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"]

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"]

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

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"]

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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‘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"]

Nina McLemore Hosts Nooristan Foundation
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Georgetowner Nina McLemore threw open her doors on Oct. 20 to host a fashion show and sale of her latest collection of quality clothing designed for today’s multi-faceted women to benefit the Nooristan Foundation. Nooristan is a non-profit providing humanitarian, medical and educational support for rural areas in Afghanistan. Projects include livelihood assistance and literacy for 90 families in a refugee camp outside Kabul, training midwives in Takhar province and establishing a village school in Nooristan. Nina sells primarily through independent consultants holding private trunk shows. Better specialty locations and eight recently established permanent eponymous stores showcase her wearable and travelable fashions. – Mary Bird [gallery ids="99440,99441,99442,99443" nav="thumbs"]