by contributor Donna Shor
Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan
It was “An Affair to Remember” on Saturday night (April 26, 2014) when 350+ Washingtonians attended the Celebrazione della Cura a Celebration of Caring benefit to honor the 125th Anniversary of The Washington Home & Community Hospices at one of Washington’s most elegant fundraisers. The Italian Embassy never looked more “glam.”
Tim Cox and Sharon Casey
Sharon Collins Casey, Chair of the Board and Tim Cox, CEO of the Washington Home & Community Hospices, greeted each guest as they entered the grand ballroom which was transformed into a grand piazza. Mrs. Laura Denise, wife of Claudio Bisogniero, Italian Ambassador to the United States who represented her husband, mingled enthusiastically with the guests throughout the evening. “I wanted to change the pace for worthy causes and our board feels that this year’s gala did just that – it created a marque event for us and the city,” said Cox
Laura Denise Bisogniero, Esther Coopersmith, Eleanor Clift and Tim Cox
Upon entering, each guest was handed a golden coin to throw into the Trevi-like fountain in the center of the piazza. A beautiful turquoise poster featuring Venice’s watered city was draped on either side of the plaza.
Honorary Host Committee members enjoying themselves included The Honorable Esther Coopersmith, Ambassador/UNESCO, The Honorable Aniko Gaal Schott, Gail Berry West (wife of Togo West), Shahin Mafi, Christine Warnke and her escort, David Short of FedEx, The Honorable Rafat and Shaista Mahmood, Marlene and Fred Malek, Didi Cutler, Judith F. Terra, Chair, DC Commission on Arts & Humanities, Arnaud and Alexandra Villard De Borchgrave, Singapore’s Ambassador Ashok Kumar Mirpuri and Netherlands’ Ambassador and Mrs. Rudolf Bekink.
Marlene and Fred Malek
Alexandra De Borchgrave, Laura Denise Bisogniero and Arnaud De Borchgrave
As guests arrived, they were greeted by a bella (beautiful woman)–sans body— poised — without moving–most of the time—a few feet away stood a gorgeous living golden statue of Bacchus (Michelangelo)/Dionysus, (The Roman God of wine) who held sumptuous grapes & twinkled his eyes.
violinist, Rafael Javadov
Opera singer, Rolando Sanz
Greek opera singer Chrissellene Petropoulos electrified the evening with magnificent Italian songs, joined by widely acclaimed opera singer Rolando Sanz in the stirring haunting & melodious “Music of the Night.” Russian classical violinist Rafael Javadov captured many ladies hearts with his beautiful music & charming ways. Rosalia Acampora, hostess at il Canale restaurant in Georgetown, spoke about her native Italy.
i-Talians and lead singer Pasquale DePandi
During brief intermissions, the guests shopped at the elegant Italian market featuring upscale clothing, leather goods, jewelry, ceramics, perfumes and wines. The popular local pop/rock band, i-Talians lured everyone back & as the night progressed, the guests spontaneously whirled around in clusters dancing and cantando (singing)!
Sheila Switzer
A sketch artist nearby drew individual portraits blissfully unaware of the noise surrounding him… The embassy never looked more bella (beautiful) and vivo (alive)—this was as close to being in Venice & Florence as possible!
A brief history: In 1888, when the malarial slums of Washington were rife with disease, the Home for Incurables (the organization’s original name) began treating aging and ill women and men in a two room house with no electricity or running water. For the city’s poorest, unable to pay for hospitals, there was nowhere else to go. Now, 125 years later, the non-profit charity cares for almost 2500 residents and patients a year— still turning no one away and still — bringing compassionate care to aging, chronically and terminally ill women and men.
Aniko Gaal Schott
The Washington Home provides long-term residential, rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s disease and hospice care to residents of the District. Art Buchwald was one of their more famous residents. He held court with friends and visitors for many months until he left to write a best seller of his experiences. Just one example of how the home helped one of our citys’ most beloved and witty columnists.
The fundraiser hopes to raise approximately $100,000 for the healthcare services for aging, chronically and terminally ill area residents.
Page Faulk and Dave Canham
A short video presented at the introduction of the evening, showed The Washington Home & Community Hospices’ current one-of-a-kind Hospice Caregiver’s Relief Program, which provides home care aides to stay with frail, at-home hospice patients while their caregivers work full-time to maintain their medical benefits and pay their bills.
Barbara Hawthorn, Mr. and Mrs. Luca Franchetti Pardo and Sharon Casey
With an acclaimed medical and professional staff, and a dedicated corps of volunteers who contribute at least 16,000 hours of work per year, they provide the highest standards of healthcare services to all who need them. At every step, The Washington Home & Community Hospices strives to ease the end-of-life days for their patients and those they leave behind. They offer sensitive and caring bereavement services to the family members and friends of all those we have the honor of accompanying on their final life journeys.
Craig Cobine and Tim Cox
The last page of the official printed program offered to guests as they arrived & departed, included wisdom from residents and patients of the Washington Home & Community Hospices entitled “Secrets for Living A Good Life.” A few of their suggestions included: Stay curious – Be grateful– Tell the truth – Love who you marry – Don’t live in debt – Have Faith.
