On Ice

The Fire and Ice ball is the major annual fund-raiser for the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area, and this year Denise Daffron, the chapter's director of corporate relations and strategic events, decided to make a statement. For the 600 guests entering the enormous ballroom at the Marriott Wardman Park on April 5, the first thing in sight was a five-foot by three-foot, torch-shaped ice sculpture.

Daffron used the ballroom’s floor plan to her advantage, positioning the back-lit sculpture—emblazoned with the Red Cross insignia and the Fire and Ice Ball logo—in a prominent location near the entry doors. “There’s a certain ‘wow’ factor at the Marriott,” said Daffron. “You come in at the top of the stairs, facing the ice sculpture, looking out toward the ballroom and all of the florals.” 

The sculpture and logo are part of a larger effort to grow the event. “It’s branding, so that the event starts to get name recognition,” she added. In keeping with the Fire and Ice ball’s aim to benefit the armed forces, the decor included miniature flags from all six branches of the military placed with the floral arrangements of red roses and orchids. Full-size flags in two tall urns also ringed the dinner space. 

Auctions played a major role in the event's program. To get guests excited, one of the items sat on display in the middle of the ballroom—a shiny orange limited edition FLHX Street Glide Harley-Davidson, with a price tag of $20,844. The evening also included a ceremonial performance by the Armed Forces Color Team, and a dinner of filet mignon with truffles and mushroom ragout and honey-seared sea bass. At the end of the night, guests took home a few Red Cross-appropriate gifts, including a first aid kit and a coupon for a health and safety class.