| FEATURE 09.26.08 2:00 PM |
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Washington's Top Benefits 2008
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 | The Soccer Ball for D.C. Scores at the Organization for American States
Photo: Paul Morigi |
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1. Knock Out Abuse and Fight Night Gala
This November fund-raiser is actually two parties: a cigar-and-boxing-fueled Fight Night, which raised $2.4 million for nonprofit Fight for Children in 2007, and the Knock Out Abuse gala, which raised $650,000 to combat domestic violence. Actor Chris Tucker and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia were among the 2,200 guests at the Washington Hilton and Towers for Fight Night, while a crowd of 750 flocked to the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C., for the gala. Everyone then merged for an after-party at the Ritz. Liz Warnecki of Fight for Children coordinates Fight Night, while the gala is produced by Andre Wells. Both parties return on November 6.
2. The Opera Ball
French ambassador Pierre Vimont’s Kalorama residence played host to the Washington National Opera’s largest annual fund-raising event on June 6. Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff attended the Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed garden party, which featured 4,000 glass votives, five chandeliers hanging from a tree, and 15 lighting displays. Patti Humphrey, special events director for the Washington National Opera, planned the 500-person party.
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RELATED TOPICS
Washington's Top 100 Events, Fight for Children, Knock Out Abuse, National Geographic, Population Services International, YouthAIDS, Corcoran Ball, Best Buddies, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Fight for Children's School Night Benefit, Fight for Children, Meridian International Center, W.N.O., Washington National Opera Midwinter Gala, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Prevent Cancer Foundation's Annual Spring Gala, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Gourmet Gala Benefiting St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Washington Ballet Spring Gala, Washington Ballet, Larry King Cardiac Foundation, Heart of America Foundation, National Symphony Orchestra, Heart of America Foundation's Sweet Charity Benefit, Leon Harris, Artrageous, March of Dimes Gourmet Gala, March of Dimes, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Ambassadors Ball, Folger Shakespeare Library Gala, N.F.L. Players Gala, Phillips Collection Annual Spring Gala, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association's Heartsongs Gala, Spina Bifida Association, Washington Performing Arts Society Gala, Capital Area Food Bank, American Red Cross, American Red Cross Fire and Ice Ball, Soccer Ball for D.C. Scores, D.C. Scores, Humane Society, Washington Humane Society Bark Ball, Trust for the National Mall Luncheon, Bono, Ashley Judd, Jay Leno, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, James Brown, David Gregory |
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| EVENT REPORT 09.26.08 1:42 PM |
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Washington's Top Arts & Entertainment Events 2008
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 | A Liz Lerman Dance Exchange performance during the Capital Fringe Festival
Photo: Courtesy of Capital Fringe Festival |
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1. Kennedy Center Honors
Steve Martin, Martin Scorsese, Diana Ross, former Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and pianist Leon Fleisher were honored with awards for artistic achievement at this black-tie gala in December 2007. Traditionally attended by the president and first lady, the gala is broadcast on CBS, and Restaurant Associates caters the dinner. Independent event producer Carolyn Peachy of Campbell, Peachy & Associates is planning this year’s December 7 event with co-chairs Buffy Cafritz and Ann Jordan.
2. Ford’s Theatre Annual Gala
The historic theater has been under renovation for most of 2008, so the 28th annual gala was temporarily relocated to the National Theatre this June. The gala featured performances by Tricia Yearwood, Clay Aiken, and Hal Holbrook. The president and first lady were among the 575 attendees, and Lincoln Medals were awarded to Maya Angelou and actress Ruby Dee. Produced by the theater’s associate director of development and special events, Jennifer Kiefer, the gala will return to Ford’s in June.
3. SilverDocs Film Festival
One of the nation’s largest documentary film festivals comes to the American Film Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland, each June. This year’s sixth annual festival expanded to eight days, 21,000 attendees, and more than 100 film screenings and panels, including the Charles Guggenheim Symposium, which honored director Spike Lee, and the opening-night party, held at the nearby Discovery Channel headquarters. Festival director Patricia Finneran oversaw the event with director of programming Sky Sitney and Discovery Communications director of global events Elika Hemphill.
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RELATED TOPICS
Washington's Top 100 Events, CBS, Steve Martin, Martin Scorsese, Diana Ross, Brian Wilson, Leon Fleisher, Beach Boys, Tricia Yearwood, Clay Aiken, Hal Holbrook, Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, Charles Guggenheim Symposium, Spike Lee, Discovery Channel, Discovery Communications, Charles Harrison, Ralph Rucci, Tom Kundig, Office of the First Lady, Bob Dylan, Foo Fighters, Wilco, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, Virgin Mobile, National Design Awards Luncheon, BET, BET Honors, Cedric the Entertainer, Alicia Keys, Tyra Banks, Cornel West, Shakespeare Theatre Company, A Comedy of Capital Errors, Patrick Leahy, Susan Nixon, Kennedy Center Honors, Ford’s Theatre Annual Gala, SilverDocs Film Festival, National Design Awards Luncheon, Will on the Hill, Artomatic, FilmFest DC, Capital Fringe Festival, Congress |
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