by contributor Donna Shor
Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan
There was a lot going on at Saturday night’s Leukemia Ball for the two thousand enthusiastic supporters at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Huey Lewis and the News
After a terrific dinner of blackened scallop salad, Chilean sea bass and melt-in-your- mouth braised peppercorn beef, the program featured donor recognition of worthy businesses and financial leaders, and there were beautiful emcees, rising comedian Ryan Hamilton who has been named one of Rolling Stone’s five comics to watch, Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell and in a grand finale, the legendary Huey Lewis and the News, great as ever and thrilling the crowd with their music.
Washington Redskins Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell (LT) was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Presented by Redskins General Manager, Bruce Allen (far RT)
The evening was presented by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), long a partner of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)in its mission: to cure these and other related blood cancer diseases and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to this cause.
John J. Castellani, President and CEO of PhRMA, spoke of the crucial role LLS plays in the research process, aiding PhRMA with its member companies to pioneer new therapies that will help sufferers have longer, healthier lives.
Felicia and Logan Taliaferro and John Castellani, President and CEO PhRMA
Dan Waetjen, BBT’s President, Greater DC Region and ball co-chair, spoke in appreciation of PhRMA’s ball sponsorship. They will be presenters of the 2015 and 2016 Leukemia Ball as well.
Beth Gorman, Executive Director of the National Capital Area Chapter of LLS, reminded us that the ball’s title, Imagine: Someday is Today, refers to recent breakthroughs that place us “..on the cusp of an extraordinary moment, a world without blood cancers, which we believe is not someday, but today.”
Adam Pender and wife, Dr. Alex Mehrnaz Naini
That was especially meaningful when the Mission Moment sponsored by the Laborers’ Charitable Foundation brought on stage some charming and frisky children, patients whose lives have been supported through their illness by LLS.
Patient ambassadors,Tyler DeMille, Brianna Garcia and Logan Taliaferro raise funds with Dr. Louis DeGennaro, Interim President & CEO, LLS.
Titans of Business and Philanthropy Awards were presented by David Timko, of LLS and Frank Kelly,President, Greater Washington Region, Deutsche Bank. Recipients were Jerry Carlson, managing partner of KPMG, Washington Metro Area, Eugene A.Ludwig, Founder and CEO of Promontory Financial Group and Ellen Goita for Washington/ Baltimore KPMG, which has supported LLS for over twenty years.
Event Co-Chairs, Candace Duncan (KPMG) and Daniel Waetjen (President, Washington region BB&T)
“One of KPMG’s core values is to give back to the communities in which we live and work,” said dynamic Candy Duncan, Retired Managing Partner of KPMG, and the ball’s senior co-chair, who has blazed a trail of “firsts” in her financial management career.
David Timko, Tammy Darvish, Michelle Bosch, Shirley and Dr. Louis DeGennaro, Interim President & CEO, LLS.
The honored Promontory Financial Group is involved with several charities. The firm’s Founder and CEO Eugene A. Ludwig observed that philanthropic projects have always been a passion of the company, “but we are particularly inspired by the mission and work of LLS.”
Bruce Allen, President and CEO of the Washington Redskins presented NFL Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell with the James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award, established in 2011 in memory of Jim Eichelberg, a LLS supporter who made service to others a part of his daily life.
Jerry Carlson of KPMG,Tyler DeMille and Ellen Goitia of KPMG receive the Titan of Business & Philanthropy Award
For more than 22 years, Mitchell and his wife Gwen dedicated themselves to creating a premier golf tournament, raising almost $8 million for LLS’s mission. His impressive football career spanned 11 seasons, seven of them spent with the Washington Redskins, including four Pro Bowl appearances, and 34 years in the Redskins’ front office. He has raised funds for five other charities as well as LLS.
After the ceremonies, at his turn on stage, Ryan Hamilton lived up to his reputation as a bright new comedian, and had the crowd laughing with him.
Comedian Ryan Hamilton
Two lucky raffle winners each walked away with a shiny new Mercedes Benz, presented by Steve Rogers, Sales Operations Manager, Mercedes-Benz USA.
When Huey Lewis voice rang out backed by his group, The News, the crowd surged to the floor—not to dance, but just to get close to the longtime star and his top musicians, and stand there swaying to the beat and fist-pumping in appreciation during his high-energy hour-plus performance.
NBC News4 Anchor Angie Goff and Julie Donaldson, Comcast SportsNet Anchor
The black-tie evening, Washington’s largest non-political gala, was emcee’d by Julie Donaldson of Comcast SportsNet, Angie Goff of NBC4, Sarah Simmons of Fox5 and Alison Starling of WJLA/ABC7-TV.
The grand total for the spectacular event raised over $3 million for the cause.
