Photo credit: Janet Donovan
Against a backdrop of history, Ambassador Esther Coopersmith advised guests to “Please eat. If not, I’m in trouble because I’ll eat this all, so please eat and enjoy.” Coopersmith served as the US Representative to the United Nations between 1979 and 1980 during the administration of President Carter. Since then, she has been a power player on the world stage of international affairs and received the United Nations Peace Prize in 1984. Call her the den mother of politics and power.
Ambassador Esther Coopersmith
Her support of charities is legendary and today it was all about the upcoming September 8th Ambassador’s Ball to benefit MS (Multiple Sclerosis) with Ambassador Capricia Marshal (former US Chief of Protocol) as Honorary Chair. “Years ago, I had a secretary whose mom had MS and I’ve been involved ever since. The organization is good and worthwhile and that’s why I’ve stayed involved,” she explained. “For those of you who may not be familiar with the Ambassador’s Ball, it’s in its 37th year and is really a marquee event – the marquee event on the Washington social calendar for the fall. It’s a night where we certainly raise a lot of money for people living with MS and it’s a night where there’s a tremendous amount of grace and dignity. The philanthropy that is in that room is just tremendous,” said Mark Roeder, President of the National MS Society in Maryland.
Robbie Myers and Laura Denise Bisogniero
“I’m honored to be this year’s Ambassadors Ball Chair,” said former Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall, “and privileged yet again to be in this magnificent home which has been a venue celebrating so many very important causes. Many Presidents, Prime Ministers, Diplomats of all rank have recognized Esther as a champion of many of these causes and know that she has engaged the world in a variety of ways, bringing great attention to the needs of those who sometimes don’t have a voice. As well, we are highlighting the wonderful achievements of our extraordinary diplomatic core. There is another great female titan here with us today; she is Editor-in-Chief extraordinaire. who has truly taken Elle Magazine to new heights, not only because she is just brilliant in the journalism industry, but because she has a great dedication to the endeavors and recognizing the achievements of women everywhere in every arena. I know this specifically because I am a member of the wonderful board called The Agenda. This is all about women who are honoring, who are mentoring, who are helping, who are boosting other women in every arena.”
Capricia Marshall
“Well, I have a little admission,” responded Myers. “I was down in Esther’s room where she has all of the mementos from her young years traveling around the world – and when I saw the bag, Eleanor Roosevelt’s bag, as the Editor of a fashion magazine and political science major, it was irresistible and I touched it. I didn’t open it, but I touched Eleanor Roosevelt’s bag. As Capricia said, we met because we honor women in Washington DC. We’re very interested in how women accrue power and then how they use it once they have it. We can talk to our some 20 million readers about how they, as young women, can also learn from that. I’ve learned so much that I didn’t know about women’s health, certainly about MS and I’m completely fired up as a member and a journalist, to learn as much as I can and really help spread the word as much as we can.”
Robbie Myers
“I’m going to tell you about Multiple Sclerosis. I served as the country’s first Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health and Assistant Surgeon General and this is disease that affects people across the world.,” explained Dr. Susan Blumenthal. “There’s no cure for Multiple Sclerosis, but that’s what this dinner is all about – to find a cure and to find ways to prevent it in the first place. What happens with Multiple Sclerosis is that the body’s immune fighting cells that protect us from disease turn against our own bodies. It’s called an autoimmune disease and it affects the neurons in the brain. Often, the disease is called the great masquerader because people present with these symptoms across the different organ systems and it’s not detected right away. That’s why again, The Multiple Sclerosis Society is so important, because it raises awareness about the disease and awareness to detect it early, to treat it effectively, because there are now great treatments that will stop its spread, and to find a cure. Some day, hopefully, we’ll come together and Multiple Sclerosis, because of your efforts, will be a disease found only in the history books.”
Dr. Susan Blumenthal
“Esther Coopersmith has had enormous impact on all of our hearts and on building bridges across countries,” added Blumenthal when acknowledging the host. “She’s the first woman since Eleanor Roosevelt to get the UN Peace Prize. She is the current Goodwill Ambassador to UNESCO. Some of your countries have queens, but Washington, DC has Queen Esther.“
Rebecca Cooper and Ann Hand
Hollywood on the Potomac and Amb. Coopersmith have been friends for many years. She opened her house to us for our Inaugural Series. Her segment was on President Clinton and gives you an insiders look at history:
