Live LUNG and Prosper

Guests greeted by a mariachi band ascending the stairs of the Andrew Mellon Auditorium on Friday night knew they were in for a treat, as the LUNGevity Foundation played host to its annual black tie gala, A Musical Celebration of Hope.

The event brought together some of Washington’s elite to acknowledge the work of the organization, the largest lung cancer-related nonprofit, which provides much needed funding for research, prevention, and early detection of lung cancer.

Congresswoman Lois Capps was awarded the prestigious Face of Hope Award for her role as the the Chair of the House Cancer Caucus and her drive to eradicate cancer deaths by 2015.  NBC Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer, WUSA9 Morning Anchor (and the master of ceremonies for the evening) Andrea Roane, and WJLA-TV reporter and lung cancer survivor Greta Kreuz were all presented with the Raising Hope award for their role in providing visibility to the fight against lung cancer.

The air about the evening was decidedly festive, as guests such as Amy and Bret Baier, Jack and Susanna Quinn, and Amy and Tripp Donnelly, sipped, dined, and samba-ed the night away in one of Andre Wells‘ fantasy designed spaces, complete with professional salsa dancers and latin musical flair joined by the event’s hostesses, Rhonda Wilkins, Sharon Bradley, and Jamie Dorros, and the President of the LUNGevity Foundation, Andrea Stern Ferris.

*All photos courtesy Tony Powell for the LUNGevity Gala