by contributor Donna Shor
Photo credit: Tony Powell
From the moment the Mariachi group Las Estrellas serenaded arriving guests up the steps of the Andrew Mellon Auditorium until the end of the evening, Latino music was in the air at the “Musical Celebration of Hope” LUNGevity Ball.(Jamie Dorros, Rhonda Wilkins, Foundation President Andrea Stern Ferris and Sharon Bradley shown above)
David Rubenstein, Grace Bender, Paul G. Stern
The LatiJazz musicians and the Soul Strings kept to the evening’s Latin theme, as did the Verny Varela orchestra.when they took the stage at dance-time, even the dinner dishes followed suit
This is only the second LUNGevity gala in Washington, following last year’s opener, a huge success, despite the difficulty of launching still one more new charity in this town.
Andrea Stern Ferris, WJLA-TV’s Greta Kreuz, Andrea Roane of WUSA-9, and NEWS4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer
The 2012 three Cochairs, Sharon Bradley, Rhonda Wilkins and Jamie Dorros paid tribute to the brave Washington woman who through sheer tenacity made that initial evening work, because in less resolute hands it could have been a failure.
They stated:
“Building on the tireless efforts of last year’s Gala Chair, Grace Bender, and the Gala Committee, tonight is a beautiful celebration of the progress made in finding more effective methods and treatments for lung cancer.”
Grace Bender, Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan, Andrea Stern Ferris
The organization was brought to Washington through the visionary leadership of its president and CEO Andrea Sterns Ferris, whose mother, the beloved Pat Stern, succumbed to lung cancer. Through Andrea’s grassroots efforts, LUNGevity in the last two years has been able to award more than $5 million to the most promising research paths combatting the disease.
Andrea Stern Ferris and Doug Kammerer
The Ambassador of Mexico and his wife, VeronicaValencia-Sarukhan served as Honorary Chairs, with Paul Stern, husband of the late Pat Stern, as Corporate Chair.
Andrea Roane, the morning news anchor of WUSA-9 News Now, and a multi-Emmy and Gracie award winner, emceed the event in her usual warm and lively style.
WUSA TV’s Andrea Roane
Andrea Stern Ferris signaled the Face of Hope Award to Congresswoman Lois Capps for her work in elevating awareness of lung cancer, and her ongoing efforts to change health policy.
Sharon Bradley, Jamie Dorros and Rhonda Wilkins
She also presented The Raising Hope Award to three who have aided the cause: Doug Kammerer, chief meteorologist of News4; Greta Kreuz, long-time reporter and anchor for ABC7/-TV/WJLA-TV and to Andrea Roane for her ceaseless work.
WJLA-TV’s Greta Kreuz
The dinner began with cups of Golden Tomato Gazpacho, Black Bean soup and Corn Soup with Crab Salsa. Herbed and spiced Churraso Steak and Grilled Red Snapper with Coconut Rice were followed by a Tropical Fruit Brûlée with Banana Rum Ice Cream.
Later the dancers were kept going with cups of Café de Olla, coffee spiced with cinnamon and anise, and sweetened with the rich dark sugar Mexico has used for more than 500 years, scraped from cones of unprocessed pure sugar.
