“Chef Jess” Jessica Swift and Karen Hoefener of Nomad Dumplings will be among the women entrepreneurs giving talks and tastings at the Junior League of Washington’s (JLW) Toast of the Tour cocktail reception at Mess Hall, a business incubator and event space in Northeast Washington, on Thursday, April 12.
JLW is proud to partner with leading female chefs and entrepreneurs for this event. Chef Jess is a registered dietician and classically trained chef whose meal delivery business caters to her clients’ individual needs. Hoefener’s Nomad Dumplings are regionally inspired, colorful dumplings with all-natural ingredients recently featured in Washington City Paper.
The evening reception will also feature tastings from other Mess Hall members and alumni businesses, including Prescription Chicken and Farm to Feast. Barefoot Wine and Bubbly will provide wine, and attendees will be able to enter a drawing for prizes including an overnight stay at the Jefferson Hotel, reservations at Rose’s Luxury, two free hours of cleaning from Maids in Black, and gift cards to restaurants and bars including Founding Farmers, Mission, Iron Gate, Momofuku, Boqueria, and more.
This event benefits the Junior League of Washington, an educational, charitable organization committed to developing exceptionally qualified female civic leaders who are prepared to address the ever-evolving needs of the Washington, DC, community through volunteer service, meaningful programs and initiatives, and innovative solutions.
Toast of the Tour is the kickoff event for JLW’s 7th annual Kitchen Tour, a walking tour that will spotlight nearby Brookland’s unique homes and food scene on Saturday, April 21. Tickets for Toast of the Tour and Kitchen Tour are available at JLW.org/KTtickets. For Toast of the Tour, general admission tickets are $55, and VIP tickets, which include specialty cocktail tastings and a souvenir oven mitt, are $65.
What: Toast of the Tour, a cocktail reception and kickoff event for Kitchen Tour
When: Thursday, April 12 from 6-9 p.m.
Where: Mess Hall, 703 Edgewood Street NE, Washington, DC
About the Junior League of Washington:
The Junior League of Washington (www.jlw.org) is a nonprofit organization of more than 2,300 women who annually donate thousands of dollars and volunteer hours to the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. JLW is committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. JLW focuses its financial and volunteer resources on the issues of literacy – adult, child, and cultural – and works with a diverse group of community partners. Since 1912, JLW has donated more than five million hours of direct volunteer service and more than $5.8 million to the Washington, DC, community.
America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, will honor six exceptional leaders with its Promise of America and Promise Hero Awards on April 18. The awards will be presented by General Colin Powell and Alma Powell, the founding chair and chair of America’s Promise, at the fourth annual Promise Night Gala which will be held at the Newseum in Washington, DC.
The Promise of America award, the organization’s highest honor, recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made an exceptional difference in the lives of young people and, through their work, have demonstrated the power of the Five Promises – caring adults, safe places, a healthy and safe start, an effective education, and opportunities to serve – to change the odds, transform lives, and build positive futures.
“Our honorees are extraordinary leaders, working diligently to make the promise of America real for every child,” said Alma J. Powell, chair, America’s Promise. “As we enter our third decade of work on behalf of young people in this country, these individuals remind us of the impact we can have if we use our time, talents and influence to make life better for the next generation.”
“Promise Night is an opportunity for us to celebrate the successes of our honorees while being inspired by their community and national impact,” said John Gomperts, president & CEO of America’s Promise. “Their commitment to the advancement of young people is essential to keeping youth on the path to adult success. America’s Promise is proud to recognize such a dedicated group.”
2018 Promise of America Honorees
- Katherine and David Bradley are co-founders of the CityBridge Foundation, a private family foundation based in Washington, D.C. In 2000, CityBridge began investigating successful practices for combating entrenched, multigenerational poverty—all with the intention of launching a new, signature program in Washington, D.C. CityBridge Education, a nonprofit enterprise dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for all children, was launched out of CityBridge Foundation as an education incubator that seeks out the teachers, leaders, and school teams with the ideas and the drive to create new, better models of school in Washington, D.C.
- Dr. Michael Lomax is president and CEO of UNCF, the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships and other educational support to African American students and a leading advocate of college readiness: students’ need for an education, from pre-school through high school, that prepares them for college success. Under his leadership, UNCF has raised more than $2.5 billion and helped more than 92,000 students earn college degrees and launch careers.
- Sondra Samuels is the president & CEO of Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), a collaborative of over 40 partner non-profits and schools. Along with parents, students, partners, and staff, Ms. Samuels is leading a revolutionary culture shift in North Minneapolis that is focused on ending multigenerational poverty through education and family stability. The NAZ collaborative is working toward a single goal—to prepare low-income North Minneapolis children to graduate from high school college and career-ready.
- Jeff Weiner is the CEO of LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 546 million users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Under his leadership, LinkedIn for Good has reached more than 1 million underserved youth, veterans, refugees, employees and nonprofits, connecting them to greater economic opportunities. Most recently, they’ve introduced LinkedIn Coaches, their signature program to connect underserved young adults and other underrepresented communities to the mentors, networks, and jobs they need to succeed.
2018 Promise Hero Honoree
In addition, this year America’s Promise will also recognize one individual who has made a sustained commitment and unheralded contributions to young people.
- Dr. Wintley Phipps is founder and CEO of US Dream Academy, an organization dedicated to helping the nation’s children reach for their dreams through academic, social, and values enrichment; empowering young people most at risk of incarceration to believe in themselves and to succeed. In addition to his role with the US Dream Academy, Dr. Phipps is a world-renowned vocal artist, education activist, motivational speaker, pastor. For his work at the U.S. Dream Academy he has received numerous service awards, among them: The Excellence in Mentoring for Program Leadership Award from MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnerships; the Oprah Winfrey Angel Network Use Your Life Award; and Philanthropist of the Year Award from The National Center for Black Philanthropy, Inc.
Last year’s Promise of America Award recipients included Kenneth I. Chenault, former chairman and CEO of American Express Company; Common, hip-hop artist, actor, and founder of the Common Ground Foundation; Arne Duncan, managing partner of Emerson Collective; Bryan Stevenson, executive director of Equal Justice Initiative; and Dorothy Stoneman, founder of YouthBuild.
In 2017, the Promise Hero Award was given to singer and songwriter Andra Day, and New England Patriot Malcolm Mitchell.
The title sponsor for the 2018 Promise Night Gala is the Ford Foundation. This year’s platinum sponsor is Salesforce. Gold sponsors include Kenneth and Kathryn Chenault, College Board, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Say Yes to Education, State Farm and the Walton Family Foundation.
Washington D.C. philanthropists, lung cancer survivors, scientists and friends will gather and boogie to the hits of disco at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium Friday, April 20, for LUNGevity Foundation’s 7th Annual Musical Celebration of Hope Gala, Follow the Call of the Disco Ball.
The disco-themed gala benefiting LUNGevity, the nation’s leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit, will celebrate the extraordinary progress in lung cancer research and the improved quality of life patients are now experiencing due to earlier detection and new treatments for lung cancer.
For the first time, the annual event will be chaired by two lung cancer survivors, former ABC7 Anchor Greta Kreuz and King Automotive owner, Larry Aschenbach. Longtime LUNGevity supporter and NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer will return as the emcee for the evening recognizing individuals and organizations who have demonstrated remarkable leadership in the fight against lung cancer.
Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and 2015’s Face of Hope Recipient, will present the 2018 Face of Hope Award to Dr. Philip Bonomi, Alice Pirie Wirtz Professor of Medical Oncology at Rush University Medical Center, for his work to improve outcomes in lung cancer and how people live with the disease.
The 2018 Hope Award for Corporate Leadership will be presented to Foundation Medicine for their demonstrated exceptional commitment to the health and well-being of lung cancer communities in the United States and globally.
LUNGevity will also recognize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with the 2018 Public Service Face of Hope Award for their progress in improving access to high-quality care for veterans living with and at risk of lung cancer.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception followed by dinner, awards presentations, and dancing.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.lungevity.org/hopegala
Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour Washington D.C. is an unforgettable wine tasting experience that features more than 200 of the world’s finest wineries pouring their best bottles. Sample exceptional wines and discover new favorites—all while in the nation’s capital.
Who:
Meet and mingle with top winemakers and estate owners from the world’s best wine-growing regions.
Where:
Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW
When:
Friday, April 20, 2018, from 7-10 PM; VIP ticketholders admitted at 6 PM
Program Highlights:
- All wines have been rated 90 points or higher by Wine Spectator.
- Enjoy a delicious buffet to complement your wine.
- All attendees will receive a souvenir RiedelTM tasting glass.
Cost:
General admission tickets are $225, while VIP tickets are $325. Purchase here.
A portion of net proceeds from the event benefits the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation, which supports scholarships and grants to students pursuing careers in the wine industry.
The Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF)is hosting its annual Tennis Ball on Saturday, April 21 at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. to support underserved DC youth becoming champions on and off the court.
This premiere event will kick off with a VIP Round Robin Tennis Tournament at WTEF’s East Capitol Campus, 200 Stoddert Place, SE and will culminate with an elegant evening of silent and live auctions, dinner and an awards program. This gala supports WTEF’s academic and athletic enrichment programs for youth in need in the District.
Willis Thomas Jr., a founding father of WTEF and the first African-American tennis talent from the DC area, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his life’s work of coaching and mentoring WTEF scholars and building tennis programs in the community. Donald Dell, co-founder of the Washington Tournament now known as the Citi Open, will also receive the Champion of Tennis Award. As the Washington Tournament celebrates its 50thedition this year, the WTEF honors Dell for his contributions to tennis, and his foresight of giving the tournament’s charter to the Foundation to help DC-area children learn to love tennis while excelling in school.
This year’s gala is generously presented by Citi.
WHAT: 2018 Tennis Ball
WHEN: April 21, 2018; 6 -10 p.m.
WHERE: Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. – 1150 22ndSt. NW
WHO: Willis Thomas, Jr.
Donald Dell
Washington, DC families, businesses, and volunteers dedicated to the fight for the health of all moms and babies take part in this year’s March for Babies, March of Dimes biggest annual fundraising event.
Dave Velazquez, CEO Pepco Holdings is serving as the March for Babies Chair
Stacey Stewart, President, March of Dimes
What: March for Babies is a day for everyone. Together we hope for a day when all moms and babies are healthy. We remember those babies we lost. We celebrate every baby. Music will be provided along with a light breakfast and lunch.
When: SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018
Participants arrive for registration starting at 8:00am; walk starts at 9:00am.
Where: NATIONALS STADIUM
1500 SOUTH CAPITAL STREET, SE; WASHINGTON, DC 20003
PARKING AVAILABLE IN STADIUM PARKING LOTS B AND C
For more information, visit marchforbabies.org
Why: Now, more than ever, moms and babies need a champion. The March for Babies community bands together to fight for the health of all moms and babies.
Get going on your spring cleaning, DC! This Earth Day, VIDA Fitness and DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) are inviting Washingtonians to experiment with the new Swedish-inspired, environmentally conscious fitness trend: Plogging – a fitness combination of jogging while picking up litter that offers a variation of body movements by adding bending, squatting and stretching to the main action of running.
On Sunday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m., Washingtonians may gather together to lessen their carbon footprint and engage in the latest fitness craze. Earth Day’s 2.5 mile Plogging will begin at Raymond Recreation Center at 3725 10th Street, NW and then hit four additional public park and playground locations at: 11th & Monroe Park, Powell Recreation Center, Girard Street Park and Harrison Playground. This event is free and open to the public. The Raymond Recreation Center is accessible by the green and yellow lines at Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro Station.
Named after the Swedish term ‘plocka upp,’ Americans have begun integrating the trend into their regular workout routine: grabbing an empty trash bag and cleaning up their surroundings during their outdoor runs. The plogging event is the latest opportunity VIDA Fitness is spearheading to encourage locals to get #FitDC and make DC the number one fittest city in the country again.
For three consecutive years, D.C. earned the #1 ranking in the annual American Fitness Index Data Report published by the American College of Sports and Medicine (ACSM), but forfeited the top spot to Minneapolis in 2017. VIDA Fitness and DPR are determined to take back the title in 2018 by engaging Washingtonians with a variety of fitness programs and expos.
Plogging After Party
As Ploggers finish their District tour with full trash bags in hand, the celebration will continue at VIDA Fitness’ U Street location at 1612 U Street, NW, where participants can enjoy complimentary water and taco bowls from neighborhood favorite Takorean.
WHAT: Inaugural VIDA Fitness/DPR Citywide 2.5 Mile Earth Day Plogging Event
WHEN: Sunday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. (Earth Day).
WHERE: (Locations in chronological order)
- Start: Raymond Recreation Center (Metro access: Petworth/GA Ave. Green Line)
- 11th & Monroe Park
- Powell Recreation center
- Girard Street Park
- Harrison Playground
- End/Celebration: VIDA Fitness, U Street
LINKS: RSVP here!
20 local artists in a variety of disciplines will be exhibiting over 100 pieces all priced under $750 at “Real Art on a Shoestring” at SR/A La Collection in downtown Bethesda. This notable event aims to show the average consumer that owning original art is not out of their budget.
The opening reception will occur on April 26 from 6:00 – 8:30pm. “Real Art on a Shoestring” will be on display through summer 2018.
SR/A La Collection is the retail gallery arm of SR/A Interior Design, a boutique commercial interior design firm. SR/A showcases a revolving collection of artists and antiques in the 3500 SF gallery space that fronts their office-space in downtown Bethesda. Unlike typical art galleries, SR/A believes art shows best as it would in a person’s home – surrounded by furniture, accessories and antique treasures. As original art has a reputation for being too expensive, for this show SR/A has partnered with 20 local artists to bring the public affordable, yet exquisite pieces – all for $750 or below.
This event plays on the well-known phrase, “on a shoestring,” to prove that creative pieces can be found on a smaller budget. The list of participating artists includes local favorites such as Linda Cafritz, Mark Schwenk, Fabiano Amin, Stefanie Stark, and more!
“I think this show is a great way for people to buy affordable, real works of art from local artists. There are so many different styles, mediums, and artists participating in this show; it’s a great opportunity to see, admire, and add art to your life” – Fabiano Amin, Participating Local Artist
You can catch these remarkable artists and their creations, as well as complimentary food and drinks, on April 26th, 2018 at SR/A La Collection (7020 Wisconsin Ave.)
