Photo credit: Stephen Bobb
“I want to thank Speaker Paul Ryan and his wife Janna,” said Ambassador Stuart Holliday, President and CEO of the Meridian International Center, as he welcomed guest to The Meridian Ball 2017. “I want to thank you for your leadership in bringing people together. Everybody is looking for somebody to bring us together, and you do that all the time, every day. Keep it up.”
Ambassador Stuart Holliday, Speaker Paul Ryan and Janna Ryan
The Meridian Ball is one of the most prestigious annual events in Washington, DC. Now in its 49th year, the event brings together members of the public and private sector to celebrate Meridian’s ongoing efforts to prepare leaders for a complex global future. The Ball is well attended by public officials including Cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, prominent media figures, foreign ambassadors, and representatives from the international business and cultural communities. Guests have the option of choosing between an intimate Ambassador-hosted dinner or the White-Meyer dinner on Meridian’s campus. Following the dinners, guests from both the Ambassador-hosted Dinners and White-Meyer Dinner gather for dancing, dessert, and conversation at Meridian House.
“A hundred years ago this year the planning for World War I took place between the US government and the French government here,” added Holliday. “It was also the home of Catherine Graham, the great Catherine Graham, for about 17 years of her life and you’re gonna be right next door. Same architect, John Russel Pope, built both houses. Senator Mark Warner and his wife Lisa are on the road tonight, but they wish they could be here; they’ve also done a wonderful job in co-chairing this. You note the bipartisanship, of course. And we have Governor Jim Blanchard and his wife Janet. Secretary Wilbur Ross is here. Mr. Secretary welcome, thank you for the work you’re doing advancing our global competitive position. People know The Meridian Ball, but we hope this evening when you leave – or when you think about it a week from now – you’ll remember what we do here and not just the beautiful setting. This has been a record setting year for this event. I will not give out the number, it’d be inappropriate. However, I will tell you that the number far exceeded our expectations, and all that money will go towards programs that help young Americans and young people from around the world, work on solutions to challenges we face together. So thank you.”
A look inside:
