Leukemia Ball!
Saturday night we also went to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Leukemia Ball at the Convention Center. Raising nearly $52M to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s and myeloma since 1988, the Ball is DC's largest non-political black-tie event. We snapped CohnReznick's Jerry Distefano and David Kessler with SeaSpray Realty Holdings' Ric Girouard.
The Leukemia Ball always has top comedians, and this year's performance by Howie Mandel was no exception. Before his side-splitting show, we saw him with Ridgewells Catering CEO Susan Lacz.
Howie's surrounded by co-emcees and spouses ESPN's Lindsay Czarniak and NBC's Craig Melvin who led an inspiring program; they bookend Michael Doherty of Mercedes-Benz, which gave away two cars.
At the Bank of America VIP reception: 2015 Ball co-chair, Baker Tilly's Ed Offterdinger, LLS National Capital Area exec director Beth Gorman, and BDO CEO Wayne Berson, who will co-chair next year's Ball with Ed.
The theme Be Inspired explored progress in the fight against blood cancers, bringing 2,000 local business leaders to Fund the Fight with a $3.1M goal. Here, top sponsor PhRMA CEO John Castellani, Amgen Oncology's Bob Azelby, and Ball co-chair BB&T Group prez Dan Waetjen.
The 'Skins' Dennis Greene and Patrick Tomka bookend Bank of America DC prez Jeff Wood. The evening concluded with a dance party to the throw-back tunes of Michael Cavanaugh.
The James Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award honored the McLaughlin family for their dedication to LLS in memory of their son and brother, Ryan, who succumbed to leukemia at 13. Here, Sarah, Mary, Mike, Prince and Regan McLaughlin.
The clinical trial by LLS-funded researcher Dr. Carl June, here with LLS CEO Dr. Lou DeGennaro, helped patient honoree Emily Whitehead and 29 others beat leukemia.
Northrop Grumman CFO Jim Palmer received the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for his involvement with LLS following the loss of his son, raising funds through the Team In Training endurance sports program. He's with Leukemia Ball exec committee member Steve Movius.
Dinner was crab cake stuffed artichoke, filet mignon, and potato au gratin. Here, Northrop Grumman's Sandra Evers-Manly, Frankie Hardesty, her husband and Sandra's colleague Michael Hardesty, and Beverly Movius.
Karen Guglielmo, her husband Federal Resources Supply Co's Frank Guglielmo, Susan and David Wise, and Leukemia Ball exec committee member, Ernst & Young's Dan Lasik and his wife Nancy Lasik.
Liz Ovits contributed to this issue.
