Everyone a Jewel at Pearls of Purpose : K Street Magazine

DSCN2251 — Ambassador & Mrs. Collins (from Ireland) with Fair
Girls’ board member and former NASCAR driver Stanton Barrett

The Carnegie Institute was packed Wednesday night for FAIR Girls’ 7^th annual Pearls of Purpose Gala, the organization’s biggest celebration of girls’ empowerment and suvivorship. Andrea Powell, FAIR Girls’ Executive Director, welcomed an internationally politically powerful crwod, including outgoing Irish Ambassador Michael Collins and his wife Marie, and Swiss Ambassador Manuel Sager and his wife Christine.

While mulling over silent auctions items, guests enjoyed live jazz music, specialty hors d’oeuvres, desserts and cocktails. Tough decisions abounded, like the choice between bidding for a NASCAR driving lesson package (donated by board member and NASCAR driver Stanton Barrett) or a private dinner at the Swiss Embassy. Well, why not both!?

Board member and Miss District of Columbia 2008 Kate Marie Sigfuesson (at right) told KSM that an even harder decision was trying to select from among the beautiful jewelry made by the JewelGirls, FAIR Girls’ survivors of child trafficking.

The night’s Keynote speaker Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, addressed attendees with thoughts on the current state of the human trafficking issue and shared words of encouragement with the JewelGirls. Journalist Lisa Ling, host of Our America with Lisa Ling, accepted the Pearl Award via telecast. And since it’s about the girls…. one of the most impressive moments of the evening was witnessing Victoria Pannell, a 13-year old activist, actress, and star of the Pollie Award-winning ad campaign “Backpage,” serve as emcee.