Walk This Way

Pro athletes from most of Washington DC’s top professional sports teams came together Thursday night for Becky’s Fund’s 7th Annual Walk This Way charity fashion show at the Embassy of Italy. The event raised over $150,000 for the DC-based nonprofit which maintains a commitment to the prevention of intimate partner violence.

Washington footballers Pierre Garçon, Chris Baker, Washington Wizards Bradley Beal, Garrett Temple, and Alan Anderson, Washington Nationals Gio Gonzalez, DC United’s Bill Hamid, Chris Pontius, Steven Birnbaum and Sean Franklin, and former NFL stars Gary Clark and John Booty, donned looks from luxury Italian designer, Canali.

Becky’s Fund Founder Becky Lee delivered powerful remarks on the importance of creating awareness about the cause and turning up the volume on this silent epidemic: “Tonight is a time for us to stand in solidarity against intimate partner violence. One in four women and one in six men are affected by intimate partner violence but many do not come forward because they are scared of being judged. I hope you will join me in turning up the volume and raising your voice to rise above this silent epidemic. Becky’s Fund is grateful for the support of our athletes who walked as men of code in our show to highlight the importance of breaking the cycle with our next generation. Without the generosity of Verizon, Odessa, O’Brien Family Fund, Bajaj Family Foundation, Omnific, and our generous donors, this event would not have been possible and we are honored to have been able to partner with these sponsors who are committed in ending intimate partner violence together.”

Proceeds from Walk This Way benefit the Becky’s Fund “Men of Code” program — training athletes to become leaders and allies in the movement to end intimate partner violence — and enables Becky’s Fund to enter three more schools in 2016. Every year, Becky Lee’s annual show helps the organization’s mission to prevent intimate partner violence by creating awareness, encouraging advocacy among peers, promoting activism through outreach programs, and providing support for victims.

This year’s event also featured a special exhibit titled “Voices,” by Brooklyn-based artist and activist Cat Del Buono, whose work was inspired by her two years of volunteering at domestic violence shelters throughout various US cities. Last night’s female models rocked looks from Elizabeth St. John with jewelry by Alberto Parada, hats by Melissa Vap, and hair and make-up by One80 Salon and Nour Kazoun.

*Images credit Marcus Bennett