The 30th Anniversary Leukemia Ball presented by PhRMA reigns as one of Washington, D.C.’s largest non-political, black-tie fundraising galas—the extraordinary star studded evening is expected to raise $3.5 million for the fight against leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma.
Nearly 2,000 attendees will laugh along with the comedy of Jim Gaffigan and dance the night away to the music of Andy Grammer. The festivities also include dinner, a world-class silent auction and the Mercedes-Benz raffle. All proceeds benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), National Capital Area Chapter.
For more info, please visit: www.leukemiaball.orgEntertainment & Media
Among those anticipated to be in attendance:
Jim Gaffigan; Grammy nominated comedian
Andy Grammer; Platinum-selling recording artist
Lindsay Czarniak, Co-Emcee; ESPN SportsCenter Anchor
Craig Melvin, Co-Emcee; MSNBC Anchor and Today Show National Correspondent
Bruce Allen, President of the Washington Redskins
Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins Linebacker
Bobby Mitchell, NFL Hall-of-Famer, Former Washington Redskin
Holly Morris, Anchor, Fox 5
Jim Lokay, Anchor and reporter, Fox5
Loo Katz, iHeartMedia Radio Host of 97.1 WASH-FM Morning Show
Business Leaders
Dr. Brian Druker, M.D., Director of the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
Dr. Louis DeGennaro, Ph.D. President & CEO, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Steve Ubl, Presenting Sponsor; CEO, PhRMA
Wayne Berson, Co-Chair; CEO, BDO USA, LLP
David DiLuigi, Co-Chair; Market President, Greater Washington & Central Virginia for Wilmington Trust, N.A.
Ed & Donna Offterdinger, James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award recipient; Executive Managing Partner of Baker Tilly
Beth Gorman; Executive Director, LLS National Capital Area Chapter
WHEN:Saturday, March 11, 2017 6:00 p.m. – Chairman’s Reception 6:30 p.m. – General Reception & Silent Auction open
7:30 p.m. – Dinner
9:00* p.m. – Entertainment by Jim Gaffigan & Andy Grammer (Approximately*).
Celebrating its 30th year as one of the Washington area’s most prominent charity events, the Leukemia Ball, presented by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) will be held Saturday, March 11, 2017, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Since the first Leukemia Ball in 1987, the event has raised more than $52 million and continues to dedicate efforts to raising money for life-saving cancer research and patient programs funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). PhRMA, the trade association representing the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, is continuing its presenting sponsorship.
“PhRMA is proud to continue our partnership with LLS to further its mission of improving the outlook for cancer patients and their families, particularly in this milestone year for the Leukemia Ball,” said Stephen J. Ubl, president and chief executive officer, PhRMA. “Together, we are dedicated to finding new treatments and cures for cancer patients. Significant advances in recent years give us hope that we are closer than ever to a world without blood cancers.”
Guests at the 2017 gala will enjoy entertainment from actor, New York Times bestselling author and Grammy nominated comedian Jim Gaffigan, known for his family-focused “clean” comedy. In 2015, Gaffigan became one of only ten comedians in history to sell out the famed Madison Square Garden arena for the finale of his “Contagious” tour, he opened for Pope Francis in front of more than one million people in Philadelphia, and his television show, “The Jim Gaffigan Show,” debuted on TV Land to enormous ratings and reviews. Most recently during Super Bowl 50, it was revealed that Gaffigan is KFC’s new Colonel Sanders.
The crowd will also sing along to triple platinum smash hit “Honey, I’m Good” and other songs from pop star Andy Grammer. Grammer famously began his career as a street performer, logging 10,000 hours of practice on the boulevards of Los Angeles with his car battery powered amplifier and acoustic guitar. Named one of Billboard Magazine’s 2011 Artists to Watch, Grammer now resides at the epicenter of the music industry. Fresh off a tour with Gavin Degraw, Grammar recently released a new single, “Fresh Eyes,” which has become an online phenomenon with more than 70 million streams.
The Leukemia Ball is one of Washington, D.C.’s largest non-political black-tie events and is expected to raise more than $3.5 million for LLS’s National Capital Area Chapter and its mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
“LLS recently committed $40.3 million in new research investments which is comprised of 75 new research grants that will fund a diverse array of cancer research to find better treatments and cures for patients,” said Beth Gorman, National Capital Area Chapter Executive Director. “Fundraising events such as the Leukemia Ball make that research possible, are critical to raising awareness, and directly impact the lives of blood cancer patients everywhere.”
The 2017 Leukemia Ball is co-chaired by Wayne Berson, CEO of BDO, and David DiLuigi, Market President, Greater Washington & Central Virginia for Wilmington Trust, N.A. They lead an esteemed volunteer Executive Committee of more than 50 high-ranking executives representing major organizations across the Washington, D.C. area who volunteer their time and efforts to create a memorable evening and raise millions of dollars in support of LLS’s mission.
“I am inspired by the Washington, D.C. metro community and the ability of the most influential companies to come together to support the cancer research and programs that are funded by LLS,” said Berson. “The mission of LLS is of personal importance to me but also critical so that we may see cures to cancer in our lifetime, and as such I am truly humbled to continue serving as the Ball’s co-chair especially for the 30th anniversary.”
Seventy-four cents of every dollar spent by LLS funds its mission, and LLS’s commitment to funding innovative research projects has contributed to an unprecedented rise in survival rates over recent years. For example, today, the five-year survival rate for the most common form of childhood leukemia is more than 90 percent, up from 3 percent in 1964.
“LLS has been at the forefront of advances in blood cancer treatments for decades. With the support of LLS funding and advocacy, nearly 40 percent of all cancer drugs approved by the FDA since 2000 are being used to treat blood cancers,” said DiLuigi. “However, the fight is not over. Nearly one-third of all blood cancer patients still do not survive five years past diagnosis. I am committed to supporting LLS’s goal of a world without blood cancers.”
The Leukemia Ball has long been recognized as one of Washington, D.C.’s most popular black-tie galas. The silent auction, which raised nearly $265,000 in 2016, is one of the area’s largest, featuring a variety of travel packages, including American Airlines air travel to exotic locations. The event also boasts a Mercedes-Benz raffle featuring a first prize of 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 4Matic Sedan (MSRP$52,150) and second prize of 2 spots at AMG Driving Academy at Laguna Seca Raceway in Salinas, CA including hotel & airfare (Value: $6,300) Tickets are $100, and only 5,000 are printed.
The event’s popularity over the past 30 years is also largely due to the featured entertainment. Past headliners have included Howie Mandel, Diana Ross, Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, John Mellencamp, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Seinfeld, Reba McIntyre, Jim Belushi, Dan Ackroyd and Lionel Richie.
N Street Village, the award-winning social services agency that provides shelter and support to homeless and low-income women in the Washington, DC metro area, is hosting its Annual Gala to honor the clients, volunteers and supporters of the organization on Tuesday, March 14 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The event will feature special musical guest, two-time Grammy-nominated artist, Andra Day.
Hillary and Tom Baltimore are the Gala Honorary Steering Committee Chairs together with Sandra and Tom McCoy. N Street Village will be honoring Ruth and Arne Sorenson for their incredible and continuing support of N Street Village. Those efforts have provided new opportunities for the most vulnerable in our society.
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
6:00pm EST: Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
7:30pm EST: Program and Dinner
Shaw Main Streets will host its annual Taste of Shaw Gala on Tuesday April 25, 2017, from 7pm to 9pm. The annual event celebrates the neighborhood’s diverse businesses and residents, and is a fundraiser for initiatives that enhance and promote commerce within the Shaw neighborhood. DC’s beloved Howard Theatre will be the backdrop for live music and libations and delicious bites from some of DC’s best bars and restaurants. Proceeds from the event support Shaw Main Streets’ economic revitalization and historic preservation activities in the Shaw neighborhood of DC, which have helped bring about the transformation of central Shaw since 2003. This year’s hashtag, #LoveShaw, represents the comradery of Shaw’s business owners and the citywide support and accolades the neighborhood continues to receive. From Michelin stars to Rammy nominations and stellar reviews, Shaw’s bars and restaurants continue to help raise the Shaw neighborhood’s profile locally and nationally.
A hospitality renaissance led by top chefs and mixologists has been under way in recent years, bringing fresh concepts and perspectives in cuisine and beverage, as well as a host of new talent, making Shaw the city’s top dining and imbibing destination. Recent openings such as the neighborhood craft cocktail bar Service Bar DC (a new take on the local watering hole from veteran bartenders Chad Spangler and Glendon Hartley), the Chinese-French concept Kyirisan from husband and wife team Tim and Joey Ma, and neighborhood anchors such as The Passenger, DC’s favorite industry bar, and Convivial, which was one of 2015’s opening highlights; will be among the many participants in the annual Shaw Main Streets Gala. Shaw Main Streets invites the entire region to explore some of the best of the neighborhood has to offer at one venue, on one special evening.
Guests can expect a festive atmosphere, open beer and wine bar, and unlimited cuisine and cocktails from a Taste of Shaw’s stellar host committee of chefs, restaurateurs, and mixologists. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen will receive the 2017 Shaw Champion Award, chosen by the Board of Directors of Shaw Main Streets for his consistent support of economic revitalization in Shaw and SMS’ efforts to create the thriving community that Shaw is today. Appearances by Mayor Bowser and other public officials are also slated.
The 2017 Taste of Shaw host committee includes the following bars and restaurants:
The Brixton Buttercream Bakeshop Cava
Convivial Dacha Dino’s Grotto
The Tavern at Henley Park Eat the Rich El Rey
Etete French Quarter Brasserie Haikan
Half Smoke Kyirisian La Jambe
The Passenger Service Bar Seylou
Southern Efficiency Tiger Fork
Advance tickets are $80 and can be ordered online at www.smsgala17.eventbrite.com. On the day of the event, tickets will be $100. Tickets include unlimited food and cocktail tastings, beer and wine, and complimentary valet parking.
WHAT: On May 5th, the award-winning Hay-Adams, located steps from the White House at 800 16th Street, NW, 20006, will host its next Author Series luncheon honoring Sally Bedell Smith to discuss her latest work, Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life. The Hay-Adams Author Series, where literary crowds honor literary masters, is an on-going event, which hosts outstanding writers in a historic setting, directly overlooking the White House at Top of the Hay. One will enjoy exceptional food, drink and lively conversation. Tickets are priced at $90 per person (all inclusive), which includes a three-course, prix fixe menu with wine pairings. The menu, themed around the book, will be created by Vice President & General Manager Hans Bruland and Executive Chef Nicolas Legret.
Additionally, Kramerbooks (http://kramers.com) will be on hand so guests will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life, which Bedell can sign and personalize after the luncheon. Tickets go on sale April 10, 2017 and will be available online at http://hayadams.com/author-
WHO: Sally Bedell Smith is an American historian and author specializing in biographies of American political, cultural, and business leaders, as well as members of the British Royal Family. She has been a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and is the current editor-in-chief of National Journal Daily.
In her latest book, Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life, Smith returns to the British royal family to delve into the life of Prince Charles. This eye-opening biography is the first authoritative treatment of Charles’s life that sheds light on the death of Diana, his marriage to Camilla, and his preparations to take the throne one day. With keen insight and the discovery of unexpected new details, Smith lays bare the contradictions of a man who is more complicated, tragic, and compelling than we knew, until now.
Sally Bedell Smith was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She received her B.A. from Wheaton College and her M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Mrs. Smith currently resides in Washington D.C. with her husband, Stephen G. Smith.
WHEN: The luncheon will be held on Top of The Hay on Friday, May 5th, 2017, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.).
WHERE: The Hay-Adams is located at 800 16th Street, NW, Washington DC, 20006, across Lafayette Square from the White House. The historic Hay-Adams offers guests Washington’s most prestigious address with views overlooking the White House, Lafayette Square and St. John’s Church, the “Church of the Presidents.” The hotel is just minutes from the Smithsonian, the Museums, the Washington Monument, the National Mall, as well as convenient to Metro stations and the convention center. For reservations or more information call (202) 638-6600 or visit their website atwww.hayadams.com.
The Trust for the National Mall will celebrate its tenth anniversary as an official partner of the National Park Service with a benefit gala, the BALL for THE MALL.
WHAT: CNN’s Wolf Blitzer will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the program, which will include a celebration of accomplishments to date and a look ahead to continued progress. The event will honor businessman and philanthropist, David M. Rubenstein, with the “History, Heroes, & Hope Award” for his dedication and continued support in restoring and improving the National Mall and visitor experience. Award-winning author and historian Douglas Brinkley will present Rubenstein with the honor. The benefit gala will also include a VIP reception, seated dinner with guest speakers and live music and entertainment. Ticket information at nationalmall.org/ballforthemall.
WHO: Honoree: David M. Rubenstein, Co-CEO & Co-Founder of the Carlyle Group
Emcee: Wolf Blitzer, CNN’s lead political anchor
Speakers: Douglas Brinkley, Author & Historian
Catherine Townsend, President & CEO of the Trust for the National Mall
Chip Akridge, Chairman, Trust for the National Mall
WHEN: May 11, 2017
6:30 P.M.
WHERE: On the grounds of the National Mall
Madison Drive at Twelfth Street
Celebrating ten years of partnership with the National Park Service, the Trust for the National Mall is dedicated to sustainably restoring, improving and preserving the National Mall for present and future generations. Stretching from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, the beloved but well-worn National Mall hosts 36 million visits each year but requires more than $840 million in deferred maintenance and needed upgrades. This public-private partnership is a model for bringing critical resources to the National Mall, home to the enduring symbols of our democracy.
(WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera (WNO) today announces an exciting
conclusion to its 2016–2017 season: the 2017 WNO Opera Gala, celebrating WNO
Board Chairman Jacqueline Badger Mars, who will step down as Chairman this
summer. The Gala, on Saturday, June 3, 2017, will include a concert in the Kennedy
Center Opera House featuring the WNO Orchestra and an array of musical stars who
will pay special tribute to Jacqueline Mars’s visionary leadership of WNO: legendary
soprano Renée Fleming, superstar mezzo-soprano and D.C. native Denyce Graves,
and Hamilton Tony Award® winner Leslie Odom Jr. The Gala is presented as part of
JFKC, the Kennedy Center’s season-long celebration of John F. Kennedy’s centennial,
and explores the themes of service and gratitude, which are often associated with
President Kennedy.
The Co-Chairmen of the WNO Opera Gala are WNO Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B.
Casey and Mrs. John F. Mars. The Opera Gala pays tribute to Jacqueline Badger Mars
for her six seasons of leadership of the WNO Board of Trustees. Highlights of her
tenure include the founding of the American Opera Initiative, which for the last five
seasons has helped identify the brightest rising American composers and librettists and
has added their work to the repertory; the programming of an annual opera for families
at the holiday season, including Hansel and Gretel, The Little Prince, and the world
premiere commission of The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me; and the presentation of WNO’s
first-ever complete Ring cycles in 2016, a feat that put WNO into a very elite group of
American opera companies.
“I have been honored to work with Jacquie Mars since 2008, and her imaginative
leadership and guidance have brought WNO unparalleled growth and success while
also making the opera more accessible to a broader audience,” said WNO executive
director Michael L. Mael. “Our next Chairman will certainly have big shoes to fill, but I
am happy that Jacquie will continue to steer this company as a WNO trustee.”
Tickets for the Gala concert start at $49 and are on sale now to Kennedy Center
members. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 10 a.m.
For those who wish to purchase special Gala packages, the evening will begin with a
VIP cocktail reception on the Kennedy Center’s River Terrace at 5:30 p.m., followed by
the Gala concert at 6:30 p.m. After the performance, Gala package holders will depart
the Kennedy Center for elegant black-tie dinners hosted by many ambassadors at their
embassies or residences throughout the city, a longtime tradition of the Opera’s season-
ending social gathering.
The Opera Gala is WNO’s largest fundraiser and one of Washington’s most anticipated
events of the year. Proceeds from the Opera Gala will play a crucial role in advancing
the Opera’s award-wining artistic, educational, and outreach programs.
While the 2016–2017 season is coming to an end, the new season promises
excitement. WNO’s 2017–2018 season includes new productions of Verdi’s epic drama
Aida, the company premiere of Handel’s magical baroque opera Alcina, and Verdi’s
towering masterpiece Don Carlo, plus Rossini’s delightful comedy The Barber of Seville
and Bernstein’s biting satire Candide. The season also features a festival weekend of
four world premieres as part of the American Opera Initiative, the return of the holiday
family opera The Little Prince, two special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist performances,
and more. Subscription packages are available now.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets for the Gala concert start at $49 and are available online, in person at the
Kennedy Center Box Office, and by calling (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324. For all
other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at
(202) 416-8540.
What: Kimberly Snyder & Well + Good Present DC Beauty Immersion Speaking Tour + Radical Beauty book signing
Where: Westin Washington D.C. City Center
1400 M St NW
Washington, DC 20005
When: Saturday, July 22nd from 12pm-2pm
Who: Kimberly Snyder, New York Times best-selling author and nutritionist
ABOUT: New York Times best-selling author and nutritionist Kimberly Snyder will kick off her Beauty Immersion Speaking Tour with an event in DC sponsored by Well + Good. The event will feature a discussion from Snyder followed by a Radical Beauty book signing and meet and greet, which will take place at the Westin Washington D.C. City Center on Saturday, July 22nd from 7:00pm-9:00pm EST. This event is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased here: http://kimberlysnyder.com/events/
–“Have You Seen My Tail?” the new children’s book by author Kaitlin Puccio, is
now available for sale. The story will enthrall children as they join Corky the Corgi on a hunt for his missing
tail. At the heart of the tale is a timeless fable about accepting differences and being
comfortable in your own skin (…or fur).
The book’s message about compassion, acceptance, and companionship will appeal to
families looking for engaging tools to raise empathetic and confident children.
A portion of the proceeds from each “Have You Seen My Tail?” purchase will go to Paws of War, an
organization that matches rescue dogs with military veterans suffering from the emotional effects of war.
Kaitlin’s first book, “The Adventures of Celia Kaye,” has been a useful tool for children’s organizations like The
Girl Scouts of Central Texas, with whom Kaitlin collaborated to create a curriculum to educate children about
celiac disease and food allergies, while also teaching the importance of accepting differences.
“Have You Seen My Tail?” was designed by Grammy-nominated record cover designer and artist Sarah
Larnach, who also illustrated “The Adventures of Celia Kaye.”
WASHINGTON, DC AREA BOOK EVENTS
Kaitlin will appear to read and sign “Have You Seen My Tail?” at DC area Pawties this summer. Join her at
Soapstone Market on August 5 from 10 to 11 AM.
THE SEARCH FOR THE REAL LIFE CORKY
Corky is so excited that he discovered the secret of his missing tail, and he wants to tell corgis everywhere!
Send in photos or videos of your corgi being paw-fect and Corky will post them on his Instagram.
The winner will get a mountain of toys, treats, and more pooch-related products for your Instafamous corgi.
Plus, your pup will be featured on Corky’s book page as Corky’s new friend. Give us a woof
at @CorkyWithNoTail and use #IRLCorky to submit. Visit @CorkyWithNoTail on Instagram for details.
On September 1st, the award-winning Hay-Adams, located steps from the White House at 800 16th Street, NW, 20006, will host its next Author Series luncheon honoring David McCullough to discuss his latest work, The American Spirit, Who We Are and What We Stand For. The Hay-Adams’ Author Series, where literary crowds honor literary masters, is an on-going event, which welcomes outstanding writers in a historic setting, directly overlooking the White House at the Top of the Hay. One will enjoy exceptional food, drink and lively conversation. Tickets are priced at $90 per person (all inclusive), which includes a three-course, prix fixe menu with wine pairings. The menu, themed around the book, will be created by Vice President & General Manager Hans Bruland and Executive Chef Nicolas Legret.
Additionally, Kramerbooks (http://kramers.com) will be on hand so guests will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of The American Spirit, Who We Are and What We Stand For, which McCullough can sign and personalize after the luncheon. Tickets go on saleAugust 11, 2017 and will be available online at http://hayadams.com/author-
WHO: David McCullough has been acclaimed as a “master of the art of narrative history.” He is a winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards, and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has spoken before Congress, The White House, colleges and universities, historical societies and other esteemed institutions.
In his latest book, The American Spirit, Who We Are and What We Stand For, McCullough has collected some of his most notable speeches in a brief volume designed to identify important principles and characteristics that are particularly American. It is a timely tome, reminding us of core American values to which we all subscribe, regardless of which region we live in, which political party we identify with, or our ethnic background. This is a book about America for all Americans, that reminds us who we are and helps guide us as we find our way forward.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, McCullough was educated there and at Yale, where he received a degree in English literature. He and his wife, Rosalee Barnes McCullough, reside in Boston, Massachusetts.
WHEN: The luncheon will be held on Top of The Hay on Friday, September 1st, 2017, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.).
