The Dyslexic Dreams Foundation held its first benefit Monday night at the Mandarin Oriental, in partnership with the Merritt Dyslexia Education Center in Eldersburg, Maryland. To make an impression with what she plans to be an annual event, foundation founder and president Jami Schwartz wanted the “Dare to Dream" gala to stand out from the lineup of standard benefits.
“The people we hired for the event were all asked to think outside of the box,” said Schwartz. So the Mandarin offered five-spice-marinated duck with smoked kumara hash and tangerine-cardamom creme brulée for the gala's 250 guests, instead of the typical beef and crabcake entrées. To keep with the exotic theme, En Masse created inverted arrangements where yellow, orange, and white orchids and calla lilies hung from six-foot-tall bamboo armatures at the center of each table.
But the focus remained on the cause at hand—honoring dyslexic individuals and spreading awareness of dyslexia and related educational programs. The pre-dinner reception, dressed with red sashes draped along the ceiling, included “Portraits of Possibilities,” poster-sized photos of dyslexic celebrities including Salma Hayek, Patrick Dempsey, and Orlando Bloom. Silent auction items on display offered everything from a Caribbean cruise to a signed photo of Michael Phelps.
During dinner, Bob Madigan from WTOP news radio acted as master of ceremonies for the evening's presentations and remarks, which videographer Jenny Lehman captured in a time-lapse film for the organization. As part of the program, Matt Cusson took the stage for a one-hour R&B set before guests danced to a three-hour performance of pop and soul from British singer/songwriter Georgie Swan.
