Photo and interview credit: Janet Donovan
If you want to put some passion into your non-profit event, look no further than Kathleen Kennedy Townsend – former Lt. Governor of Maryland and daughter of the late Robert Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy.
As Chair of The Global Virus Network (GVN), Townsend’s passion prevailed at ‘Villa Nuschese’ – home of Cafe Milano proprietor Franco Nuschese – for a small group of guests that included world-renowned virologist Dr. Robert Gallo.
“We are in twenty two different countries and thirty five centers,” she noted. “We have now had meetings in Ireland and in Italy, we just returned from Munich last week and we are going to Moscow in September and China next year. It is a global network.”
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
“It is important that these scientist talk to one another, learn from one another,” she continued. “At some point some scientist from Michigan will say ‘wow, that looks just like the virus that the Japanese has just looked at and found.’ We need better scientists to come to us and to help us. What we have seen from these meetings from all around the world is that this is a critical issue.
So, as chair I would really like you to write a big check tonight,” she added with all the ease of a seasoned politician. Adding a touch of humor to the the request she offered the following suggestion: “If anyone gives us money tonight, we will call you a visionary donor or whatever else you want to be called.”
Guests had time to think it over as they mingled, chatted and engaged in the plentiful food and bar bounty.
Hollywood on the Potomac talked to Dr. Robert Gallo about his accomplishments and the mission of eradicating threatening viruses through world-wide cooperation:
