by contributor Wendy Gordon
Photo credit: R. David Chambers
What’s black and white and bling all over?
The Capital City Ball ushered in the holiday season with the gala again being held at The Washington Club on Dupont Circle.
The glitterati were there en masse. But the event’s not simply a cacophony of bedazzled ball gowns and tuxes galore.
It was founded for a distinct cause: In September 2007 a group of DC area professionals founded the event with the goal of hosting a top notch party, make sure our guests have the time of their lives and raise money and awareness of combating human trafficking “because it is such an egregious crime, and because the organizations dedicated to fighting it need a tremendous amount of support to effectively combat this scourge,” says the event’s literature.
“It is unacceptable that human trafficking exists anywhere, but it is especially troubling that it is a significant problem right here in Washington, DC, and we are determined to leverage this event to make a difference well beyond the money we raise.”
This year’s beneficiaries were Courtney’s House, Global Centurion and Urban Light—which do everything from offering therapy, career training and a safe haven to victims of human trafficking, but also fight this abuse through the system, politically and diplomatically. Past recipients have included Bridge to Freedom Foundation, The Emancipation Network (Made by Survivors), HIPS, Innocents at Risk, Polaris Project and WEAVE.
Guests danced the night away to the Jazz Standard to 80’s disco musical stylings of Bittersweet, while sipping, supping and socializing.
A highlight of the evening and major philanthropic revenue generator of the evening is the event’s silent auction, which, this year, included fine art by local artist Maggie O’Neill, tickets to One Direction’s sold out concert at Madison Square Garden and photographs of everything from Led Zeppelin to Bogie & Bacall; jewelry, custom tailoring by Royal Blue, and more.
Fitting, then, that the end of the evening concluded with a gift of custom seasonal whoopie pies from Makin’ Whoopie–as that exclamation is always fitting for a successful evening for a cause.
