| | Over $3 Million Marks A Capital Night for CF in DC
November 19, 2007
It’s true—our nation’s capital boasts the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the White House, among many other glorious sights, but the place to be on November 3 was the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Chapter's Breath of Life Gala, Presented by FBR.
Master of Ceremonies Scott Pelley and Hitchcock Humanitarian Award winner Douglas Jemal enjoy
the gala. |
Amidst the elegant columns of the National Building Museum, more than 700 guests sipped martinis from the Ketel One Ice Bar and a fanfare of trumpets heralded the start of a fabulous three-course dinner. At the event’s live auction, the bidding soared for a dream trip to NYC for eight, including a personal tour of the New York Stock Exchange and a chance to ring the Exchange’s famous bell in celebration of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. Equally coveted was a combined luxury vacation to Vail, Colo. and Cabo San Lucas.
The after-hours club “Club Breathe” featured the rhythms of New York disco band Right On. After the dancing, the crowd sampled savory sweets, such as cheesecake lollipops, caramel lady apples, and chocolate dipped pralines at the delectable dessert presentation.
A gracious master of ceremonies and longtime friend of the Foundation, Scott Pelley, 60 Minutes correspondent, presented Douglas Jemal, president and CEO of Douglas Development Corporation with the 2007 Hitchcock Humanitarian Award. Each year, the award is given to an outstanding member of the community in honor of Alfred Hitchcock’s great granddaughter, Melissa, who had cystic fibrosis and passed away several years ago.
A night of memorable moments culminated in the Bid for a Cure, when four different individuals whose lives had been touched by CF spoke. Among them, CF Dad Ed Frinks said, “Let me be clear. I live my days filled with hope, not with fear. I live my days wanting all the things for Grace that I want for my other daughter. The difference is I also live my days knowing that we will all have to work hard to accomplish those things and when it comes to Grace, there are really no guarantees.”
Don Wood, gala chairman and president and CEO of Reality Investment Trust said, “Those four stories…remind me that while we talk over and over again about the 30,000 kids and young adults who have CF, we often forget the others in their lives who are also impacted…Because the reality is that while a defective gene impacts 30,000, CF impacts millions…including each and every one of you.”
Altogether, the event netted an unprecedented $3,100,000 for the CF Foundation.
For the third year, the CF Foundation partnered with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey to present this event. J. Rock Tonkel, the president and COO for FBR, has been integral to making the evening a success.
Special thanks also go to corporate sponsors CapStar Hotel Company, PCM Construction, Ridgewells, Sunrise Senior Living and The Brickman Group.
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