102513,120129,120121,120133" nav="thumbs"]

Foundation Fighting Blindness
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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"]

Happy to Have Ris — and Madigan and Trehan Back
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On Oct. 21, The Georgetowner hosted a happy hour at Ris, celebrating the launch of chef and restaurateur Ris Lacoste’s new column, “Across the Cutting Board with Ris.” The evening was also in honor of the return of The Georgetowner’s much beloved column, “The Player,” in which Veena Trehan teams up with WTOP’s Bob Madigan to interview a diverse array of prominent members of the DC community. Ris catered the event with delicious choice samplings from the acclaimed kitchen, including Gruyere puffs, tuna tartar and veal terrine. Keep an eye out for both columns in The Georgetowner. — Ari Post [gallery ids="99465,99466,99467,99468,99469" nav="thumbs"]

Junior League of Washington
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The Junior League of Washington (JLW) launched its 52nd Annual A Capital Collection of Holiday Shops at the Marriott Wardman Park with the Meg Graham Scholarship Breakfast on Nov. 19. The late Rev. Margaret “Meg” Graham was a past President of the Association of Junior Leagues International, former Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown, and co-founder of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. In l982 the JLW established an annual $10,000 Meg Graham Scholarship awarded to graduating seniors of DC public and charter schools who have been accepted to an accredited post-secondary institution and who demonstrate a strong academic record and significant volunteer service. [gallery ids="99569,104840,104829,104837,104834" nav="thumbs"]

Girls inc Gala
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Girls inc Gala was held October 28th. [gallery ids="99470,99471,99472,99473" nav="thumbs"]

Special Birthday Girl at Peacock Cafe
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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton celebrated her 63rd birthday at Peacock Cafe, Oct. 26, with her husband. President Bill Clinton had a veggie burger, and his wife, salmon with spinach. “What a great night at Peacock, taking care of President and Mrs Clinton,” Shahab Farivar wrote on his Facebook
wall. “The way they interacted with everyone and the staff was amazing. Thanks, Chelsea, for the recommendation.”– Robert A, Devaney

Capitol File Fetes Its 5th at the Corcoran
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Capitol File celebrated its fifth birthday at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Oct. 20, and saluted fashion guru Tim Gunn, who is on its current cover. Niche Media boss Jason Binn was on hand as well as Cap File’s new editor Kate Bennett.– Robert A, Devaney

NIAF Gala
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The annual NIAF Gala in Washington, DC is an opportunity to recognize and honor Italian Americans and Italians in business, science, sports, entertainment and philanthropy who have made enormous contributions to our society.
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Keith Lipert Gallery Showcases “The Gardens of Kabul”
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Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large in the Office of Global Women’s issues, was unable to attend the Oct. 28 reception and cultural exhibition celebrating the talents of Afghan women at the Keith Lipert Gallery on Oct. 28. She was superbly represented by Peggy McKean, Senior Exec. Asst. in Amb. Richard Holbrooke’s Office, who spoke eloquently of the efforts to recreate the traditional crafts of Afghanistan. Keith Lipert Gallery on M Street was the obvious venue as a bevy of his savvy shoppers enjoyed a collection of beautiful hand crafted scarves and jewelry from Afghanistan where Artizan Sarai works to support gender equality and fair trade. Kate Spade will be producing specialty items to further the cause of Afghan women. – Mary Bird [gallery ids="102544,102545,102546,102547,102548,102549" nav="thumbs"]