Nearly 2,000 people headed to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday night for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual ball. Hosted by the National Capital Area chapter, the organization’s largest fund-raiser of the year experienced a 25 percent increase in sponsorships across three donation levels, leading to the gala raising $2.8 million, just shy of its $3 million goal.
“We have a committee of 60 [corporate representatives at senior levels] who’ve worked since September leveraging their relationships in the community to secure tables, sell raffle tickets, and bring in silent-auction items,” said the chapter’s executive director, Donna McKelvey, who has worked on the ball the past six years.
The organization once again used BidPal wireless devices for guests to electronically monitor and bid on the more than 400 silent-auction items, throughout the reception and early into the main program; the auction brought in $300,000. Top sponsor Mercedes-Benz also returned for its 15th year, sponsoring the annual raffle by donating two 2011 cars. The 600 raffle tickets printed sold for $1,000 each, and the winners were chosen at the end of the night.
Former Supreme Diana Ross served as the night's big-name entertainment, with a 75-minute performance. accompanied by a full band on the main stage at the end of the evening. (Last year's headliner was Jay Leno.) Prior to her hitting the stage, NBC's Last Comic Standing season two winner Jeff Heffron entertained from the smaller stage in the middle of the dining tables.
Hargrove Inc. worked with DC Rental and independent floral designer Jennifer Dolan to adorn the third-floor ballroom of the convention center in a fuchsia, magenta, and amber palette. Fucshia and magenta linens draped the tables, which Dolan topped with one of six different centerpiece arrangements. Color-coordinated lighting reflected around the room by mirrored disco balls added to the ambience.
![E20194sa222](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/03/e20194sa222.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Event staffers greeted guests at the main entrance.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_0955.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![IEP provided pink and purple lighting to coordinate with the night's color scheme.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1577.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Waiters with trays of champagne and wine stood at the ready at the entrance.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_0970.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Guests entered the convention center via a tunnel of drape and lights.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1584.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Mercedes-Benz sponsored the night's raffle for the 15th year by providing two new 2011 cars as prizes.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1112.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Reporters from four of Washington's local news stations served as M.C.s for the night, conducting the program from a small stage in the center of the ballroom surrounded by dinner tables.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1414.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Hargrove Inc. designed the main stage, where headliner Diana Ross performed at the end of the night.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1782.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The silent-auction items were organized into groups by types, such as 'Travel and Getaway' and 'Sporting Life.'](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1300.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society once again used BidPal for its silent auction so guests could personally monitor the status of the auction's more than 400 items.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1290.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![DC Rental provided fuchsia and magenta linens for the tables.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1058.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Floral designer Jennifer Dolan created multiple centerpieces for the dinner tables, like purple orchids in stacked square glass vases.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1070.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![For the first course, Centerplate created a mosaic of lobster with radicchio, frisée and ruby grapefruit, and orange filets served with chervil oil citrus dressing.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1104.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![A chocolate fountain in the reception area drew a continual line.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1121.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Comedian Jeff Heffron, winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing season two, performed a 40-minute routine.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1662.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Nearly 2,000 people attended the 24th annual ball.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1624.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Hargrove suspended fuchsia drape and disco balls above the small stage in the center of the dinner tables.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20194img_1105.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)