On a Mission to Preserve Ancient Tyre
• March 26, 2015

Maha El-Khalil Chalabi, founder of the Tyre Foundation, briefed supporters of the ancient city of the UNESCO site in Tyre, Lebanon, Feb. 27 at the National Press Club. Chalabi also spoke about the American Committee for Tyre Symposium to be held June 3 at the Library of Congress.
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Voto Latino Hits 10
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Voto Latino, a nonpartisan organization that empowers Latino Millennials to claim a better future for themselves and their community, celebrated its 10-year anniversary March 4 at the Hamilton Live. Top supporters from the technology, Hollywood, media and politics industries joined Voto Latino Co-Founder and Chairwoman Rosario Dawson and Voto Latino President and CEO María Teresa Kumar in celebrating 10 years of movement-building.
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Embassy of Finland Takes Top LEED Rating in U.S.
• March 22, 2015

“Our embassy has gone from green to gold, and now platinum,” said Finnish Ambassador Ritva Koukku-Ronde, as she welcomed guests to a Jan. 28 party to celebrate the embassy’s singular honor.

The Embassy of Finland was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification – and is the first embassy in the United States to do so.

”All this reflects Finland’s strong commitment to environmental sustainability,” Koukku-Ronde said. ”We are a leading country in renewable energy and clean technology and are happy to share leadership in this area with our friends at the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki.”

The Finnish Embassy building is the second in the world to be awarded the LEED Platinum, which is the highest of four levels of certification. The other LEED-Platinum building is the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki.

Roger Platt, president of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), was at the event to present the LEED plaque to Koukku-Ronde.

Peter Stenlund, Secretary of State at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, was pleased with the Finnish Embassy’s top certification but also wanted a higher goal or rating to strive for. Perhaps, he said, it could be called ”Titanium” or ”Finlandia.”

On Massachusetts Avenue across from the Vice President’s Residence, the Finnish Embassy is known for its contemporary architecture and open design to the surrounding woods.

As an internationally recognized mark of excellence in green buildings, LEED’s success as a global green building tool is based on many factors but is primarily due to the leadership and commitment of volunteers, members and partner Green Building Councils around the world.

Introduced via a video greeting by the U.S. Ambassador Bruce Oreck, in Helsinki, the popular journalist-heavy rock-n-roll band, Suspicious Package, entertained the crowd, which enjoyed such specialities from Finland as herring, smoked salmon, duck liver pate and Finnish meatballs.

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Red Cross Ball at Millionaire Playground
• March 19, 2015

Shirley MacLaine, Wayne Newton and William Shatner headlined Palm Beach’s 58th Annual International Red Cross Ball. Highlight event of the “Florida millionaire playground’s” social season, the ball drew 700 supporters to the $1,000-per-plate dinner. Matching the theme, “Around the World in Eighty Days,” the pre-dinner poolside reception featured caviar among the 20 international culinary stations. Held at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, Trump and his wife Melania were honorary chairs. Ball proceeds help fund the organization’s vital work of preventing and alleviating human suffering in emergencies. [gallery ids="102010,135131,135128,135126,135124,135122,135120,135118,135116,135114,135112,135104,135110,135108,135106,135130" nav="thumbs"]

Embassy Series: Pianist Till Fellner
• March 16, 2015

On March 6, the Embassy Series, a non-profit which Jerome Barry founded with the mission to unite people through musical diplomacy, presented internationally acclaimed Austrian pianist Till Fellner at the Embassy of Austria. The program featured works by Mozart, Bach and Schumann as well as a specially commissioned work dedicated to Fellner by contemporary composer Aleksandar Stankovski. The evening concluded with a buffet of Austrian treats prepared by the embassy chef.
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GB Group Global Salutes African Women Leaders
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The second annual Leadership Awards dinner by GB Group Global was held March 4 at the Willard Intercontinental with the theme, “Celebrating Global Women: Women leaders who lead through political participation, corporate leadership and entrepreneurship.” Awardees included Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi, Ambassador Amina Ali of the African Union Mission, Angolan entrepreneur Isabel dos Santos, Fumbi Chima, vice president of International Integration for Wal-Mart, and Joan Wages, president and CEO of National Women’s History Museum.
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Wegman at Lombardi Salutes Arts
• March 11, 2015

William Wegman is best known for the enchanting photos of his Weimaraner dogs. On Jan. 29, he was at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center where he read to patients, signed his latest book, “Flo & Wendell Explore,” and donated five of his works in honor of his colleague Emily Heick, a breast cancer survivor. The reception hailed Julia Langley, who launched the Arts and Humanities Program. [gallery ids="101997,135298" nav="thumbs"]

Capella Heralds Chefs
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The Georgetown Capella held a preview party for its clients, friends and neighbors Feb. 11 and formally introduced chef Frank Ruta and pastry chef Aggie Chin. Along with general manager Marco Bustamante, on hand was the popular Angel Cervantes, offering rum drinks, champagne and other drinks, as guests sampled Ruta’s specials, such as his truffle burgers. [gallery ids="101996,135303,135306" nav="thumbs"]

Children’s National: Helping Kids Beat Cancer
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The Seventh Annual Heroes Curing Childhood Cancer Gala — raising a record-breaking $722,130 — was held at the Four Seasons Feb. 21 for the benefit of Children’s National Health System’s pediatric oncology. Childhood cancers are the number-one disease killer of children in the United States. [gallery ids="118172,118141,118149,118158,118179,118185,118166" nav="thumbs"]

Concierges and an Oscars Party
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Les Clefs d’Or USA (the national professional association of hotel concierges . . . the Golden Keys Society) in conjunction with the Washington Area Concierge Association, celebrated Oscar Night Feb. 22 at Josh Levin’s West End Cinema with a special red carpet walk and viewing of the nine-Oscar nominated “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” [gallery ids="101998,135296,135294,135288" nav="thumbs"]