Copa Style Magazine Salutes Gayela Bynum, 2016 Woman of the Year
• April 20, 2016

Gayela Bynum, chair of the non-profit “We Will Survive Cancer,” was honored at Peacock Café on April 5 by Copa Style Magazine, a digital lifestyle publication. Copa Style publisher Rodney Branche spoke of Bynum,’s support during his mother’s bout with cancer before toasting the honoree. Emcee Renee Starlynn Allen called Bynum a role model. Greg Davis saluted Bynum as “the woman of the 21st century.” [gallery ids="102417,122105" nav="thumbs"]

Trish and George Vradenburg Honored at Oscar de la Renta Show
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In his welcome to more than 500 supporters of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation at the Ritz-Carlton on 22nd Street April 13, Leonard Lauder said that every penny raised goes directly to research as ADDF seeks to accelerate the discovery of drugs to cure Alzheimer’s disease within our lifetimes. Elise Lefkowitz launched the event to honor her mother Estelle Gelman. Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace emceed. Following Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie’s presentation of Oscar de la Rentas’s Fall 2016 Collection, the Great Ladies Award was presented to honorees Trish and George Vradenburg, co-founders of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. [gallery ids="122156,122149,122161,122165" nav="thumbs"]

NMWA: ‘She Who Tells a Story’
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Supporters of the National Museum of Women in the Arts were invited to a reception April 7 to preview “She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World.” More than 80 photographs and a video presentation probe ideas about personal identity and topical political issues. Museum founder Wilhelmina Holladay hailed the beauty of Muslim artists. Kristen Gersh, who curated the exhibit at the Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, spoke of putting arts and culture before politics and media.

Gala Evening for Young Concert Artists of Washington
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Under the patronage of Hungarian Ambassador Réka Szemerkényi, Mary Mochary and Aniko Gaal Schott co-chaired an elegant gala evening April 8 at the embassy, featuring pianist George Li to benefit the nonprofit Young Concert Artists of Washington. For 37 years, the Young Concert Artists Series at the Kennedy Center has presented the Washington debuts of extraordinary young musicians. George Li, in his sophomore year in the Harvard University-New England Conservatory joint program, captured the Silver Medal at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. [gallery ids="102414,122176,122169,122180" nav="thumbs"]

Bidens, Wilde Laud Kors in World Hunger Fight
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“I can’t define what fashion is, but I know when I see it,” said Vice President Joe Biden, after speaking lovingly of his Senate days and Senators George McGovern and Bob Dole. The veep and his son Hunter Biden, board chair of World Food Program USA, presented the McGovern-Dole Leadership Award to designer Michael Kors for his work against hunger and initiatives, such as “Watch Hunger Stop,” at the Organization of American States on 17th Street NW April 12. Raised in Georgetown, actress Olivia Wilde said, “I’m glad to be back in my hometown.” For his part, Kors said he was “awestruck” and “humbled” by the recognition. [gallery ids="102413,122177,122193,122185,122198,122188" nav="thumbs"]

Kermit Roosevelt’s Allegiance Featured at PEN/Faulkner Founding Friends Luncheon
• April 11, 2016

Kermit Roosevelt, great-great grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, headlined a recent PEN/Faulkner Founding Friends Luncheon hosted by The Honorable Bart Gordon and his wife Leslie to present his novel Allegiance. The DC native, a lawyer and professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, has written a sophisticated legal thriller that plumbs the debate within the U.S. government surrounding imprisonment of thousands of Japanese-Americans during World War II. He spoke of the “need to develop empathy” in the aftermath of attacks and times of fear.

Community Foundation Celebrates Philanthropy
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The Community Foundation, which is the largest funder of nonprofits in the Washington region, held its 2016 Celebration of Philanthropy at Arena Stage on March 14. The Foundation’s new President and CEO Bruce McNamer said “from the arts to education, the Horning family has lifted this community,” as he presented Lynne and Joe Horning with the Foundation’s Civic Spirit Award. The evening was highlighted by a variety of performances and artwork. [gallery ids="102400,122677,122682" nav="thumbs"]

A Kickoff for the Blue Hope Bash
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The Sixth Annual Blue Hope Bash will be the first since the recent merger of the Chris4LifeColon Cancer Foundation and the Colon Cancer Alliance. Marsha and Rafik Muawwad hosted a kickoff event on March 30. Joan McCarty and Lynn Ferriero spoke of sponsorship opportunities and auction items to meet the goal of raising $750,000 to knock out colon cancer. Colon cancer survivor Janet Waxman told of her successful battle through the support of her husband, good friends and positive attitude. The Bash will be held at the Fairmont Hotel on Oct. 20. [gallery ids="102401,122681,122676,122663,122669" nav="thumbs"]

Night of Vision: 30 Years with Beyond the See
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The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington held its annual gala at the Four Seasons Hotel March 19. Sally Ann Pilkerton was the event chair and Doug Kammerer, NBC4 chief meteorologist, the master of ceremonies. The black tie evening honored Andrew Adelson, M.D., with the Professional Service Award, Janet and Hal Morrison with the Community Service Award and Amy L. Bess & Sadina Montani of Vedder Price with the Appreciation Award. Founded in 1936, POB is the largest local prevention of blindness agency in the United States, screening 8,000 children and 5,000 adults for vision problems annually. [gallery ids="102399,122685,122721,122693,122700,122711,122715,122705" nav="thumbs"]

Denmark Hosts the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women
• April 8, 2016

On March 18, Ambassador of Denmark Lars Gert Lose and his wife Ulla Rønberg hosted a reception at their residence to celebrate the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women in conjunction with International Women’s History Month. Christine Warnke and John McCarthy co-chaired the host committee. Keynote addresses were delivered by Mrs. Lael Mohib, wife of the Afghan Ambassador and Founder of the Enabled Children Initiative, and Lyric Winik, author of “We Are Afghan Women: Voices of Hope,” among others.