Raising money to restore the National Mall, the Trust for the National Mall hosted its seventh annual benefit luncheon on May 1. Held in a tent on the mall, some 1,000 guests gathered for the event, which spelled out the nonprofit's mission—literally—with decor that featured names of the monuments located on the mall and significant events held there cut out in oversize letters and suspended from the ceiling.
Design Foundry created the panels, and Linder & Associates produced the event, which included a reception followed by a seated luncheon from Design Cuisine.
The event featured Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, who noted the need for private donations to support the two-mile stretch of land from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. More than 25 million people visit the mall annually, making it the nation's most-visited national park. The event raised about $1.5 million toward the trust's long-term goal of $350 million.