Washington Life Magazine - June 2019

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2019 PHILANTHROPIC 50

A VIEW OF GIVING FROM JANE LIPTON CAFRITZ, DAVID RUBENSTEIN AND ADRIENNE ARSHT WEALTH EXPLOSION: WASHINGTON’S 34 BILLIONAIRES & WHO’S MADE THE GIVING PLEDGE SUPER DADS: REP. JOE KENNEDY, BEN HARPER, NATE BERKUS AND BLAKE BURMAN FIT FOR PHILANTHROPIC FETES: INSIDE GEORGE AND KRISTEN LUND’S GRAND KALORAMA HOME FASHION: STEP AFRIKA! CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY




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JUNE 2019

EDITOR'S LETTER

FEATURES THE PHILANTHROPIC The biggest givers in Washington ............................

WASHINGTON'S WEALTHIEST From $200 million - $126 billion .........................

DADS WITH CAPESRep. Joe Kennedy, Ben Harper, Nate Berkus and Blake Burman ...........

LIFESTYLES FASHION Step Afrika! ..................................... TRENDS Color Palette of Bermuda........................ Tiffany & Co.'s CEO Alessandro Bogliolo .............. GIFT GUIDE Father's Day Golfers ....................

Christy Turlington and Tonne Goodman in Conversation at the National Portrait Gallery......

WASHINGTON SOCIAL DIARY V Foundation's Virginia Vine ................................

FYIDC

Gender Studies: iGiant ........................................

SOCIAL CALENDAR ................................... THE DISH Napoli Pasta Bar.............................. HEELS ON THE GROUND ........................

Folger Shakespeare Library's 'Wonder of Will' Gala ..

DC Volunteer Lawyers Project Benefit..................... Young Concert Artists Gala ..................................

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Bender JCC's 'Imagine' ........................................

POLLYWOOD White House Correspondents' Dinner Festivities ................................................

HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC ........

DC-Capital Stars ............................................... Venture Philanthropy Partners' All Stars Night ......... EMBASSY ROW Embassy Receptions ............... Refugees International Dinner ............................... Atlantic Council Awards....................................... Ball for the Mall ................................................. Book Party for Terence Ward's 'The Wahhabi Code'........ March of Dimes Gourmet Gala ............................. National Archives "Rightfully Hers" Opening ..........

Women & Wine..................................................

Studio Theatre 40th Anniversary............................

DC09's Virginia Gold Cup Party ............................ The Links High Tea .............................................. Compass DMV Launch ........................................ CityDance Dream Gala.........................................

HOME LIFE INSIDE HOMES George and Kristen Lund............ OVER THE MOON .......................................

OPEN HOUSE ............................................... REAL ESTATE NEWS ................................... MY WASHINGTON Franco Nuschese .................

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TOP FROM LEFT: COVER: Jane Lipton Cafritz (Photo by Tony Powell); David Rubenstein and Adrienne Arsht (Photo by Tony Powell), Inside the Lunds' Home (Photo by Tony Powell); Step Afrika! female dancers (Photo by Drew Xeron), Tonne Goodman's "Point of View"; Negroni slushie from Napoi Pasta Bar (Courtesy Photo).

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T H E I N S I D E R’S G U I D E TO P OW E R , P H I L A N T H R O PY, A N D SO C I E T Y S I N C E 1 9 9 1

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Nancy Reynolds Bagley EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Virginia Coyne SENIOR EDITOR

Kevin Chaffee MANAGING EDITOR

Catherine Trifiletti ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Dara Klatt CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Roland Flamini COLUMNISTS AND CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Janet Donovan, Steve Houk,Vicky Moon, Stacey Grazier Pfarr and Donna Shor PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Matt Rippetoe PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Tony Powell CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Joy Asico, Ben Droz, Alfredo Flores, Larry French, Naku Mayo,Kyle Samperton, Erin Schaff, Jay Snap, Amanda Warden and Brian Wilson

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Soroush Richard Shehabi SALES AND MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE

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Mason Hammond Drake, Akerman, LLP EDITORIAL INTERNS

Lauryn Cantrell, Max Harwood, Kaitlyn Hopkins and Georgia Slater

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Vicki Bagley CREATIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS (*)

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Gerry Byrne Washington Life magazine publishes ten times a year. Issues are distributed in February, March, April, May, June, July/August, September, November, and December and are hand-delivered on a rotating basis to over 150,000 homes throughout D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Additional copies are available at various upscale retailers, hotels, select newstands, and Whole Foods stores in the area. For a complete listing, please consult our website at www.washingtonlife.com. You can also subscribe online at www.washingtonlife.com or send a check for $79.95 (one year) to: Washington Life Magazine, 2301 Tracy Place NW, Washington D.C., 20008. BPA audited. Email us at info@washingtonlife.com with press releases, tips, and editorial comments. Copyright ©2011 by Washington Life. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial content or photos in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Printed in the United States. We will not be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. *deceased



EDITOR’S LETTER

AN INSTINCT TO GIVE

A

s our Philanthropic 50 takes center stage this month in our annual wealth and philanthropy issue, a quote from financier and renowned philanthropist David Rubenstein caught my attention: “In philanthropy, it’s much harder to give it away than to make it.” It seems fitting as our issue goes to press amid the stunned surprise and joy following billionaire investor Robert Smith’s announcement that he would pay off student loans of the graduating Morehouse College class as well as skepticism over author Anand Giridharadas’ skewering accusations against tech billionaires who donate millions in order to obtain a voice in policy discussions. Whatever your opinions about philanthropic motivation might be, our focus is to highlight the exceptional givers, recognize the nonprofit groups they give to, and encourage the instinct to give back. As Adrienne Arsht, who is taking a new direction in philanthropic giving, says, “It’s not about money, it’s about how you contribute to society.” Our June issue also zooms in on the impact of gender and sex with regard to innovation. I had the pleasure of hosting an engaging roundtable with the nonprofit organization iGIANT (Impact of Gender and Sex on Innovation and Novel Technologies) where a diverse group of participants pondered various topics that included “have you ever had a side effect after taking a drug or have you ever known anyone who had a neck injury in a car accident?” Why? Because as our article “Gender Studies” points out, everything in our lives, from the cars we drive, the shoes we wear and the pills we take was designed with a man in mind. Speaking of men, let’s talk about dads. Father’s Day is celebrated this month and we caught up with some “Dads with Capes”— those far from ordinary fathers, including Rep. Joe Kennedy, Ben Harper, Nate Berkus and Blake Burman, who shared the causes they support, the work they love and family issues that are on their mind. (By the way, for the dad golfers out there, we’ve got some great gifts you can’t double bogey on.) And now that we’re in summer mode, we offer trends in the color palette of Bermuda, show you fashion with Step Afrika! dancers as models and of course take you to a spectacular array of parties including Ball for the Mall, City Dance Dream Gala, Women & Wine, the National Portrait Gallery’s book panel with Christy Turlington and Tonne Goodman and Folger Shakespeare Library’s ‘Wonder of Will’ Gala.

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With Rep. Jamie Raskin at the book talk with Terence Ward for “The Wahhabi Code”

Our associate editor Dara Klatt with singer-songwriter Ben Harper who was profiled as one of our “Dads in Capes.”

Nancy R. Bagley Editor in Chief Readers wishing to contact Nancy Bagley can email her at nbagley@washingtonlife.com

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FYIDC The Insider’s Guide to Washington BY LAURYN CANTRELL

june

Richard Howard and Janne Paulsen (center) in “The Children” at Studio Theatre

June - august SHOWROOM AT STUDIO THEATRE

Jon Batiste will perform at The Anthem as part of the DC JazzFest

June 7 - 16

Studio Theatre presents its summer series of curated performances and laid-back hangouts in the Milton Theatre, where audiences can enjoy cocktails and an array of eclectic one-man shows and off-beat performances. Select performances playing from June to August; 1501 14th St. NW; 202.332.3300; for productions and ticket prices, visit www.studiotheatre.org.

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A LAB ÍNA AT ECHOSTAGE

After 20 years on stage, Alabina still has

that something. The legendary French-based group formed in the ’90s and quickly became an international favorite with Israeli-born Ishtar performing the female vocals alongside four cousins from France who are Spanish-speaking Catholic Gypsies. 8:30 p.m.; 2135 Queen’s Chapel Rd. NE, $50-70; echostage.com.

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H IR SHHORN GALA

Individuality, self expression and the artistic movement of Surrealism take center stage at the contemporary art museum’s first annual gala. The festivities will be hosted by local icon Pussy Noir, a sensational character developed and performed by D.C. native Jason Barnes. Hirshhorn

DC JAZZ FEST

In its 15th year, the DC JazzFest at the Wharf celebrates our nation’s vibrant cultural capital, with performances by more than 100 bands and 300 artists at 40 venues across 22 neighborhoods. The tones of the city’s unique quadrants will unite local businesses with musicians in support of music education in underserved communities. Leading jazz artists and groups such as Snarky Puppy, Jon Batiste and Stay Human, José James, Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science, Michael Franks, Joshua Redman, Stefon Harris and Blackout, and Brass-a-holics, are just some of the luminaries highlighting the 10-day Festival. Tickets, concerts and locations listed

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Experience Jazzfest throughout the Wharf across multiple free outdoor stages.

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P H OTO CO U RT E SY JA Z Z F E ST; P H OTO BY F R I T Z P H OTO G R A P H I C S

on dcjazzfest.org.



FYIDC

| THE DISH

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F OS SILS ARE THE FUTURE: SMITHSONIAN’S “DEEP TIME” OPENS

The renovated exhibit expands the narrative of the natural world; beginning with the age of dinosaurs and ending with the future of mankind.

Pussy Noir will play host at the Hirshhorn’s annual ball

Museum and Sculpture Garden; 7:30 p.m.; $250; hirshhorn.si.edu.

June 15-23

Samuel G. Nappi. Special guest: Ambassador of Afghanistan Roya Rahmani. Four Seasons Hotel; 6 p.m. reception; 7 p.m. dinner; fauaf.cbo.io.

June 29-30

BY THE PEOPLE FESTIVAL

Halcyon’s international arts and dialogue festival returns for a second year with programming meant to spark creativity across communities. This year’s curator, Jessica Stafford Davis will spotlight artists and collectors of color through massive installations and performances across the city. June 15-23; various times and locations; free and open to the public; bythepeople.org.

SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL

The two-day event celebrates the cultural practice of music to sustain the melodies that entertain, educate, inspire, preserve and strengthen communities. National Mall, by Smithsonian Metro Station; admission is free to the public; festival. si.edu.

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RAMMY AWARDS

FRIENDS OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF AFGHANISTAN GALA The fundraising event supports the emerging youth of Afghanistan through higher education entities, such as the American University of Afghanistan, based in Kabul. This year’s gala will honor David M. Rubenstein, Gen. David H. Petraeus, Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr. and

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Halcyon’s By the People Festival will showcase a range of artists-

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The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington honors the ability and accomplishments of the area’s most enthusiastic culinary talents. Walter E.Washington Convention Center; 5 p.m.; black-tie; General Admission Tickets: $325; For information on awards, tickets and sponsorships, email therammy@ramw.org; 202.331.5990; therammys.org.

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he Smithsonian Natural History Museum announced the return of the Tyrannosaurus rex as the centerpiece of its new exhibit opening June 8. The redesigned 31,000-square-foot hall features more than 700 specimens, including dinosaurs, plants, animals and insects that are curated to more accurately tell the 3.7 billion years of history of life on Earth. “The David H. Koch Hall of Fossils —Deep Time” connects the planet’s distant past as a means to inform its present and future. The name recognizes the $35 million gift from David H. Koch, the largest single donation in the museum’s history. The ambitious exhibition retells Earth’s story by replacing outdated science with a fresh approach that will help visitors interpret their relationship with the Earth. The hall addresses the consequences of past geographical events, and how human actions continue to affect the planet’s sustainability as a life force. Designers and curators hope that visitors will make informed decisions about the impact of their choices on life beyond current generations. “‘Deep Time’ and the study of the past is incredibly relevant, even more so now than ever because you can learn a lot on climate change, habit change, extinction if you study the past,” says Siobhan Starrs, the museum’s senior project manager/exhibition developer. “Deep Time” opens to the public on June 8, with an exclusive black-tie, members-only preview gala on June 6.

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FYIDC

| THE DISH

TRADITION RULES Napoli Pasta Bar balances authentic Neopolitan fare with a neighborhood vibe. BY C AT H E R I N E T R I F I L E T T I

C

Address here

WHAT TO ORDER: Zuccotto di melanzana ($12) Paccheri o’rrau ($19) Negroncello ($10) Napoli Pasta Bar | 2737 Sherman Ave., NW | napolipastabar.com | Entrees start at $16

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hatting with Antonio Ferraro about his mom and grandmother waking up early on Saturday mornings to whip up paccheri ragu and Genovese pasta back in his Neapolitan hometown of Vico Equense could make even a non-Italian feel nostalgic. The traditional dishes of Southern Italy are what drove Ferraro to open his own restaurant, Napoli Pasta Bar, last March. Ferraro has spent his career working in the fine dining business, first on the Amalfi Coast at Michelinstarred restaurants and five star hotels then eventually at the front of the house at Cafe Milano in Georgetown. After eight years there, Ferraro was ready to trade in his suit for jeans and a T-shirt. “It was too straight,” he says of the white table cloth world. His dual level eatery in Columbia Heights’ Park View neighborhood features a charming exposed brick interior and a spacious patio with turquoise and white tables and chairs reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast. Colorfully mismatched plates flown in from the Sorrento coast and Ferraro’s own photography from the region are a few of the ways he channels his roots. On the menu, Neopolitan staples including zuccotto di melanzana (eggplant and ricotta), millefoglie di baccala (marinated cod wrapped around buffalo mozzarella) and a rotating cast of pasta dishes that will change seasonally. In his dedication to recreating classic textures and flavors, Ferraro uses dry pastas from a neighboring Italian town called Gragnano, famous for its production of quality noodles. Contrary to popular belief, he explains, dry pasta achieves a more optimal level of al dente, which is why he spends extra to have it imported. He has added a few varieties made inhouse to appease diners’ who get excited when they see “homemade.” Ferraro acknowledges that there is no shortage of Italian restaurants in Washington, but it’s his commitment to tradition that sets Napoli apart. For the first time restaurant owner it’s about creating a place that honors his past and sharing it with his community. He admits the obstacles never seem to end in this line of work. “It’s challenging, but it’s also more rewarding,” he says, adding that the sweetest part is his “gratification when I see Neapolitan people or Italian people who like it and they come back. Then I say ‘Oh, that means we’re doing it right.’’’

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FYIDC

| OVERHEARD IN DC

HEELS ON THE GROUND Musings, sightings and news from Washington Life’s editorial team QUOTABLE:

WHO WE’RE CHANNELING THIS MONTH

ON MEN BEING SELF-DEPRECATING

‘I’m a boring person. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have started a news organization’ Ezra Klein, editor-at-large and founder of Vox at the “Vox Turns 5 Celebration,” said under the influence of Diet Coke.

‘I don’t have an artistic bone in my body … I got kicked out of band in the 6th grade.’ Sean Spicer, at the CBS News/Politico Pre-WHCD party (likely providing evidence on why he declined an offer to join the cast of “Dancing with the Stars”).

D.C. Funk Parade cheerleader Ken Roseman

WHAT WE’RE DRINKING THIS MONTH Grand Marnier’s new “expression” C u vé e LouisAlexandre launched in Washington at an intimate party last month. Several guests at the Boys and Girls Club of America’s spring culinary experience at Métier walked away as happy collectors with bottles of extremely rare Bourbons. Among the silent auction items: a 1990 Van Winkle 16 year Bourbon of which there are estimated to be less than 50 in the country. Funds benefited BGCA programs nationally.

WHAT’S NEW:

CULTURED:

Pha kwan at Thip Khao

Two new hot spots: Your favorite music venue on the Wharf, The Anthem opened the doors to its Marquee Bar, a rooftop deck overlooking the marina. It will be available to the non-concertgoing public on nights when there are no shows. As its name implies, ascending 12 Stories on a one-stop elevator adds to the elevated experience of the Gerber Group’s first bar/restaurant concept in the District, which sits atop the Intercontinental Hotel at the Wharf. Recognize the name? Scott Gerber’s brother Rande is (1) married to Cindy Crawford and (2) founder of the popular tequila brand Casamigos with George Clooney.

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At a Resy x Capital One dinner celebrating female chefs, Seng Luangrath of the Laotian restaurant Thip Khao welcomed diners to help ring in her home country’s New Year. At the end of a five-course meal, Luangrath tied braided string from a pha kwan around guests’ wrists wishing them “Happiness, longevity and anything you wish for,” as part of the traditional Baci ritual usually performed by male masters of ceremonies.

Photo by Stephanie Vadala

DC’s Funk Parade forged on despite an afternoon downpour. The festival paying homage to U Street’s musical and cultural history featured five outdoor stages and dozens of live performances. The all-day celebration kicked off with a #DontMuteDC panel addressing escalating community issues related to gentrification.

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POLLYWOOD The Nexus of Politics﹐ Hollywood﹐ Media and Diplomacy | Refugees International Gala, Young Concert Artists Gala, March of Dimes, Embassy Row and more!

Michelle Kosinski, Kate Bennett and Kaitlan Collins at the WHCD Pre-party (Photo by Tony Powell)

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POLLYWOOD

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ WEEKEND

EYES ON THE PRIZE

The 2019 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner and events surrounding it celebrated journalists without some of the usual pomp and circumstance. BY C AT H E R I N E T R I F I L E T T I

For those wondering if the President’s absence (he attended a rally in Wisconsin instead) was an elephant in the room at this White House Correspondents’ dinner ... White House Correspondents’ Association president Olivier Knox had this to say: “I don’t want to dwell on the president. This is not his dinner it is ours and it should stay ours.” Knox set the tone early in the weekend when we caught up with him at the Bytes & Bylines party on Thursday night. Having taken over the WHCA leading role last year, the SiriusXM chief Washington correspondent emphasized his goal of putting the spotlight back on hard-working journos, whose jobs seem to be more thankless than ever. On past dinners, he lamented, “You were more likely to run into a sitcom star than a sound engineer.” With a focus on the news makers instead of the glitzy celebs, this year’s weekend was low wattage, but not low energy. The biggest difference? More engaged conversations, less people gazing over your shoulder looking for someone more important to chat with. Taking the safe route where journalists could gain back the attention meant no controversial comedians at dinner. Instead, historian Ron Chernow offered a self-titled “20 minute sedative for the evening,” putting the festivities in historical context: “People are taking their comedians seriously and their politicians as a joke and that certainly describes our topsy-turvy moment.”

T H U R S DAY A P R I L

WASHINGTON WOMEN IN JOURNALISM [ANDERSON HOUSE] P H O T O S B Y J OY A S I C O

Breezy spring weather allowed guests to fan out onto the patio and lawn of historic Anderson House to sip old fashioneds and mingle at the kickoff event of the weekend. The female journalists honored were Huff Po’s Amanda Terkel, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, CNN’s Abby Phillip and WaPo’s Ashley Parker. Cohost Gloria Dittus made sure to point to their A-List abilities, quipping that their names all begin with an A.

Abby Phillip and Marcus Richardson

Abby Phillip and Marcus Richardson

British Amb. Sir Kim Darroch and Lady Vanessa Darroch

Audrey Henson and Jennifer DeCasper (photobomb courtesy of Rebecca and Sean Spicer)

Josh Dawsey, Jonathan Lemire and Meridith McGraw

Ned Price, Kevin Cirilli and Olivier Knox

Kasey Crowley and Rep. Joe Crowley

BYTES & BYLINES [IRISH AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE] P H O T O S B Y J OY A S I C O

Any party that ends with a few dozen lingering guests belting out “Sweet Caroline” can automatically be classified as a success. Among the revelers: hosts Allen Gannett, John McCarthy, Eric Kuhn and Jennifer DeCasper. The light-hearted event is in its fourth year (its second in partnership with the Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall). Generous pours of peated whisky from Kilbeggan Irish, live jazz and great conversation made the evening, which benefited the next generation of young reporters through the White House Correspondents’ Association Scholarship Fund, a great night.

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ATLANTIC MEDIA’S KICKOFF DINNER [THE BRADLEY RESIDENCE] P H OTO S BY TO N Y P OW E L L

The annual dinner hosted by Atlantic Media Chairman David Bradley and his wife Katherine is an intimate tented backyard gathering studded with Washington luminaries.

Megan Murphy, Hilary Rosen and Fred Humphries

Adrienne Arsht and Kellyanne Conway

David and Katherine Bradley with Sen. Mark Warner

Rep. John Delaney, Sally Quinn, Bill Weld and Leslie Marshall

Jill Udall and Sen. Tom Udall

David Rubenstein and Stephanie Ruhle F R I DAY A P R I L

POLITICO PLAYBOOK RECEPTION

NOT THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER

[WEWORK, METROPOLITAN

[D.A.R. CONSTITUTION HALL]

SQUARE]

P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F G E T T Y/ T B S

After a year’s hiatus, sharp-witted comedian Samantha Bee welcomed Washingtonians back for a live taping of her TBS show “Full Frontal.” Guests got in her contagious jovial spirit by posing on lifesize typewriters and playing political Mad Lib(erals). For a second year, the NWHCD raised money for the Committee to Protect Journalists.

P H O T O S B Y V I T H AYA P H O N G S AVA N

Playbook authors Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman and Daniel Lippman played host at the kickoff event. Palmer and Sherman are fresh off their book tour for “The Hill to Die On,” which has been making waves on the New York Times bestseller list. HIGHLIGHT AN ARTIST SKETCHING

Tara Palmeri, Neil Grace and Nikki Schwab

SPOTTED APPEARANCES BY ROBERT DE NIRO AND A ROBOT

Mad Lib(eral)s wall

“TRUMP-O-MATIC” CARICATURES

Robyn Bash, Anastasia Dellaccio, Jay Newton Small and Daniel Lippman

WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

Allana Harkin and Bradley Whitford

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Samantha Bee

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POLLYWOOD

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ WEEKEND

THE HILL’S ‘TOAST TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT’ [KOGOD COURTYARD, THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY] P H OTO S BY TO N Y P OW E L L

Sheila Casey and Michael Kelly

A live performance by Questlove was the story of this party, and really of the weekend if you ask any of the people on the dancefloor who jammed hard to the Roots alum’s DJ set. Unfortunately, it took the third hour of his performance for tightly-wound guests to loosen up. For that we can thank the bartenders, who mixed up stiff signature cocktails including “Free Press” made with rum, cider and pear liqueur. Kudos to Brian Donahue and Craft Media for not skimping on anything. Ah, if only every party had a bottomless budget.

Questlove

HIGHLIGHT AN IMPRESSIVE RAW BAR A LA WINDOWS CATERING SPOTTED VIPS WANDERING IN AND OUT OF A CLOSED OFF SPACE4 INCLUDING RUDY GIULIANI4 WHICH SEEMED SIGNIFICANT AT THE TIME4 UNTIL HE SHOWED UP EVERYWHERE THEREAFTER OH4 AND FOR WHAT

Hill Owner Jimmy Finkelstein and John Solomon

IT’S WORTH – THE GUY FROM “PAWN STARS ”

Adi Spiegelman and Trey Yingst

Rick Harrison and Rudy Giuliani

Britt McHenry Augustine Gradoux-Matt, Vinoda Basnayake and Sarah Mueller

QATAR EMBASSY RECEPTION [UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE] P H O T O S B Y T O N Y P O W E L L

When one of the richest countries in the world throws a party, you don’t want to miss it. It wasn’t long in the planning process Qatar and its media partner The Washington Diplomat enlisted a local public relations agency to bulk up their guest list – prime time Friday billing required the boost. All things considered, they did a very nice job with the help of sponsors Long & Foster | Christie’s International Real Estate and D.C. United. Middle Eastern-bites from Occasions included phyllo-wrapped everything.

Julia Richardson and Rep. Andre Carson

HIGHLIGHT ENTERING A TRANCE COURTESY OF ARTIST PATRICIA BENNET’S LIVE PAINTING OF QATARI CAPITAL DOHA’S SKYLINE

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Damir and Amra Fazlic, Jackie Rooney and Jayne Visser

Rep. Jim Moran, Qatar Amb. Meshal Bin Hamad Al Thani and Scott Thuman

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UNITED TALENT AGENCY’S ‘CELEBRATION OF AMERICA’S JOURNALISTS’ [FIOLA MARE] P H O T O S B Y DA N I E L S WA R T Z

With only one notable slip down the concrete stairs at the end of the night, guests appeared a bit more well-behaved at an event that typically involves some of the best people watching of the weekend. Owners of the Georgetown favorite, Fabio and Maria Trabocchi, may have put out more carbs (yum, focaccia) to help the partiers keep pace.

Carol Melton and Sam Feist

Charles Rivkin, Susan Tolson and Minnie Driver

HIGHLIGHT THE SMALL CIGARETTE SMOKING CROWD SERVING AS THE PEANUT GALLERY ON THE BACK DECK SPOTTED MINNIE DRIVER – WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL OUR LIVES? ALSO4 THE FIJI WATER GIRL ;GOOGLE IT<

Jake Tapper, Al Franken and Don Epstein

Jay Sures and Dana Bash

Kelleth Cuthbert S AT U R DAY A P R I L

Jay Leno and Don Lemon

Rep . Lauren Underwood

Kate Bolduan

Jonathan Taylor, Trish Yan and Doug Kammerer

Sally and Mark Ein with Chloe and Charlie

Alex Thomas and Nicole Lopez-Alvar

GARDEN BRUNCH [BEALL-WASHINGTON HOUSE] P H OTO S BY TO N Y P OW E L L

The usual parade of big black cars descending on Georgetown caused plenty of head turns from dog walking neighbors. During the award celebration, which recognized military veterans for their service, Jean Case handed out a “be fearless” award (she released her book “Be Fearless” last year) and Jay Leno gave away a car, after joking that organizers must have been scraping at the bottom of the barrel to have invited him to present. HIGHLIGHT TIE BETWEEN COMPASS COFFEE’S CUSTOM ESPRESSO BAR AND THE TRICOLORED BLOODY MARY BAR BY DESIGN CUISINE BECAUSE4 BALANCE

Laura and Valerie Jarrett

DAILY BEAST COCKTAILPARTY [THE HEPBURN] P H O T O S B Y N A K U M AYO

Tammy Haddad, Lisa Barsoomian and Rod Rosenstein

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Noah Shachtman and Jackie Kucinich

A young and fresh crowd ascended to the roof of the chic Hepburn apartment building next door to the Washington Hilton for a pre-dinner, pre-game.

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POLLYWOOD

Jack DeGioia

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ WEEKEND

Yumi Kim and Gov. Larry Hogan

Gary Knell, Genny Ryan and Kim Larson

Meredith McPhillips and Kayla Tausche

PRE-RECEPTIONS [WASHINGTON HILTON]

Cloe Luv, Jordan Emanuel and Geena Rocero

P H OTO S BY TO N Y P OW E L L

April Ryan

Michael Beschloss with Jean and Steve Case

Bassima Al Ghussein and Jeh Johnson

Marillyn Hewson

Geoff Bennett, Kristen Welker, Peter Alexander and Hallie Jackson

Xxxx Xxxx Maria Espinoza Cristina Antelo and Gino Duda

Susan Rice, Ian Cameron, Suzanne Malveaux and Karine Jean-Pierre

David Cohen and MSNBC President Phil Griffin

Xxxx Xxxx

MSNBC AFTER PARTY [ITALIAN EMBASSY] P H OTO S BY TO N Y P OW E L L

Battling Uber and Lyft surcharges and windy, rainy weather, guests lifted up their dresses and pant legs and trudged on to the spirited late night bash.

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Francesca Chambers

Tom Perez and Cornell Belcher

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Ryan Lizza and Olivia Nuzzi

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S U N DAY A P R I L

Andrea Mitchell, Robin Davisson and Ginny Grenham

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Sen. Roy Blunt and Abigail Blunt with Mariella and Michael Trager

POLITICO BRUNCH [THE ALLBRITTON RESIDENCE] P H OTO S BY TO N Y P OW E L L

Politico’s stronghold on the weekend continued with the exclusive Allbritton Brunch, to which even the most exhausted don’t give up an invitation. Politico CEO Robert Allbritton and his wife Elena have mastered the hosting role, each year choosing a different theme to elate their guests – this year was all about California cool.

Robert and Dr. Elena Allbritton with Barbie Allbritton

Shawna Thomas and Niki Christoff

Cristina Antelo and Gino Duda

Art Smith

Matt Dornic and John Legittino Diane Zeleny and Paul Johnson

Matthew Lauer and Samantha Sault

CNN’S ‘POLITICAL HANGOVER’ BRUNCH

Lance Morgan and Gloria Borger with Lynn and Wolf Blitzer Spike Mendelsohn and Paul Strauss

[1626 NORTH CAPITOL ST., NW] P H O T O S B Y B E N D R OZ

A fire house in Eckington got a head to toe New Orleans-style makeover courtesy of Advoc8 for the media behemoth’s hangover brunch. Guests washed down muffalettas and shrimp po’ boys with spiked “swampy” green juice and slushies. Upstairs, a secret Prohibition- style speakeasy channeled voodoo vibes accompanied by milk and brandy cocktails. Harmonica player Fred Yonnet and his band perfomed in the makeshift jazz room while CNN President Jeff Zucker hung by the string band outside.

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THOMSON REUTERS’ CORRESPONDENTS’ BRUNCH [HAY ADAMS HOTEL ROOF] P H O T O S B Y B E N D R OZ

Gloria Dittus and Rep. Debbie Dingell

”Top Chef” alum Spike Mendelsohn helped revive burned out guests with a bountiful brunch spread.

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POLLYWOOD | HOLLYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC

Lt. Col. Nancy Jaax and Lt. Col. Jerry Jaax

Sen. Angus King and Rep. Donna Shalala

‘THE HOT ZONE’ PREMIERE National Geographic Headquarters

MARCH OF DIMES GOURMET GALA Ronald Reagan Building

PHOTO BY PAUL MORIGI/ GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO BY TONY POWELL

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‘I’m the arm candy tonight.’

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“It was pretty cool. I did not meet Julianna Margulies before filming, but she really captured the character. It’s a little daunting because you don’t know how they’re going to portray you.We are real life people, so we have a lot of skin in the game.”

HE SCEN

— Lt. Col. Nancy Jaax on her story being portrayed in the National Geographic limited series “The Hot Zone” about the 1989 outbreak of the Ebola virus and her heroic efforts to contain it.

— Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.)

“The only thing I’m famous for is my sloppy Joe’s recipe. In fact, I met with the Prime Minister of Japan not that long ago and I said, ‘Mr. Prime Minister, I just have three words for you when it comes to my state that I hope you remember: beef, pigs and soy beans.’” — Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa)

Toni Trucks in “SEAL Team”

Charles Rivkin and Eric Fanning

‘TRIAL BY FIRE’ WASHINGTON PREMIERE Burke Theater, Navy Memorial PHOTO BY JOY ASICO

“What’s surprising about the movie is that it’s incredibly inspirational because you watch the act of kindness of this woman affect this man deeply, and the same thing for him. He was on death row and he was innocent and he evolved as a human being. It’s looking at our criminal justice system through very human eyes.” — Allyn Stewart, “Trial by Fire” producer

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OUTSERVE/SAG-AFTRA EVENT Capitol Hilton

Pritesh Shah, Rep. Dan Kildee, Dean Norris, Robin Bronk, Tim Daly and Mary Anne Carter

PHOTO COURTESY OF CBS

“At any moment I can just turn to whomever our tech advisor is and say, ‘What would this moment be like? What would my temperature be like to really try to get the most accurate storytelling for these service men and women?’ That’s probably why our show is popular because it’s the devil in the details and we usually get those details right.” — Toni Trucks on the behind the scenes support for her role as a female Navy SEAL in the CBS drama series “SEAL Team.”

RIGHTTOBEARARTS — THE CREATIVE COALITION’S ANNUAL GALA Wharf InterContinental PHOTO BY PAUL MORIGI/ GETTY IMAGES

“So today we did some old-fashioned advocacy.We went door to door on Capitol Hill making sure that your kids, the future generations and communities, will have arts in the schools and arts in public funding. I’m not sure how and when the arts became a political football.” — Robin Bronk, CEO, The Creative Coalition

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Debbie Brooks with Tony and Kim Crutchfield

Semifinalists

DC-CAPITAL STARS The Kennedy Center | PHOTOS BY KEVIN ALLEN

Judges Kenny Lattimore, Denyce Graves, Raheem DeVaughn and Chloe Arnold

TALENT AMONG US: Nearly $1 million was raised for the 20-year-old DC-CAP organization, which provides support for local public and charter high school students to enroll in college. The non-profit group has helped ensure the success of more than 10,000 graduates. At the annual competition, young performers were judged by a celebrity panel of talented artists and audience members. R&B singer Kenny La imore and mezzo soprano Denyce Graves were among the judges who handed out thousands of dollars in college scholarships to local singers, dancers, and musicians ages 16-18 from District public and public charter high schools.

Lynn and Ted Leonsis

VENTURE PHILANTHROPY PARTNERS’ ALL STARS NIGHT MGM National Harbor PHOTOS BY PIXELME STUDIO

Jack Davies, Kay Kendall, Scott Specter and Sandy Masur

Derrick and Emma Dockery with David Bradt WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

President and CEO Carol Thompson Cole with VPP co-founders Mario Morino, Sen. Mark Warner and Raul Fernandez

Milt, Lauren and Carolyn Peterson

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CAREER READY: Government, business, education, nonprofit and philanthropy leaders gathered for live entertainment, dancing and performances to celebrate Venture Philanthropy Partners’ nearly two decades of investing in nonprofits and networks on behalf of youth in the Washington metropolitan area. The program helped showcase the impact of Ready for Work, an initiative strengthening young people’s academic and life skills to prepare them for college and a career. “Ready for work has made a huge difference in my life” said master of ceremonies August Taylor, a student at Suitland High School. “As a senior, I’m thinking about life after high school, about college and definitely how to start my career.” Carol Thompson Cole, president and CEO of Venture Philanthropy Partners, noted that “it is more important than ever that we ensure that the young people that call Washington home are ready for these new opportunities. They want to continue to live here and be a part of the collective well-being of our community.” 27


POLLYWOOD | EMBASSY ROW

Embassy Receptions - Not Always Just Business More female ambassadors – European Union marks its largest enlargement – Dancing envoy BY ROLAND FLAMINI

THE BIG ADMISSION: Fifteen years is hardly

Newly credentialed ambassadors photographed with Meridian International Center trustees: From left: Tom Higgins, Yolande Smith (Grenada); Lone Wisborg (Denmark); Asad Majeed Khan (Pakistan); Bolot Otunbaev (Kyrgyzstan); Ann Stock; Stuart Holliday, , Brad Knox; Megan Beyer; Rosemary Banks (New Zealand); Marios Lyssiotis (Cyprus); Chum Sounry (Cambodia); Azmil Zabidi, (Malaysia); Janet Blanchard; and George Patten Sr. (Liberia). (Courtesy Photo)

WELCOMING PARTY: Meridian House’s recep-

tion to introduce newly credentialed foreign ambassadors included six female envoys, bringing the total number en poste to 29. The newcomers are Rosemary Banks of New Zealand, Roya Ruhmani of Afghanistan, Lone Dencker Wisborg of Denmark, Monica Nashandi of Namibia, Yolande Smith of Grenada and Martha Barcéna Coqui of Mexico. Also present was Carlos Alfred Vecchio, effectively Venezuela’s ambassador in exile, since he is recognized by the United States, but not by his own government, the regime of Nicolas Maduro.Vecchio represents Juan Guaidó, president of the opposition-controlled Venezuelan national assembly and U.S.-backed leader of the protracted, and as yet unresolved coup against Maduro. In May, U.S. authorities evicted a proMaduro group calling itself the Venezuelan Embassy Protection Collective from the country’s Washington embassy, clearing the way for Ambassador Vecchio to take possession.

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Noticeably absent from the Meridian get-together was Saudi Arabian ambassadordesignate Princess Reema bint Bandar, who was appointed the desert kingdom’s first woman ambassador on Feb. 25, but has yet to take up her post in the nation’s capital. Ambassador bint Bandar, a graduate of George Washington University, is a women’s rights spokeswoman in the desert kingdom and an advisor of its de factor ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). In Washington, she will succeed MBS’ younger brother, Prince Khaled bin Salman who was widely reported to have encouraged Saudi Washington Post journalist (and District resident) Jamal Khashoggi to go to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain a wedding license, where he was murdered by agents sent from Riyadh. Prince Khaled in now a non-person at the Washington embassy website. His name doesn’t even appear on the list (with portraits) of former Saudi ambassadors.

a landmark anniversary, but in May the European Union celebrated its landmark 2004 enlargement with a reception hosted by E.U. Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis and Poland’s Ambassador Piotr Wilczek. That addition of 10 new members so far remains the European Union’s largest single influx at one time, and comprised Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Its significance was that seven former Soviet bloc countries were saved from the uncertain future that they faced following the collapse of the Soviet Union, which had controlled their respective destinies for nearly 50 years. As the Cold War ended the European Union, with U.S. encouragement, stepped into offer E.U. membership on condition that each country made the satisfactory transition to democracy. Brussels helped with what were effectively crash courses in how to rebuild democratic institutions, such as an independent judiciary, and handed out periodic report cards on progress made, and a “pass” mark obtained. ZORBA THE AMBASSADOR: The national day reception is usually a mandatory event on any embassy social calendar, but some can be livelier than others. The recent European Union Day reception at the E.U. ambassador’s residence began with the guests singing the European anthem, Beethoven’s (and Schiller’s) “Ode to Joy” (“Joy, the beautiful sparkle of the gods/Daughter of Elysium …”). Then, E.U. Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis took off his jacket, linked arms with the deputy chief of mission, Caroline Vicini, and danced the Greek folk dance, the Sirtaki, famously choreographed by Giorgos Provias for the 1964 film “Zorba the Greek.” A few others joined in.

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Prince Reza Pahlavi and Dr. Susan Blumenthal

Kristen Olsen and Matt Dillon

Robin West, Empress Farah Pahlavi and Eileen Shields West

Maureen Orth and Kathleen Matthews

REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL DINNER Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL HONORING THE REFUGEES: Refugees International’s 40th anniversary dinner mixed glamour and fundraising with honoring humanitarians for their efforts on behalf of refugees. This year’s roster: Louise Arbour for her work as the former special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for International Migration and her advocacy later on; Rep. Will Hurd for his commitment to humanitarianism in public service; Helena, Mont. Mayor Wilmot Collins (for helping integrate refugees into a quintessentially American community); and former Portuguese President Jorge Branco de Sampaio and Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation (for helping Syrian refugee students complete their education). The evening also marked a curtain call for RI chairwoman Eileen Shields West, who is stepping down at the end of the year.

Christine Lagarde and Ivanka Trump

Nini Johnson and Catherine Stevens

Kathy Baughman McLeod and Fred Kempe

Diana Negroponte

Adrienne Arsht and Alonzo Mourning

ATLANTIC COUNCIL AWARDS Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. PHOTOS COURTESY THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL AND BY TONY POWELL

A CELEBRATION OF ALLIES: A veritable who’s who of global diplomacy, including former Supreme Allied Commander Europe James Jones and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, gathered for the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Leadership Awards. Recognized for their international leadership were NATO, now in its 70th year, and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde, who was introduced by Ivanka Trump. FedEx founder Fred Smith and philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, whose $25 million gift to the Council’s Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center had just been announced, were also honored. WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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David McCormick and Dina Powell

Lamar Alexander and Fred Smith 29


POLLYWOOD

David Rubenstein and Nels Olson

BALL FOR THE MALL

Sally Akridge and Sheila Johnson

The National Mall | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

Wolf Blitzer, Chip Akridge, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Verne Martell and Catherine Townsend

THIS LAND IS OUR LAND: The Trust for the National Mall, which works to support the National Park Service through restorations and infrastructure upgrades, hosted its annual Ball for the Mall featuring a seated dinner, dessert reception and dancing to raise funds to support national parks. Along with master of ceremonies Wolf Blitzer of CNN, guests heard from Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart; philanthropist David M. Rubenstein; and Sheila C. Johnson, founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts. This black-tie soirée took place under a tent on the Mall, giving guests an opportunity to experience the breathtaking views of the historic landmark that their generous gifts will help to preserve.

Alexandra Woodward, Julia Cohen and Pierre de Lucy de Fossarieu

Doug McMillon

Patrick Mulloy, David Mack and Trita Parsi

Terence Ward and John Henry

BOOK TALK WITH TERENCE WARD FOR ‘THE WAHHABI CODE’ Henry and Crittenden residence | PHOTOS BY BEN DROZ

Bruce Fein

FUELING JIHADI FIRE: The Committee for the Republic hosted a well attended salon for Terence Ward’s book “The Wahhabi Code: How the Saudis Spread Extremism Globally.” Having spent his childhood in Saudi Arabia and Iran and his career advising organizations in the Persian Gulf, Ward described how the official doctrine of the Saudi Kingdom has also served as the inspiring ideology of the leading terrorist groups of ISIS, al Qaeda and Boko Haram. He then warned that America was being lured into a misguided war with Iran drawing on facts documented in the Global Terrorism Database of King’s College in London: “Since 2001 almost all terrorist attacks in the West had some connection with Saudi Arabia and not Iran.” Chas Freeman, the committee’s longtime chairman, a former assistant secretary of defense and one of the leading authorities on developments in the Middle East, served as moderator. 30

Betty Sams WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

Chas Freeman

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Sen. Bob Latta and Marcia Latta’s Johnny Appleseed Crisp won the “Hometown Favorite Award.”

Stacey Stewart with Jennifer, Isabelle and Todd Casey Rebecca Chatterjee, Rep. Steve Scalise and Neil Chatterjee

WL SPONSORED

Terese Casey and Sen. Bob Casey

MARCH OF DIMES GOURMET GALA National Building Museum | PHOTOS BY VITHAYA PHONGSAVAN LAWMAKER COOKOFF: A friendly competition should start with a slurp of lobster stew, a nibble of Central Coast Ceviche and a helping of Johnny Appleseed crisp, please. More than 45 members of Congress steamed, cooked, simmered and fried their hearts out to support the health of mothers and babies while feeding 800 guests and raising $1.3 million for the March of Dimes’ advocacy and research programs across the country. “We’re playing to win,” Rep. Steve Scalise said of his blackened Louisiana redfish, while Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz thought she might get some points for uniqueness of her spicy bacon and brew muffins. Rep. Donna Shalala took her grandmother’s tabbouleh recipe but used less olive oil for a healthier result. Even better, NICU child graduates showed up as a jovial example of the March of Dimes work, all while helping themselves to some chocolate mouse pie.

Sen. Tim Scott and Jamal Haughton

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks to the crowd Christine Kennedy, Mita Mallick and Charli Long

Emily Charlip and Meghana Doddapaneni

NATIONAL ARCHIVES WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE EXHIBIT OPENING National Archives | PHOTOS BY ALFREDO FLORES

Kathy Weinman, Cameron Kerry, A’Lelia Bundles and Francille Rusan Wilson

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John Hamilton and Rep. Brenda Lawrence

BATTLE FOR THE VOTE: Many young girls are shocked to find out that not even a century has passed since the landmark 19th Amendment was ratified to guarantee women the right to vote. “This is emotional for all of us to see,” said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca.), who celebrated the opening of the National Archives exhibit “Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote” with fellow lawmakers and supporters of the foundation. The event highlighted the decades that suffragists worked to achieve that milestone. “The sacrifice these women made, the vision they had, they knew what they wanted to accomplish and they attracted other people to get what they wanted done,” Pelosi said. The exhibit runs through Jan. 3, 2021 and uses the original 19th Amendment and 90 other historic records to capture 100 years of women’s fight for democratic representation while reflecting the diversity of American women’s experiences. 31


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PHILANTHROPIC 50

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hilanthropy makes the world a better place, one gift, bequest or donation at a time. Nowhere in the world is charitable giving more deeply embedded in the national culture than in the United States. In part, this is because an immigrant population wants to give back to the country that gave it refuge, security and sometimes wealth. Sharing some of that wealth can make it seem more legitimate—and its donor more respectable. But it is also certainly true that Americans are, by nature, generous individuals. The state, by and large, is not: it falls short of caring for its citizens in ways that many democracies have come to regard as an integral part of governance in the 21st century. The road from cradle to the grave costs individual U.S. citizens a lot more than it does their European counterparts. Whether wealthy philanthropists, foundations and nonprofits should be expected to fill the gap left by a system that seems incapable of coming up with a medical program that doesn’t bankrupt its citizens, or a public school system that tolerates low national standards, or leaves guns in the hands of people that shouldn’t be trusted with even a broomstick is a matter for discussion. The United States is a source of amazement to people in other countries for many reasons. Overall, their (often grudging) admiration at American generosity is one of the better reasons— even though philanthropy is sometimes a private effort to address what is largely a public shortcoming. Billionaire Robert Smith, the commencement speaker who pledged to pay off the student debt of the entire 2019 Morehouse College graduating class is both a hero and an inspiration to other philanthropists to do likewise—but he wouldn’t have had to do it if students weren’t

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burdened with enormous tuition debt in the first place. In 2017, U.S. giving surged to a record $410.02 billion, according to an annual report by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “Even in divisive times, our commitment to philanthropy is solid,� the 2017 report concluded. By the end of 2019, the university estimates that U.S. giving will reach $425 billion, an increase of 3.4 percent. Giving in the national capital region has increased along with most of the rest of the country. There are now 34 billionaires within a 25-mile radius of Washington, D.C. More than 2,000 Greater Washington area residents are worth around $30 million. Long established Washington philanthropists who have been fixtures on this list for years are joined by a cluster of newcomers who have ventured into this domain, to the benefit of the region. In her state of the city address in 2018, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged a jump in generosity that’s helping the city’s neediest. Nationwide, donations by individuals totaled $286 billion— 70 percent of all giving in 2017. When it comes to specific areas of giving, donations to religion were at the top of the 2017 list with $127.37 billion. Education was the second largest recipient at $58.9 billion. Environmental giving increased by 7.2 percent, but at $11.8 billion seemed likely to grow further, according to experts, amid rising concern over climate chaos and greenhouse gas emissions. As Washington billionaire David Rubenstein is fond of telling audiences, philanthropy isn’t really about rich people signing checks. The Greek term means “love of mankind� and therefore embraces any help or kindness voluntarily given. But the checks sure help.

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THE PHILANTHROPIC

P50 JOSÉ ANDRÉS For a man whose natural habitat is the kitchen, celebrity chef José Andrés sure gets around. This year he presented at the Academy Awards, was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and went to the U.S.-Mexico border in California, where his philanthropic nonprofit World Central Kitchen (WCK) provided meals for refugees. Back in Washington, he created the #ChefsForFeds meal program to feed furloughed federal workers hit by the partial government shutdown. By the time the shutdown ended, Andrés had partnered with 400-plus restaurants in 35 states to provide 200,000 meals for federal workers facing hardships across the country. WCK has been active on the Venezuela-Colombia border as well as in Nebraska, Indonesia and Mozambique. In posthurricane Puerto Rico, the program Plow to Plate helps farmers, small businesses and community organizations in their recovery efforts, an investment commitment worth $4 million over the next five years. In interviews, Andrés has taken to using a slightly altered quote from John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath”: “Whenever there’s a fight so hungry people can eat, we will be there.”

ADRIENNE ARSHT (see sidebar) SANJU BANSAL The India-born founder and CEO of Districtbased software company Hunch Analytics is an active benefactor of both Washington and Indian causes and nonprofit groups. He is a leading supporter of the Global India Fund, and the Ukapav Indian-American Scholarship Foundation. In the U.S., the Bansal Foundation helps keep WAMU 88.5/American University on the air, and contributes to the Washington Humane Society, the Greater Washington Community Foundation and other city causes.

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SIDNEY and SHERRIE BECKSTEAD C o - ow n e r s of Liljenquist & Beckstead Jewelers, the Becksteads have focused their philanthropy on the Georgetown Lombardi Nina Hyde Breast Cancer Research Center, where Sherrie serves on the executive committee, and the Trust for the National Mall. Sherrie is a member of the Trust’s National Advisory Council and in December, the couple announced the launch of the Lockkeeper’s Collection, a limited-edition jewelry line benefitting the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.

WENDY BENCHLEY What started with a successful movie has become a lifetime of activism in maritime conservation, and a supporter for the work being done by mar ine scientists, researchers, explorers, and policy makers both in the United States and worldwide. The film, of course, was “Jaws,” based on her late husband’s best-selling novel. To honor his legacy, she co-founded the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards to honor environmental activists in 2008 and ran it until it was “retired” in 2018. But that was just one aspect of her abiding commitment to blue and green issues. Now a Washington resident, Benchley works with, and supports many of the world’s leading ocean and environmental philanthropies. She is helping the Aspen Institute High Seas Initiative, is a member of the board of Shark Savers, and an advisory trustee of the Environmental Defense Fund. She is also a board member of Blue Frontier, a grass roots—or “seaweed,” as its website puts it—group that links with 1,400 ocean organizations to protect marine wildlife and coastal communities.

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The BERNSTEIN FAMILY The Bernstein Family Foundation was started in Washington by real estate developer and banker Leo Bernstein in 1952, which makes it one of the oldest established charitable foundations in the nation’s capital. Administered by family members, including former Ambassador to Denmark Stuart Bernstein and his wife Wilma, the foundation is strongly Washington-oriented, focusing on American democracy, arts and culture and Jewish causes. Most recently, the Bernstein Foundation, led by executive director Ami Aronson, Leo’s grandaughter, has contributed to the restoration of the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial all the way to the Capitol, and supported the Sasha Bruce Youthwork homeless shelter for runaway youth, the only one in the District. Stuart and Wilma’s daughter-in-law Tracy Bernstein is a director emeritus of Sasha Bruce and currently serves on the board of Alliance Française of Washington, D.C. In April, Georgetown University Hospital announced it was building the Bernstein Family Patient Care Floor for Neuroscience Excellence thanks to an “inspiring multimillion-dollar philanthropic investment from the Bernstein Family.”

JEFF BEZOS In 2017, Bezos invited ideas from his Twitter followers for a shortter m philanthropy strategy. More than a year—and a deluge of proposals—later, Bezos and his then-wife MacKenzie announced the creation of The Bezos Day One Fund with an initial endowment of $2 billion earmarked to advance pre-school education and help the homeless. One part of the fund goes “to launch and operate a network of high quality, Montessori inspired schools” in underserved communities, and to create the necessary organization to run them. The other part supports already existing groups helping the homeless. The then-couple

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SPECIAL FEATURE

also gave $10 million to a super PAC that supports veterans who are running for Congress. The Day One Fund was Bezos’ first philanthropic initiative even remotely commensurate with his worth, then estimated at $137 billion.

annual Gershwin Prize concert, the National Institute of Health (N.I.H.), the White House Historical Association, The Washington Ballet, Sasha Bruce Youthwork, the French American Cultural Foundation and various Catholic causes.

DAVID and KATHERINE BRADLEY

CALVIN and JANE CAFRITZ (see sidebar)

David Bradley sits at the center of a media group which includes the National Journal, the Hotline, and until re c e n t l y A t l a n t i c magazine. Katherine Bradley has described her main interest as “education philanthropy” and the thrust of the couple’s CityBridge Foundation is to engage with the city to reform the public school system, with the emphasis on creating more charter schools. CityBridge Foundation has distributed millions of dollars in grants, scholarships and donations, mostly to charter schools. The Bradleys have given more than $30 million to CityBridge, but the foundation also has some powerful backers, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Friends of Choice in Urban Education and The Walton Family Foundation. Katherine Bradley told the City Paper, “I have a strategic view about how to build a system of schools that will serve all children well.”

BUFFY CAFRITZ Buffy Cafritz, a major philanthropic and social presence in the nation’s capital for decades, contributes to numerous causes, now mostly through the Buffy and William Cafritz Family Foundation, which she and her late husband founded in 2006. She has donated individual artworks to the National Gallery of Art and underwritten exhibitions there, including those devoted to Luca della Robbia, Joan Miró and Andrea del Verrocchio (which opens in September). Cafritz recently augmented her longtime support of the Kennedy Center with a pledge of $300,000 to its new addition, The Reach.Among her other mainstays are the Library of Congress’ Madison Council support group and

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in-law Kristen, wife of son John Cecchi, has cochaired recent major social events, including the Georgetown Gala and the National Museum of Women in the Arts Gala and is co-chairing the upcoming National Portrait Gallery Gala.

COURTNEY CLARK PASTRICK

STEVE and JEAN CASE In his book “The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future,” Steve Case asserts that the future of technology will be shaped by innovative start-ups all over the country, and not just in Silicon Valley. His philanthropic strategy is aimed at making this prediction a reality through Rise of the Rest, a program he launched in 2014 to target his capital at geographic areas outside Silicon Valley, New York and Boston. His philanthropy is aimed at helping people fulfill their dreams and ambitions. He is chairman and CEO of Revolution, a venture capital firm that supports start-ups leveraging technology and has, to date, backed 30 companies. Jean Case, who is chairman of the National Geographic Society, and CEO of the couple’s philanthropic foundation, just released her first book, “Be Fearless: Five Principles for a Life of Breakthrough and Purpose.” She calls it “a playbook for someone who really wants to go out and change the world” and profiles a number of overachievers.

The CECCHI FAMILY “I have earned more than I need to live happily,” Giuseppe Cecchi told Catholic Charities in 2017,“I have to share it.” And the Italian born construction company owner has been doing just that, together with his Uruguayan-born wife Mercedes and family. The senior Cecchis have long been benefactors of the Children’s Hospital which saved the life of one of their infant sons 40 years ago. The Cecchi family also supports the Arlington Free Clinic, the Potomac School, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington and other local charities. Daughter-

Clark Pastrick is chair of the A. James and Alice B. C l a r k Foundation, the source of her late parents’ philanthropic giving. Her father, Jim Clark, a Wa s h i n g t o n construction business legend, had gained prominence as a philanthropist and a progressive employer even before his death in 2015, and Courtney Clark Pastrick has continued the family’s legacy in three main areas: engineering, education and veterans’ support. Clark’s estimated worth was listed at $1.6 billion in his obituaries, but he never forgot his debt to the University of Maryland, which he attended on an engineering scholarship. The Clark Scholars Program, begun in 2017, goes beyond his alma mater and supports undergraduate engineering students at Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins University, Stevens Institute, the Universities of Pennsylvania and Virginia, George Washington University and Virginia Tech. The most recent addition to the list was Duke University in 2018, with a $15 million donation for 10 scholarships each year. The University of Maryland has also benefited from a resounding $220 million multi-year bequest, the largest gift it has received to date

WILLIAM and JOANNE CONWAY The billionaire former co-CEO (and now co-executive chairman) of private equity fir m the Carlyle Group announced in 2016 his intention of giving $1 billion to philanthropic causes, and has been doing so in sizeable amounts with his wife Joanne. The couple’s Bedford Falls Foundation has so far contributed to a wide

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THE PHILANTHROPIC

WEALTH LIST

$200 million - $126 billion This is by no means a complete listing of everyone in the National Capital Region with a net worth between $200 million and $126 billion. It is meant to be a good representative profile. Some obvious candidates specifically requested anonymity for security reasons, and we respected that request. The occasional groupings of individuals under one heading – mostly families - are, we hope, self-explanatory. Couples who have signed the Giving Pledge and those who are both identified with the wealth are listed together, regardless of which one acquired it.

Russell and Norma Ramsey

THE BILLIONAIRES

Jeff Bezos s CJMMJPO Jacqueline Badger Mars s John Franklyn Mars s Laurene Powell Jobs s Theodore Lerner and family s Stephen Bisciotti s Mitchell and Emily Rales s B.Francis Saul s Donald Trump s Jim Davis s David Rubenstein s William and Joanne Conway s Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello s Randall and Donna Kirk s Richard Marriott s Daniel and Tanya Snyder s Donald Graham s Kevin Plank s John Willard Marriott s Betsy and Rich DeVos s Steven and Jean Case s Ted and Lynn Leonsis s Wilbur Ross s Richard Fairbank s Dwight and Martha Schar s Fred Schaufeld s

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Sheila Johnson

MILLION TO MILLION Conrad Cafritz s NJMMJPO George and Marilyn Pederson s Sheila Johnson s

Jeong and Cindy Kim s Douglas Jemal s Robert Johnson s Bruce and Karen Levenson s Marlene Malek s Ed Peskowitz s Michael Saylor s Cathy Hughes s Peter and Adrienne Barris s Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton s Russell and Norma Ramsey s Sen Mark Warner and Lisa Collis s Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump s Richard and Rebecca Kay s Robert and Elena Allbritton s Paul and Linda Saville s Jeffrey and Mary Zients s Adrienne Arsht s Scott and Patrice Brickman s Dan Brown s Jane and Calvin Cafritz s Jane Harman s Peterson Family s

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range of causes, but the special emphasis has been on the nursing profession in the Washington metropolitan area. The Conways have so far given $15 million to the University of Maryland School of Nursing for student scholarships. This year’s giving has included $2.5 million to the Virginia Commonwealth School of Nursing and $1 million to the Children’s National Health System for the Nursery Pathway Program that bears their name. But the Conways are also the main driver behind the now completed construction of the Conway Center, a complex of 200 units of affordable housing for the homeless in Washington under the umbrella of the Catholic charity SOME (So Others Might Eat).

DAN and GAYLE D’ANIELLO One of the three cofounder s of the Carlyle Group, the big, Distr ict-based private equity firm, D’Aniello stepped down along with the two other founders, William Conway and David Rubenstein, in 2017. So far, he has not signed the Giving Pledge like David Rubenstein because the pledge only requires philanthropists to give away 50 percent of their wealth, which D’Aniello does not consider enough. “If you’re going to give away 50 percent of your wealth … c’mon, I’m going to do much more than that,” he once told the Washington Post. How much is more, however, is hard to figure. The conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute was able to move into its own building on Massachusetts Avenue NW thanks to a $20 million gift from D’Aniello, and he is now its chairman. The D’Aniellos gave another $20 million to Syracuse University, Dan’s alma mater, for a National Veterans Resource Center to attract more vets to the university. He is also chairman of the Wolf Trap Foundation, which supports the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and a major contributor to religion-based causes, mainly in the Catholic archdioceses of Washington, D.C. and Arlington,Va. “What’s in my mind is that I’m investing in people,” he says. “And the people

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I’m investing in are underprivileged or hold a core value that I believe in.”

also chairs the D.C. Commission of the Arts and the Humanities and THEARC.

ALAN and ASHLEY DABBIERE

RICHARD and BETSY DeVOS

Settling in Washington after sailing the Pacific for eight months in their $50 million, 200-foot yacht “Constance,” Dabbiere launched OneTrust, a privacy management software platform, of which he is co-chairman. The Dabbieres have also become active in Washington philanthropy. Alan is on the board of Inova Health System to which the Dabbieres have contributed over $1 million, and the Potomac School in McLean. Ashley has co-chaired several galas. The Dabbieres have gifted $7 million to fund cancer research at 12 academic institutions through the Loglio research consortium.

JACK DAVIES and KAY KENDALL Last summer, Davies and Kendall screened the movie “Sleepless in Seattle” for a YMCA benefit at their summer home on Martha’s Vineyard and invited Meg Ryan, who also starred in “You’ve Got Mail,” to reminisce about her role in the 1993 romantic comedy. There’s a connection: Jack Davies was the founder and president of AOL International, which was the inspiration for the movie. Davies and Kendall focus the majority of their philanthropic activity in Washington, where they live. Davies is a strong supporter of the Maya Angelou charter schools, a member of the board of directors of Venture Philanthropy Partners (see Fernandez below), and on the board of Scholastic, and chaired the Teach for America Gala this year. Kendall, a former dancer herself, was for 25 years a board member of The Washington Ballet. She also serves on the board of THEARC and CityDance where she was appointed chair in 2018. She

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and her billionaire husband Dick, one of the principal heirs to the A m way p ro d u c t marketing fortune, have been making substantial contributions to civic, religious, ar ts, educational and free market organizations (Hudson Institute, the Heritage Foundation) for nearly 30 years. One of his family’s five giving entities (the others were established by his parents and three siblings), the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation largely focuses its largesse in the city of Grand Rapids, Mich., where Amway is headquartered, and surrounding areas. Other recipients include the Thunderbird School of Global Management (scholarships), Princeton University and the Kennedy Center, which in 2010 received $22.5 million for the DeVos Institute of Arts Management to offer “practical training to arts managers and board members on stages of professional development in the United States and around the world.” The foundation more recently pledged $1 million to help fund The Reach, the Kennedy Center’s new immersive learning center.

DAMIR and AMRA FAZLIC Damir Fazlic, a Bosnian educated at exclusive Br itish institutions (Harrow School, London School of Economics, Cambridge) whom a few years ago Balkan media called “a fixer with powerful friends in Washington” has blossomed into a local philanthropist targeting some trendy arts causes. The Fazlics have contributed to the Kennedy Center’s multimillion The Reach extension project, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Washington Ballet, and Innocents at Risk, where his wife Amra, also Bosnian, is on the advisory board. Amra

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THE PHILANTHROPIC

is sought after to chair galas, and has shared the honors at the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize and the 2018 National Women in the Arts Gala.

RAUL and JEAN-MARIE FERNANDEZ Raul Fernandez, a successful hi-tech executive who sold his company Proxicom and later s e r ve d o n T h e Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in the Obama administration, has a foundation with his wife Jean-Marie that supports children’s education in the nation’s capital. In addition to supporting multiple causes, Jean-Marie recently became board chair of The Washington Ballet. The Silver Spring native also belongs to a group of successful business executives who introduced and shaped a new approach to philanthropy by combining their giving in Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP), a nonprofit group with an initial endowment of $30 million focused on the education and welfare of underprivileged children. VPP takes an investment approach to philanthropy—not in terms of profit, but of monitoring the impact of its giving. As vice chair man of Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

ANDY and HEATHER FLORANCE Sometimes it takes one initiative to put a benefactor on the philanthropic map. That’s surely the case with Andrew and Heather Florance. They are the main reason why the Children’s Hospital now has a 7,200-square-foot Healing Garden, on what was previously an unused flat roof. Andy Florance, founder and CEO of the CoStar Group and his wife, who are supporters of the hospital, took the lead in raising the funds for the construction of a garden for the hospitals’ young patients who previously had no outside recreation area.

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HOW SUCCESSFUL IS THE GIVING PLEDGE? No surprise progress is slow

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n 2010, forty of America’s mega rich joined together in a commitment to give away more than half their wealth to charity in their lifetime. The Giving Pledge – as it was called - was the brainchild of billionaire Warren Buffet, but Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda took very little persuading to join him, as did a number of other high profile billionaires, including Facebook’s creator Mark Zuckerberg. The Giving Pledge has two main goals: to give the level of philanthropy the large scale boost needed to confront current global problems, including world poverty, population displacement, and climate change – without waiting until the donors had died to do it. As for the second goal, The Giving Pledge website argues that “giving in an open way” creates “an atmosphere that can draw more people into it.” From the start, the founders of the Pledge have limited donors to billionaires – or those who would have been billionaires before giving away half their wealth. But with the Pledge’s tenth anniversary around the corner, what has been its real response among the world’s super-rich? By 2019, Pledge membership had reached 200 worldwide, which the originators would be justified as regarding as a disappointment – at least, so far. Why? Over the same period, the number of billionaires on Forbes magazine’s annual list has increased steadily, and now stands at 2,153. So less than 10 percent of billionaires have joined the moral commitment; and given that the Pledge started with 40 members, it has attracted 160 newcomers over almost a decade, or 17 per year. The richest man in the world, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, is among those who have so far stayed aloof from the Giving Pledge, but his newly divorced wife MacKenzie Bezos, now the owner of $36 billion worth of Amazon stock, joined in May saying, “I have a disproportionate amount of money to share…I will keep at it until the safe is empty.” So why not join? For one thing, foreign billionaires derive less tax advantage from charitable giving than their American counterparts, in some European countries none at all. German shipping magnate Peter Kramer argued in Der Spiegel magazine that “the (American) rich make a choice: Would I rather donate or pay taxes? The donors are taking the place of the state. So it’s not the state that determines what is good for the people, but rather the rich want to decide.”(American philanthropists insist that the tax incentive plays a minor role in U.S. philanthropy.) The view that the state should have the primary role in dealing with the least privileged is widespread outside the United States - and a strong argument against joining the Giving Pledge. But each region holds its own challenges. The Arab World has its own version of the saying “You can’t take it with you” and that is “The coffin has no pockets.” But when it comes to giving, the extended family has prior claim on the billionaires’ fortunes. Arab philanthropists tend to have have long established ties to Arab charitable organizations, such as the Saudi commitment to the Wahhabis. Leading Pledge members acknowledge its slow growth, but continue to encourage billionaires to join. And criticism of the Giving Pledge tends to puzzle members who see it – with considerable justification – as the biggest philanthropy event in a decade. Bernard Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot and a Pledge signer told the New York Times, “All this money is going for charity, to help people – what kind of numbskull would find somethins wrong with that? Would they rather we bought yachts and built mensions?” The point is, of course, that 50 percent leaves enough to do that as well.

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special FEATURE The Gerard B. Lambert Foundation, named after the father of philanthropist and horticulturalist Bunny (Rachel) Mellon who died in 2014, contributed $5 million toward creating the garden, and the Florances supplied further financing. In 2018, Heather Florance gathered several past first ladies of the United States to visit it. The Florances remain on the hospital board, and are also supporters of Meridian House, and were co-hosts of its 2018 annual ball.

MICHELLE DIFEBO FREEMAN The owner and CEO of real estate development firm Carl M. Freeman Companies, Michelle Freeman also chairs two philanthropic foundations, the Carl M. Freeman Foundation and the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, the latter named after her late husband, who died in a helicopter crash in 2006. She is a founding investor of Venture Philanthropy Partners, and a partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment. DiFebo Freeman is also a member of the founding board of Halcyon House and participates in Covenant House’s Executive Sleep-Out to support homeless young people.

JAMES GALE and LISA BARRY Bar ry, a longtime government relations executive and trade specialist for Chevron, Time War ner and Boeing, kept a keen eye on corporate giving throughout her career in Washington and is continuing her philanthropic ways in retirement. Her alma mater, Bates College, of which she is a trustee, has benefited from more than $500,000 in recent years. Georgetown University, where she serves on the advisory board of the Foreign Service School, received about $250,000. She and her N.A.S.A. engineer husband, James Gale, have also given about $250,000 to Refugees International. Other annual commitments include The Washington Ballet (Gale is a trustee), the Phillips Collection,

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International Student House, Meridian International Center, PEN/Faulkner, Alliance Francaise, the White House Historical Association and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (through the Kuwait America Foundation).

DONALD GRAHAM and AMANDA BENNETT When Washington Post chair man Donald Graham sold Amazon founder Jeff Bezos the family’s paper, he headed in another direction: founder of T h e D re a m . U S, a national scholarship fund to help undocumented immigrant youths, known as DREAMers, to gain access to a college education. Graham and his writer wife Amanda Bennett support a number of Washington charities and foundations but TheDream.US is the centerpiece of their philanthropic activity, both as givers and as the main organizers behind the project. Seeking to enlarge his resources for TheDream.US, Graham initially tapped his friends Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, Bill and Melinda Gates, and Bezos. The result was that by 2014, a year after it was formed,TheDream.US had a “war chest” of $33 million. To date, it is supporting 2,800 students in cooperating colleges across the country, and the project had originally planned to make a good quality education accessible to 4,000 students. In the current political environment, Donald Graham explains that, TheDream.US set off “naively expecting that by now Congress would have given the Dreamers access to federal aid: we expected to be out of business by now. We’ll surpass the 4,000 number. But we’ll have to stay in business far longer than we expected.”

ROBERT (BOB) HISAOKA The loss of his sister Joan Hisaoka to cancer in 2008 has motivated Hisaoka’s philanthropy. Every year, he organizes and chairs the Joan Hisaoka “Make a Difference” Gala, a

fundraiser to benefit the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts and the Inova Schar Cancer Institute’s Life with Cancer program. This past year’s gala raised $1.93 million, adding up to a total of $14 million since the event’s inception. An entrepreneur and one of the area’s top car dealers, Hisaoka is chairman of the Schar Cancer Institute’s advisory board. His gala work doesn’t distract from the many other causes he supports, including chairing and funding the University of Maryland’s Pitch Dingman entrepreneurial contest and the Robert G Hisaoka speaker series that recently brought Steve Case and Tom Davidson to the University.

LAURENE POWELL JOBS California resident Powell Jobs’ ties with Washington consist in her acquisition of majority stakes in The Atlantic magazine, Pop-Up magazine and Axios, plus a sizeable interest—reportedly about 20 percent—in Monumental Sports and Entertainment. At the same time, much of the longstanding charity of the billionaire widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is through her philanthropic organization Emerson Collective (founded in 2004 and named after the author Ralph Waldo Emerson). The collective focuses on issues which have links with the nation’s capital— tens of millions of dollars to innovative K-12 schools as part of her campaign to reimagine and redesign the American high school. Higher education—helping underprivileged youths go to college—is another primary interest.

EVAN AND CINDY JONES The Joneses belong to a community of local philanthropists who are there for their favorite causes, year in, year out—gift givers that keep on giving. For example, Cindy Jones served on the board of the National Museum of Women in the Arts for several years, 2017-2018 as president, and now as a

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BUILDING RESILIENCE A MILLION DOLLARS AT A TIME Adrienne Arsht takes a new direction in philanthropic giving.

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drienne Arsht doesn’t do things by half. In 2013, she gave The Atlantic Council $5 million to start the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center when no other Washington think-tank had specialists focusing on Hemispheric affairs. Three years later, she convinced the Atlantic Council, via another offer of $5 million, that the time was right to launch a Center for Resilience focusing on the development of skills to endure hardship in our increasingly nervous planet. The innovative idea caught the attention of the Rockefeller Foundation, the prestigious New York-based institution. Arsht contributed an additional $25 million, upon which the foundation then gave $30 million to create the Adrienne ArshtRockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. Arsht is now executive vice chair of the Atlantic Council. She confessed that the question of why some people had the ability to bounce back from adversity, but others not, had haunted her ever since her younger sister, a foreign service officer, had ended her life, largely as a result of the trauma of being detained and questioned by the Soviet K.G.B. in Moscow during the Cold War. The performing arts are another of Arsht’s philanthropic priorities—ballet and musical theater at the Kennedy Center in particular. In March 2020, the National Gallery of Art will open an Edgar Degas exhibition called “Degas and the Dance,” for which she has provided the lead underwriting. WASHINGTON LIFE: How did you come up with the concept for the Center for Resilience? ADRIENNE ARSHT: I think I’m known for that: I’m known for how I live my life. I don’t know that anybody’s actually used the word “resilient” in describing me, but I seem to, well, move on. The military has done a lot of analysis on resilience, but not the think tanks. So I proposed it to (Atlantic Council CEO) Fred Kempe.

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WL: What are your thoughts about how philanthropy is handled in the United States? AA: Spectacularly well. We’re the only country that encourages, recognizes and values philanthropy. In most other countries the government funds the arts. Take the Kirov State Ballet—everything in Russia is funded: it’s the same in Latin America and Europe. England funds the arts. I don’t think that the tax deduction is a factor; nor do I think that people who have gained their money in ways that WL: How did the Rockefeller Foundation subsequently may be called questionable become involved in the project? should be accused of laundering their AA: They wanted to diversify what the image. Contributing to humanity through Foundation had done in the field. [The all the arts and sciences where gifts are arrangement] happened in the dining room given, I really think that that’s a human of the Four Seasons [Hotel in Washington], value that we all have. It’s not about money, where everything else does happen. I was it’s about how you contribute to society. at one table and Fred was at another with [Rockefeller Foundation director] Raj Shah. WL: What other work has the Resilience I went over to say hello to Fred. They were Center undertaken so far? talking about resilience, and before you AA: We’ve done some studies about know it I had pulled up a chair and they migrants and refugees, looking at the were saying, ‘OK, give us a proposal.’ We cities where they end up. Immigrants were the only game in town, nobody else and refugees are resilient. But then we had really thought about it. We began to look at Colombia: more than a million talk and work together, and that’s the way it Venezuelans have fled across the border, evolved. Now we’re catching our breath to and they are the ones who have many sensibly use their funds and mine. needs, and how is Colombia dealing with WL: The Center was already set up, wasn’t it? AA: It was set up two years ago. I gave $5 million ... but this happened and I said, ‘I’ll match Rockefeller in my giving.’ It was totally evolutionary, I don’t think there was any planning. WL: You never did set up a philanthropic foundation, did you? AA: Having a foundation is a legal entity that has so many considerations, there’s no reason to.You have to give away five percent (I do). I’ve already given away half of my money and there will be a foundation on my death, with trustees.

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that influx? WL: Do you ever think of slowing down? AA: When I received the distinguished service award from the Council a few weeks ago—they’d only given it once before [to Henry Kissinger]—and Alonzo Mourning gave me the award, he quoted Mohammed Ali, who said ‘You have to pay rent for your time on earth.’ And in my remarks I said, all of us in the room are born into a very high rent district, and in our time here on earth we pay that rent. To answer your question, I still have more rent to pay.

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member at large. Evan Jones, founder and executive chairman of jVEN Capital LLC, has been on the board of the Children’s National Medical Center since 2012.This year, as in many previous years, the Joneses were among the sponsors of the Childrens’ Ball and The Washington Ballet Gala. They also support Refugees International, Meridian House and other Washington nonprofits and institutions.

MICHAEL KELLOGG and LUCY PUGH Washington attorney Michael Kellogg and his w i f e, L u c y, a psychotherapist, focus their g iving on education. Kellogg has endowed six fellowships in the Humanities at Middlebury College, his wife’s alma mater. In Washington, the couple are supporters of E. L. Haynes Charter School, and regularly sponsor the annual dinner benefiting Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys. Outside the Beltway, Kellogg and Pugh are important donors to the NewYorkbased International Rescue Committee.

ROBERT and ARLENE KOGOD The main conduit for the Kogods’ philanthropy is the Robert P. and Arlene R. Kogod Family Foundation. According to Inside Philanthropy, a website that tracks charitable giving, the Kogods gave away “about “$9.1 million in a recent year and their philanthropy seems to be ramping up.” Kogod is the retired co-chairman and cochief executive of the Charles E. Smith property development companies (Kogod married Smith’s daughter). Jewish causes in the greater Washington area and beyond have long been the Kogod foundation’s main beneficiaries, but its giving extends to other areas, including arts and education. The long list includes local Jewish schools, community centers and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Kogod Courtyard linking the Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery is testimony of the Kogods’ support of the Smithsonian Institution, to which they have contributed upwards of $25 million.

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SACHIKO KUNO Japanese-American biotech entrepreneur Sachiko Kuno has turned Halcyon House, one of Washington’s historic houses dating from the late 18th century, into the center of her nonprofit Halcyon Incubator, a residential center to support talented individuals in the arts, sciences, and social entrepreneurship. As president and CEO of the S&R Foundation, which she cofounded with ex-husband Ryuji Ueno, she is also active in other Washington philanthropic areas covering a wide range from the National Cherry Blossom Festival to Johns Hopkins Medicine. She is a board member of the Mansfield Foundation, which promotes U.S.-Asia relations though exchanges and dialogue, and has also contributed to the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Wolf Trap, the Middleburg Film Festival and the American Psychological Society. She was a leading sponsor of The Washington Ballet’s 2019 gala.

Richard (Dick) Marriott. The foundation’s current grantmaking programs support education, health, community and hospitality. The Bethesda-based Marriott Corporation is, after all, a major hotel chain with thousands of hotels worldwide. Its education programs include Higher Achievement, which supports after school and summer academic courses focusing on youth in at-risk communities. The Marriott Foundation gives grants for medical research (for example, The Boston Center for Endometriosis), and disease-specific programs (The American Heart Association). The foundation also supports the Marriott China Hospitality Education Initiative, which trains youth in China for careers in the hotel business. The Marriott’s support helped create the 9/11 Museum in New York, and among the exhibits is the company flag that flew over the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel, which collapsed following the terrorist attack. Daughter-in-law Carrie Marriott is a frequent event chair who has supported the Washington Ballet, Children’s National and more.

TED and LYNN LEONSIS

JACQUELINE BADGER MARS

Leonsis, a former top executive at AOL, is the chairman of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, owners of three local sports teams—the Mystics, the Wizards and the Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals, and a charitable donor of considerable note. He lists his charities on his blog, Ted’s Take, including the Monumental Sports and Entertainment Foundation, Georgetown University (his alma mater), Hockey Fights Cancer,Toys for Tots and a cluster of other worthy causes. Leonsis is also a member of the Venture Philanthropy Partners.

Mars candy heiress Jacqueline Badger Mars’ favorite artist is Alfred Munnings, a great equestrian painter.“I can’ think of a time when I wasn’t fascinated by Munnings,” says the wealthiest woman in the Washington area ($26.8 billion, according to Forbes). It’s a fitting choice for someone with a lifelong passion for horses and equestrian sport, which has long influenced her philanthropy. A patron (and current board vice chairman) of the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, she is a trustee of the U. S. Equestrian Team (USET) and an honorary life trustee of the USET Foundation. Compared to the Mars family’s long-standing reputation for near seclusion, Mars cuts quite a swath both socially and in terms of her philanthropy. She is emeritus chairwoman of the Washington National Opera after years as its president, and co-chaired this year’s WNO Gala. She is also a trustee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the National Archives, and a contributor to the Smithsonian Institution with a special fondness for the Freer Gallery of Art, which she recently supported with

MARRIOTT FAMILY The J.Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation was founded in 1965 and is still run by a board of Marr iott family members led by brothers J.W. (Bill) Mar r iott Jr. and

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THE PHILANTHROPIC

THE PATRIOTIC PHILANTHROPIST David Rubenstein’s view of giving—and giving

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avid Rubenstein is best known for what he has labeled “patriotic philanthropy,” which involves acquiring and giving to the nation historic documents including a contemporary copy of the Magna Carta for $21 million, (there are 17 in existence, and only one in private hands), the Declaration of Independence, and underwriting the restoration and repair of the stones of history—the Washington Monument, Monticello (two separate gifts, each of $10 million), the Custis-Lee Mansion at Arlington National Cemetery and MountVernon, among other sites. But his first charitable giving was the David Rubenstein Child Health Building at Johns Hopkins, and his website lists 50 philanthropic projects, which includes projects at Duke University, Rubenstein’s alma mater, the giant pandas at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, the National Museum of African-American History and Culture and restoration of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery. It’s an illusion that Rubenstein, founder of the Carlyle Group, one of the world’s leading equity firms, is a member of every board in the metropolitan area; but he is on the board of regents of the Smithsonian Institution, chairman of the Kennedy Center and the Council on Foreign Relations, chairman emeritus of the Brookings Institution, plus a few other positions. For someone so visible, he is extremely private, hard-working, and for a billionaire, modest. But in his campaign to interest others in philanthropy—and patriotic philanthropy in particular—he has developed a YouTube persona, and makes speeches and gives interviews laced with stand-up comic humor (“When I went to work for the Jimmy Carter campaign he was 33 points ahead of [Gerald] Ford, and he won by one point, which shows you how effective I was.” A sample of Rubenstein’s imparted wisdom:

‘In philanthropy, it’s much harder to give it away than to make it.’

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and putting them on display, but what’s the relevance of it? If I told you I had a copy of the Magna Carta, a facsimile on paper, you would say, ‘OK, I can look it up in a textbook any time.’ People still want to see the original of something. By having these historic documents where people can see them, they might learn a little bit more about American history.We don’t know as much about history as we should.” RESTORING THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, DAMAGED IN THE 2011 EARTHQUAKE: “I said I’ll put up all the money to repair it. The Congress said no, we want some credit for doing something, so I put up half of it, and they put up half of it.”

ON WHY HE BECAME A PHILANTHROPIST: “I realized I could take all my wealth and keep accumulating it and when I die I’d be the richest person in the cemetery, but I thought I probably didn’t need my money in the afterlife, so I signed the Giving Pledge, and I decided to give away my money, but try to do it in intelligent ways. In philanthropy, it’s much harder to give it away than to make it.” ON PATRIOTIC PHILANTHROPY: “Patriotic philanthropy is giving back to your country, because that country doesn’t have the resources it once had. So when you can give to organizations like the National Archives, the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, the National Park System, it’s a good thing to do.” ON WHY HE ACQUIRED THE MAGNA CARTA: “The Magna Carta was the inspiration for the Declaration of Independence, for the Bill of Rights, and the things that enabled me to move from modest circumstances are the freedoms embedded in these documents.” ON WHY HE WENT ON TO BUY OTHER DOCUMENTS: “So, I started buying other historic documents

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HIS VIEW OF PHILANTHROPY: “Philanthropy is not rich people writing checks.The ancient Greek word means loving humanity—helping other people. You can help other people with your ideas, your love, your energy.You will live longer when you give back to your country, because you’ll feel better about yourself. It’s a natural human instinct to want to help people: that’s what separates us from other mammals. All of you who want to go to heaven will probably go to heaven more quickly. I can’t prove that, but why would any of you want to take a chance?”

‘You will live longer when you give back to your country, because you’ll feel better about yourself. ... All of you who want to go to heaven will probably go to heaven more quickly. I can’t prove that, but why would any of you want to take a chance?’

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THEY SING FOR MORE THAN THEIR SUPPER The “Cafritz” in the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists Program

a large gift to add to the porcelain collection in the famous Peacock Room. Arts DC is a partnership between Mars and the Washington Performing Arts, producing community engagement programs. Last year, she gave $5 million to her alma mater, Bryn Mawr, for a new student life and wellness center. But what’s $5 million? In 2017, her company, now chaired by her son Stephen Badger, who also helps run the Mars Foundation, pledged to invest $1 billion over the next few years to support the aims of the Paris Climate Agreement and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.

GARY and CHRISTINA MATHER

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n May, Jane Lipton Cafritz hosted a lunch that brought together a number of young opera singers and many of their supporters and admirers. The singers belonged to the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists Program (YAP), one of the opera world’s most prestigious breeding grounds for the next generation of Pavarottis and Renee Flemings. In a speech, Cafritz asked, “where would the embassies be without the Domingo-CafritzYoung Artists?” making the point that singers not only sang the minor (and sometimes, not so minor) roles with the Washington National Opera, but this being the nation’s capital, they also perform in some iconic settings, including at White House state dinners, the Supreme Court, the U.S. Congress and at foreign missions. Jane Cafritz manages to give the impression that the project is the initiative of somebody else—no mean feat when her name is in the title. This is because she and her real estate mogul husband, Calvin, have turned philanthropic self-effacement into an art form. The couple have a wide range of philanthropic interests, and every year contribute millions to Washington charities, but “Jane cares a great deal about the Domingo-Cafritz YAP and tries to attend many of their performances,” says a source in Washington music circles. The reality is that while Placido Domingo

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is the cachet brand name, the program’s mainstay, including the financial mainstay, is Jane Cafritz. “The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists Program is both valuable to the Washignton National Opera and to its participants so it’s a real win-win,” commented the same inside source. “In addition to taking small roles and covering large ones, the Young Artists peform modern works and do outreach. And then, occassionally, they come back, as did Keri Alkema from the first crop of YAs, in the role of “Tosca.” The program was launched by Placido Domingo in 2002 when he was artistic director of the Washington National Opera. Its aim was to offer exceptionally promising young singers two years of intensive training study and career guidance with a resident faculty—and a chance to perform before audiences playing minor roles. Jane Cafritz, then an Opera trustee, was its sole patron. By the time Domingo quit his WNO post in 2010 the program was well established at the Kennedy Center as the Domingo Cafritz Young Artists program. As the program has added staff—including an Italian speech teacher, essential in opera— other philanthropists have stepped in with support, but the main benefactors remain the Cafritzes, with Jane as the prima donna—but not in the temperamental sense.

The Mathers never saw a classical music organization they didn’t like. Over the years they have supported the Kennedy Center and some of its component parts, such as the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. But they were more closely connected with the Washington Performing Arts and with Wolf Trap. The Mathers seem to take turns serving on the board of the WPA and underwriting some of its major musical events. Other philanthropic interests include the Inova Health Foundation with a donation of $2 million, and the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia.

JARL and PAMELA MOHN After a successful five years as CEO of NPR, Jarl Mohn is stepping down this month and the usual golden handshake for a job well done is in reverse: Mohn and his wife Pamela are giving National Public Radio (NPR) a $10 million parting gift. This is in part because Mohn isn’t really leaving the public radio network. He will become president emeritus and a member of the board. He has been a reluctant Washington resident after more than 20 years in California, and has maintained his support for the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art and other art institutions. His Mohn Family Foundation,

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started in 2000, still offers a $100,000 prize at the Hammer Museum’s biennial “Made in LA” exhibition.

VADIM NIKITINE and KRISTIN EHRGOOD When Hur r icane Mar ia hit Puer to Rico, the Flamboyan Foundation was among the first to organize emergency relief. The non-profit institution, whose main thrust is improving education in Washington and Puerto Rico, was formed in 2008 by Ehrgood and Puerto Rico-born real-estate developer Nikitine. Faced with the challenge of restoring normal life to the devastated island and its population, the couple formed Colaborativo PR, an alliance of nonprofit groups to restart schools (children in Puerto Rico had lost 78 days of classes) and provide support for students up to college level. The Flamboyan Foundation also teamed with the family of Puerto Rican “Hamilton” megastar Lin-Manuel Miranda to form an arts fund for Puerto Rico, raising close to $15 million this year.

YOUSEF and ABEER AL OTAIBA Foreign embassies don’t usually make philanthropic contributions, although they frequently host events for charities. Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates high profile ambassador, however, is an active contributor to causes both inside and outside the Beltway. In 2018, the U.A.E. embassy donated $30 million to Children’s National for pediatric medical research. About 150 Emirati children are treated at the hospital every year, and the embassy has long standing generous ties to the institution. In 2017, the Emirati, through the embassy, contributed $10 million to Texas and Florida in hurricane relief. Al Otaiba’s embassy is also listed as a contributor to the Kennedy Center’s REACH fund for the construction of the Center’s multi-

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million dollar extension. Perhaps more unusual, the embassy has in recent years given upwards of $100,000 a year to local Catholic Char ities and supported the organization’s annual gala and Catholic University.

Baltimore. A couple of years back, Plank famously contributed $25 million to the development of his alma mater, the University of Maryland. He is a long-time trustee of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation.

MILTON, CAROLYN and LAUREN PETERSON

MITCHELL and EMILY RALES

Involvement with the community is at the center of the Peterson’s philanthropic giving. Pa r t n e r i n g w i t h Venture Philanthropy Par tner s, they developed an innovative workforce development strategy for Prince George’s county – called Ready for Work – that focuses on three local high schools and helping students prepare for jobs. On a larger scale, George Mason University this year opened its new Peterson Family Health Science Hall after the Carolyn and Lauren Peterson Family Foundation had donated $8 million towards its construction. Milton and his wife Carolyn set up the foundation, now run by daughter Lauren, in 1997. But 2019 was also a year of fulfillment for the Petersons’ philanthropy in another respect. The Inova Schar Cancer Institute, to which they had contributed $10 million, also went into operation.

KEVIN PLANK Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank outfits the young athletes of the Baltimore city public schools at his own cost. Late in 2018, around the time that Under Armour announced that its employees would no longer be able to charge visits to strip clubs to the company to make its working environment more comfortable for females, Plank started Under Armour’s “We Will” campaign, extending the company’s philanthropy beyond sports to social activity. His most recent giving was $100,000 at the beginning of 2019 year to boost jobs in

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Mitchell Rales, a billionaire industrialist, and his wife Emily Wei Rales have poured $200 million into the transformation of their Glenstone Museum from a nearly hidden gem located in Potomac, Md., into what the Washington Post called “a 230-acre campus of art and nature.” The privately owned museum, which opened in 2018, hosts what is considered one of the biggest collections of American and European contemporary art in the country— and admission is free (by prior reservation).

JIMMY REYES Part of the $8.6 billion family that owns the largest beer distributor in the U.S., Reyes Beverage Group, Jimmy lives in the District area as owner of Reyes Holdings, Llc and serves as Director of Real Estate and a Director of Reyes Beer Division. He is chairman of the Medstar National Rehabilitation Network in Washington, DC and has held a leadership position with First Tee of Washington, a youth golfing philanthropy. This year he served on the 2019 host committee for the Children’s National Ball.

SHARON PERCY ROCKEFELLER The daughter of a U.S. senator (Charles Percy, R-Ill.), Sharon Percy Rockefeller married into one of America’s historic families, famous for their wealth and philanthropy, and is herself involved in multiple causes. She is one

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SPECIAL FEATURE

of the most influential women in the nation’s capital and has for many years been the high profile CEO of WETA, provider of commercialfree television news and culture to Washingtonians. She is also the long-standing chairman of trustees of the National Gallery of Art, and, with husband John D. Rockefeller IV, a former Democratic U.S. senator from West Virginia, has an important role in the acquisition of new works. She is a trustee of Johns Hopkins Medicine, and since 2018 a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation.

DAVID RUBENSTEIN (see sidebar) ROGER SANT and ALEXIS SANT Six months before the death of Victoria (Vicki) Sant in December 2018, the Summit Foundation she had started with her billionaire husband Roger in 1991 announced the appointment of their son Alexis Sant as its new president, a move “marking the transition to second generation leadership” of the foundation that was the main conduit of the Sant’s giving of hundreds of millions of dollars to various causes. The foundation focused largely on the Sants’ priorities—children, nature conservancy and the arts. Vicki Sant was chairman of the Phillips Collection and a long-time trustee of the National Gallery of Art. Earl A. “Rusty” Powell, until recently director of the NGA said of her, “If you were trying to clone the perfect trustee, she’s the model for it.”

B. FRANCIS (FRANK) SAUL II Publicity shy real estate billionaire Frank Saul has been a prolific philanthropist in Washington for decades. His giving spreads over a wide area, with emphasis on Catholic causes and charities, but also the arts, his two universities (Villanova and the University of Virginia School of Law), medicine and the Knights of Malta. Recognition of his Catholicrelated giving came in 1991 in the form of the

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papal medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For Church and Pontiff), which the Vatican awards to non-clerics for services to the church. In recent years he has contributed upwards of $250,000 on a more or less annual basis to the University of Virginia. According to the 2018 annual report of Saul Center, the real estate company where he is still chairman and CEO, he is a member of the Trustees Council of the National Gallery of Art, a trustee emeritus of the National Geographic Society, a trustee emeritus of Johns Hopkins Medicine’s board and an honorary trustee of the Brookings Institution.

DWIGHT and MARTHA SCHAR The $50 million the Schars contributed to create the recently opened Inova Cancer Research Institute remains the largest gift received by the Virginia medical complex, but the Schars contribute to other causes. George Mason University, where Dwight Schar serves as a trustee, has received more than one gift, notably $10 million to its School of Policy and Government, which is why it bears the Schar name.The GMU Center for Regional Analysis has also received the couple’s support. Dwight Schar, founder and chairman of the nation’s largest home builder, NVR Inc., is part owner of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Redskins Charitable Fund’s leadership council. Martha Schar is on the board of directors of the Wesley Housing Development Corporation, a nonprofit group in Alexandria, Va. that promotes affordable housing, and of Childhelp, a nonprofit dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse.

ENRIQUE and ALEJANDRA SEGURA The Argentine-born billionaire and his wife are generous, donors mainly to Catholic and Hispanic causes. Their lifetime giving is reported to be well over $2 million, including to Catholic Charities, where Enrique has for years been on the board of directors and wife

Alejandra, an attorney and children’s rights advocate, has chaired the group’s annual gala. In addition, Enrique Segura has been chairman of the board of trustees at Catholic University since 2017, when the university switched from an ecclesiastical board (including all the active American cardinals) to lay trustees. Enrique founded and is chairman of the Trust for the Americas, the philanthropic arm of the Organization of American States, which supports causes in the Western hemisphere. Alejandra Segura has founded or is connected with several philanthropic organizations, including the Mercy Project, working with children in Kenya, and Operation Canasta, active in Argentina.

RAJIV SHAH Shah was appointed president of the 105year-old Rockefeller Foundation—with $4 billion in assets it is one of the biggest and most prominent philanthropic entities in the country. He had previously served as director of U. S.A.I.D. in the Obama administration, and before that at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he helped launch the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, an initiative aimed at increasing agriculture productivity. One of his first major projects as president was to join forces with Washington philanthropist Adrienne Arsht and the Atlantic Council to create the Adrienne Arsht and Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, with Rockfeller contributing $30 million and Arsht $25 million. Shah, who is U.S.-born of Indian immigrant parents, says he took the Rockefeller post because he was “drawn by the chance to be part of demonstrating to the world that America can lead with its values.”

EARL and AMANDA STAFFORD

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The Staffords’ philanthropic foundation donated $2 million towards construction of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American

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THE PHILANTHROPIC

Arts and Culture. A center for exhibitions of images of African-American history bears their name. Established in 2002, the Stafford Foundation supports programs in the areas of faith-based mission support, education and health care. The couple’s faith-based giving extends to Afr ican countries, where their foundation has built Christian churches and orphanages.

MARVIN WEISSBERG T h e re a l e s t a t e developer started the Weissberg Foundation with his f amily in 1988, aimed primarily at reducing racial inequality through a strategy of giving to specific sectors, including the theater as a messenger of social change, minority organizations and women’s g roups. For example, the foundation committed $1 million over three years to six District theaters, including the Gala Hispanic Theater and The Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. In 2019, it contributed to Justice for Muslims and The National Korean American Service and Education Consortium to combat what it called “racial and ethnic disparities.” Gender organizations targeted by the foundation’s philanthropy included Rights4Girls.

SPOTTED: CELEBRITIES DINING & DONATING IN D.C. We love a sneak peek at Hollywood stars picking at their arugula salads at Cafe Milano or whispering to members of Congress in hallways. But what’s worth a second glance are the film and entertainment heavy-weights going beyond Twitter tongue-lashings and committing six figure money to nonprofits in the area. Oprah Winfrey Moved by the efforts of Lin-Manuel Miranda to bring “Hamilton” to Puerto Rico, Winfrey donated $1 million to the Flamboyan Arts Fund to preserve the U.S. territory’s arts, culture, and creative development as the island continues to rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Seth MacFarlane The comedian and creator of the “Family Guy” TV show donated $2 million in 2018 to National Public Radio to support its Collaborative Journalism Network in response to Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s comments about dishonesty in the media. Michael Jordan The North Carolina native not only gave $1 million to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Florence relief efforts, he also returned to his hometown and met with some of the victims that benefited from his donation in September. Steven Spielberg (Wunderkinder Foundation) The award-winning filmmaker, via his Wunderkinder Foundation, donated $2 million to the National Women’s Law Center for the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, which will pay for legal services for those coming forward to report sexual harassment and assault. Mark Wahlberg After the lopsided pay controversy between Wahlberg and his female “All the Money in the World” co-star Michelle Williams last year, the actor pledged to donate his wage windfall ($1.5 million) to the Times Up legal defense fund.

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LIFESTYLES | DADS

DADS

THESE DADS

DADS WITH CAPES Just like Batman says,’It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.’ BY DA R A K L AT T

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hese are no ordinary dads. From passionate politician to Grammy-award winning musician, and from home design icon to national business news anchor, these four men put their superhero capes on every day to make a difference. After flying off from the home front, Rep. Joe Kennedy, Ben Harper, Nate Berkus and Blake Burman separately share the causes they care about, the work they love and the family issues on their mind leading up to Father’s Day (even if they may be sleepdeprived minds). >>

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JOSEPH KENNEDY III Congressman, 4th District of Massachusetts

Born into a political dynasty, Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-Mass.) got his political start on a family campaign. After college at Stanford and time in the Peace Corps, he worked on his Uncle Ted’s 2006 U.S. Senate re-election bid. “People come up every day and usually say very nice things about my family, but sometimes not,” Kennedy told Town & Country in 2017. Now with two young children of his own, this Kennedy nextgen-of-politics thinks about what’s right for his own family, while also weighing in on needs of low-income families. Kennedy specifically spoke to WL right after a House vote, waiting to get back to his wife Lauren and children James and Eleanor in Massachusetts at the end of the week. “The

American dream still exists and the American dream is still alive if you have people that are willing to bet on American families,” he says, referring to the organization LIFT, a national nonprofit working to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.The group celebrated its 20th anniversary at The Anthem at the Wharf in May. “It’s been an interest of mine … betting on every single American family, regardless of where they come from … knowing that if surrounded with the proper support, the proper mentoring, the proper opportunities that every single family has a pathway to recognize their potential.” He continues, “There are such enormous structural inequalities and unequal access to opportunity across this country … you gotta start somewhere.”

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BEN HARPER Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

U N D E R K E N N E DY: P H OTO BY S A R A H G R AYS O N P H OTO G R A P H Y; U N D E R B E N H A R P E R : P H OTO BY A L F R E D O F LO R E S ; U N D E R N AT E B U R KU S : P H OTO CO U RT E SY; U N D E R B L A K E B U R M A N : P H OTO CO U RT E SY

When Harper was 9 years-old, his father, the late Leonard Harper, took him to see Bob Marley and Peter Tosh at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank, Calif. He says it was his most memorable concert ever. Forty years later, Harper has been a musical force as a singersongwriter and multi-instrumentalist for nearly half his life, producing 12 regular studio albums and taking home three Grammy awards. Most recently, in what he says “may very well be the most proud of anything musically I’ve ever been connected to,” he produced Mavis Staples’ new studio album “We Get By” and performed the first single “Change” with her on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last month. Change has certainly been a constant for the father of five children, which includes his 2-year-old son Besso whom he shares with his wife Jaclyn Matfus. (Harper has four other children from previous relationships.) When WL spoke to him, he was spending a few days in the District, performing at the LIFT gala, and looking forward to getting some rest during the couple’s time away from their son. Like Rep. Kennedy, Harper is passionate about the organization which helps parents and caregivers navigate their way through tough times. Long an anti-poverty advocate, he served as a LIFT ambassador and national board member – a commitment which has “definitely influenced more than a lyric or a song over the years,” he says. Now, the issue has become multi-generational, as Harper’s college-age son has interned for the group. It’s a matter of “translating hope into actions and accomplishments for people at the very edge of society,” he says. Looking ahead, the L.A.-based dad is hoping for a way to help homeless women. “I’d like to see a special outlet for women and families … a heightened level of engagement with women and moms, and women in general on the streets.”

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NATE BERKUS Interior Designer and Television Personality

“I grew up the son of an interior designer and we were taught to respect our parents’ things,” says Berkus, himself an “Interior Designer + Dad + Double Virgo,” as his Twitter bio states. That’s the humble version.The blue-eyed designer was showcased frequently on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” had two seasons of his series, “The Nate Berkus Show, and now shares a TV series with his husband Jeremiah Brent,in TLC’s “Nate & Jeremiah By Design.” The dad of two, Poppy and Oskar, was in Bethesda at the opening of Framebridge, a frame store for which he advises, and opened up to WL about fatherhood, design and giving back. “We definitely have made certain decisions to make it easier to have two kids under four,” he says.“I think it’s really important to teach kids to respect stuff [that] it costs money. I don’t want ours to think just because their dads are on TV that they have free reign to buy whatever they want.That’s not how we’re raising our children.” Perhaps that lesson came after the brass orb incident. As he tells it, Poppy once picked up a brass orb and lifted it above their glass coffee table, shattering it in a thousand pieces. And since we are at frame store, let’s be frank about kid art.“[Poppy’s] 75 masterpieces that she made at the kitchen table one afternoon with her babysitter … they’re going in the trash can unless one’s really great.” However, not everything ends up in the trash. Berkus donates to homeless youth shelters in L.A., as well as to shelters in Tijuana, Mexico. “There’s always a place for this stuff when we don’t want it anymore and we do donate stuff to local charities.” That, or he says, “we have like 1,900 siblings … they’re all so psyched when I don’t want a lamp anymore.”

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BLAKE BURMAN Washington Correspondent, Fox Business Network

During the day, Burman might be talking about tax cuts, tech stocks, job reports or trade tensions. But look closely when he’s on camera and you might see a little bit of baby goo. When his children, now ages 2 and 1, were newborns, Burman would “always have some drop of milk or spit or whatever” that he would randomly find on himself. He expands saying, “there are always little reminders of having young kids. Just the other day I realized, about seven hours in to the day, that one of my dress socks was inside out.” For a dad who clocks in early mornings and jam-packed days, you can forgive him the dress socks. While he’s at the White House every morning by 7 a.m., the upside is being home for several hours at night before his kids go to bed “so we get good family time.” His travel schedule is “inevitable” but, he says, “I try to manage it as best as possible. I’m always on the first flight back, no matter how early in the morning.” Speaking of early mornings and little sleep, the coffee talk is rampant. “Just the other day, my oldest said to us at night before we were about to put him to bed, ‘I want coffee!’ My wife and I just looked at each other and laughed. He picked up the whole coffee thing from watching us make it in the morning (and for the record, no, we don’t give our kids coffee).” He fancies that for Father’s Day, “hopefully the boys get daddy a decent night of sleep. If not, that’s what coffee is for.”

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LIFESTYLES


STEP AFRIKA!

THE DANCE TROUPE CELEBRATES ITS TH ANNIVERSARY

PRODUCTION/ CREATIVE DIRECTION KINGSLEY MODEL [ TALENT MANAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY DREW XERON | WWW DREWXERON COM | ASSISTED BY BRUCE ALLEN LEAD STYLIST JOY KINGSLEY-IBEH ASSISTED BY CURTIS BARNES AND DWAYNE BRICE HAIR STYLISTS CHARLENE BROWN ;KEY<4 MELANIE WILLIAMS AND KENNEDI NORMAN MAKEUP ARTISTS AKURA ROBINSON ;KEY<4 LAURETTA MCCOY AND MICHELLE BROOKS MODELS STEP AFRIKA! DANCERS EDITORIAL DIRECTION CATHERINE TRIFILETTI PHOTOGRAPHED AT TUDOR PLACE ST STREET NW TUDORPLACE ORG WASHINGTON’S LARGEST AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS ORGANIZATION STEP AFRIKA! IS CELEBRATING ITS TH ANNIVER SARY AND RICH HISTORY AS ONE OF THE PREEMINENT DANCE COMPANIES OF ITS KIND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR THE COMPANY’S FULL-TIME DANCERS TOUR MORE THAN CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE PERFORMING A COMBINATION OF STEP SOUTH AFRICAN TRADITIONAL DANCE GUMBOOT AND MORE HOWARD UNIVERSITY-GRADUATE C BRIAN WILLIAMS FOUNDED THE DANCE GROUP IN AFTER RETURNING FROM A LIFE-CHANGING TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA STEP AFRIKA’S ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WILL BE HELD ON JUNE VISIT WWW STEPAFRIKA ORG

On him: CHICHI FASHIONS African print white shirt ($100), ChiChi Fashions 2241 Bel Pre Road, Aspen Hill, Md. 20906, chichifashions.co. ZAWADI African mudcloth scarf ($48); Zawadi, 1524 U St., NW., zawadiarts.com. On her: STUDIO D’MAXSI Tribal panel two piece reversible skirt and wrap top ($350), studiodmaxzi.com; shoes and earrings (stylist’s own).


Above: African print shirt and pants (stylist’s own); Nigerian coral beaded necklace and bracelets (stylist’s own). On right: ZAWADI African chief’s necklace from the Congo ($185) Zawadi, 1524 U St., NW, zawadiarts.com. African print pants (stylist’s own).


On him: ZAWADI two piece dashiki ($165); Zawadi, 1524 U St., NW. CHICHI FASHIONS African chief’s hat ($40); ChiChi Fashions 2241 Bel Pre Road, Aspen Hill, Md. 20906, chichifashions.co. On her: SUN GODS OFFICIAL The Kuti kimono duster ($180); sungodsofficial.com; ZAWADI African mudcloth scarf ($48); Zawadi, 1524 U St., NW.


SUN GODS OFFICIAL African record print matching sets ($165), sungodsofficial.com. Necklace and shoes (stylist and model’s own).


From Left: STUDIO D’MAXSI Two-piece long wrap skirt with African print cape ($280); STUDIO D’MAXSI sheer puff sleeve high neck top ($280); STUDIO D’MAXSI gown with weaved top ($250); studiodmaxsi.com.


8LI 'SPSV 4EPIXXI

SJ &IVQYHE

Pink sand beaches, ombré ocean hues that seamlessly transition from turquoise to lapis blue, homes awash in shades of tangerine sorbet and Kelly green golf courses. If Crayola were to make a crayon kit based on the colors of Bermuda, there would be no shortage of inspiration. The British island territory may require a passport, but it’s only 650 miles off the East coast — and a quick two-hour flight from Washington. The upscale island‘s rich history is trumped only by its impeccable natural beauty. Exploring both elements will leave visitors craving a good night’s rest. For traditional luxury, look no further than the Rosewood Bermuda ($955), which recently underwent a $25 million renovation. For chic and modern accommodations The Loren at Pink Beach ($370) hits all the right notes. Where ever you find yourself, be sure to sit back (with a famous rum swizzle in hand) and soak in the colors of the Bermuda rainbow. >>

The Loren at Pink Beach boasts an infiniti pool and a private pink sand beach.

AMÉDÉE 1851 ($215) South Beach Twill Square Scarf/ Miami Collection; amedee1851.com REBECCA DE RAVENEL ($295) Gee hoop earrings; saksfifthavenue.com

BY C AT H E R I N E T R I F I L E T T I

CHLOÉ ($335) Willow sunglasses; net-a-porter.com LILI BERMUDA ($140) Paradise; don’t miss a visit to the perfumery in St. George’s (est. 1928)

SALLY LAPOINTE ($650) Fuschia lightweight cupro high waisted belted short; sallylapointe.com Bermuda shorts are back and there are several recent runway examples to prove it. We’re loving this hot pink pair from Sally LaPointe’s Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear Collection for their versatility and easy transition from afternoon beach stroll to evening out.

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STAUD ($375) Moreau bag; staud.com

FOR A TASTE OF THE FAMOUS RUM SWIZZLE head to the Swizzle Inn in Bailey’s Bay WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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P H OTO CO U RT E SY B E R M U DA TO U R I S M; P H OTOS BY CAT H E R I NE T R I F I L E T T I

Rosewood Bermuda’s courtyard and sprawling property epitomize island chic.


TIFFANY & CO

STAYING POWER Tiffany & Co., helmed by Alessandro Bogliolo, celebrates a landmark opening in the nation’s capital.

BY C AT H E R I N E T R I F I L E T T I | P H OTO BY TO N Y P OW E L L

I

conic shouldn’t be a word that gets bandied about or spoken lightly, especially in discussions about fashion. In brand speak, it means that unwavering support from loyal customers can effectively combat shifting trends and roller coaster economies. For Alessandro Bogliolo, being CEO of the iconic Tiffany & Co. requires a divided effort—leading with one foot grounded in the history and legacy upon which the jeweler was built in 1837 and the other facing toward the future. The charismatic 53-year-old is well versed in the modernist retail approach, having had leadership roles at Sephora, Bulgari and most recently Italian fashion brand Diesel before starting at Tiffany’s in 2017. According to Bogliolo that strategy means: “You take the best of your tradition – that is the craftsmanship – but you combine it with new designs and especially the understanding of new generations because times have changed.” On the design front, he counts Tiffany’s Chief Artistic Officer Reed Krakoff as a major source of “freshness” to the company. As for shifting retail models, Bogliolo gestures to the Washington-specific features in the new light-filled Tiffany & Co. store which opened in CityCenterDC earlier this year. Out of 300 locations worldwide, the 5,000-square-foot space is the brand’s first concept store that incorporates details of place – think marble columns and Union Station-esque design. “This is a big evolution,” Bogliolo explains. “It’s about being more relevant for the community and giving different experiences in different stores.” The effort to be more thoughtful is a reflection of the millennial buying power’s desire for meaningful shopping experiences beyond those that are purely transactional. The store’s opening on New York Ave. NW doesn’t just solidify the jeweler’s long rich history in the nation’s capital—it testifies to the brand’s staying power. As the preferred jeweler to presidents and other major luminaries as well as the designer of the Great Seal of the United States, Tiffany’s is the ultimate “American institution,” Bogliolo says. A number of Tiffany’s most famous pieces drawn from its vast archival collection were on display at the store’s opening to punctuate the relationship. Legacy aside, it will be Bogliolo’s balanced vision that will push the brand forward. “We are not a museum,” he says. “If we were, we would just take care of protecting our legacy. But we are a brand and our mission is to write a new page every day.”

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Alessandro Bogliolo

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LIFESTYLES

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO ($350) Dad bods rejoice with this doubleGancio buckle featuring elasticized cotton-blend webbing for a flexible fit. Nordstrom, Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, 1400 S Hayes St, Arlington,VA 22202

| MEN’S ACCESSORIES

.YWX *SVI *YR

DORMIE WORKSHOP ($240) Handmade leather ‘hammer time’ headcover. dormieworkshop.com

BIRDS OF CONDOR ($44.95) When you decide to embrace the bogey. birdsofcondor.com

Feel free to take off the Ergo Baby child carrier and strap on your clubs instead this Father’s Day (June 16). Even better, leave that bland, basic golf gear behind and get a little edgy on a big day away. Your shot, dude. BY DA R A K L AT T

MIURA ($240) Luxury means smooth microfiber leather, a magnetic rangefinder pocket, and, of course, a cooler lined zip pocket. miuragolf.com

ILIAC ($125) Patriots take dead aim with this stick cover designed to be snug. iliacgolf.com

LEUS ($31.99) Dyed caddy towel. Works for beer spills too. leustowels.com

You’ll be quoting lines from Carl Spackler in “Caddyshack” and taking your well-putt together golf style off the course and on the road in these freewheeling pants.

PETER MILLAR ($135) A “fancy performance pant:” polyester woven twill fabric featuring moisture-wicking finish. PeterMillar.com

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18 EAST MFG ($145) Can you go wrong when the fit inspiration is patiala pajama pants? This versatile cotton trouser is all about the relaxed, slightly tapered fit. 18east.co/

ISAIA ($615) Italian made with cotton/spandex. Mazza Gallerie, Neiman Marcus, 5300 Wisconsin Ave NW,

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GREYSON ($140) “Magic emporium trousers” come with a majestic wooded mural. Speaking of wooded, it’s also antimicrobial. Trendygolfusa.com

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A CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTY TURLINGTON AND TONNE GOODMAN ‘The idea of instant gratification, which is now the prevalent tempo, everybody is getting what they need immediately with a swipe, and that’s what I think is potentially dangerous, that you can’t stop on an image that will really have an emotional impact on you.’ Tonne Goodman on the value of highly produced fashion editorials

‘It isn’t about a glamorous experience, it’s about a kind of extraordinary experience.’ B O O K P H OTOS F R O M L E FT BR U C E W E B E R , P H OTO BY P E T E R L I N D B E R G H , P H OTO BY P E T E R L I N D B E RG H

Tonne Goodman on the high profile fashion editorials she has been a part of.

Kristin Cecchi, Christy Turlington Burns, Randi Levine, Tonne Goodman, Dana Bash, Kim Sajet and Ivan Shaw

Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Bonnie Kogod

Rose Carter and Tom Pegues The National Portrait Gallery | PHOTOS BY JOY ASICO

Mackenzie Smith, Rep. Don Beyer and Bobbi Smith WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

EN VOGUE: Supermodel Christy Turlington Burns sat with Vogue Art Director Tonne Goodman and moderator Dana Bash of CNN to discuss Goodman’s new book, which features iconic images from her career over the last two decades. Turlington and Goodman reminisced about the behind the scenes making of the photos and answered tough questions from Bash including, “What’s it like to work for Anna Wintour?” Goodman kept it simple: “It’s extremely straightforward and very real.” Co-chairpersons of the Nov. 19 American Portrait Gala Kristin Cecchi, Randi Levine and Joseph Ujobai announced this year’s honorees: scientist and Nobel laureate Frances Arnold; Amazon’s Jeff Bezos; rock band Earth, Wind & Fire; business executive Indra Nooyi; Pulitzer Prize–winning performer Lin-Manuel Miranda; and Vogue Editor Anna Wintour. COFFEE TABLE SWAG Guests left with a copy of Goodman’s stunning book “Point of View: Four Decades of Defining Style.”

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Lisa von Weise, Mariella Trager and Marisol La Madrid

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WASHINGTON S O C I A L D I A R Y virginia gold cup﹐ citydance dream gala﹐ bender jcc ‘imagine’ and more!

Michelle Bernard and Andrea McIntosh at The Links High Tea in the City (Photo by Tony Powell)

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Mike and Kristi Huber

Jeff and Denise Bartlett

Joe Theismann, Ralph Sampson and George Bodenheimer

WL EXCLUSIVE

V FOUNATION’S VIRGINIA VINE Stone Tower Winery | PHOTOS BY NANCY KLECK

Sarah and Josh Orye

Sharon and Pat Hogan

V-INOPHILES: Legendary Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann and CNN’s Paul Begala teamed up to host a wine dinner to support the V Foundation for Cancer Research, which funds prostate cancer studies at Inova Schar Center, the University of Virginia’s Cancer Center and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center. Notable live auction items included dinner with James Carville in New Orleans and VIP tickets to any stop on Dave Matthews Band’s summer tour. The V Foundation, named after legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano, has awarded $225 million for cancer research since its inception. This year the event netted over $500,000.

Drs. Toby Champman, Sage Bolte and Ashish Chawla

William Langhorne and Leana Katz

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Jerald Musarra, Julie Chase, John Chase, Taryn Chase and Christopher Wilson

Karey Kuhlman and Mary Beth Rocco

Cynthia Steele Vance Earl Stafford andRhoads Kay Kendall and Harry

Russ Ruot and Robin Theismann

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| NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

GENDER STUDIES

From space suits to sneakers, Dr. Saralynn Mark’s nonprofit iGIANT aims for equity by examining design through a sex/gender lens. BY ERICA MOODY

I

n March, NASA canceled what was to be the very first all-female spacewalk for a very confounding reason: there were no space suits small enough to fit one of the two women on the mission. The spot went to a man, and women were left wondering what happened. For Dr. Saralynn Mark, who spent nearly 20 years as senior medical advisor to NASA, the incident was no surprise. If we really pay attention, she insists, we’ll see that everything in our lives, from the cars we drive to the shoes we wear to the pills we take has been impacted by sex and gender (namely, that many of these products were designed with a male in mind). Mark’s 501(c) nonprofit organization iGIANT (Impact of Gender and Sex on Innovation and Novel Technologies) was founded from this frustration and a desire to educate, raise awareness and empower people to effect change. In her words, “The mission is to accelerate the translation of research into gender and sex specific design elements such as products, policy and protocols (what you are doing at the design table, in the hospital at your patients’ bedsides, at the gym when you’re going through training, etc.).” At NASA, Mark says,“We were seeing problems with our female astronauts. They were basically floating around in their space suits, the

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very thing meant to protect them, because the suits weren’t designed for their bodies and the way they moved.” Mark then went to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under Obama, where she worked on ebola and noticed that “women on the front lines were becoming infected because their protective gear didn’t fit.” A trip to Geneva made her see the harm of medication that doesn’t consider that men and women metabolize drugs differently; after being prescribed Ambien and giving a lecture at the World Health Organization she didn’t remember delivering, she saw that the dosage had been too strong for her. It wasn’t long after that, she says, that the FDA took notice. Eight out of ten drugs had to be pulled off the market because of their increased toxicity in women. “Women have different side effects and interact with medical devices differently and part of that is devices are often tested on men,” she explains. “They’re often tested with male operators so the deployment of the device may not work as well for a female operator. What we’re trying to do is get all those within the health community to see through a sex/gender lens.” The health community, along with tech, transportation and retail, are iGIANT’s areas of focus as it aims to achieve its mission with roundtable

events that urge people to become “ambassadors for innovation.”They also hold global innovation competitions for high school students and host scholars-in-residence.The last high school awardwinner designed a hospital gown that would be more comfortable for both sexes. Since launching in 2017, iGIANT has held more than 60 events throughout the world. “It is important that men and women are given the tools, resources and opportunities to live and do their jobs well and safely,” Mark says. “We see how important this is from the grandeur of space exploration where there is a need to have space suits that fit all astronauts to the more mundane such as ill-fitting work gloves or freezing office environments.” It is the same with driving. A study on the way cars are designed showed that women had a 47 percent chance of more severe injuries in a car accident because of the headrest positioning and more open toe injuries because there are no safety airbags where you have your feet and women tend to wear shoes that are less obtrusive or stiff compared to men. “I don’t think it’s malicious intent,” Mark says regarding the designs we’ve come to grow accustomed to. “Often it’s just benign neglect, but once you’re enlightened you can do something about it.”

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Rep. Doris Matsui and Molly Raiser Kathy Kemper with Justice Samuel Alito and Martha Ann Alito

Joanna Breyer and Justice Stephen Breyer

WL EXCLUSIVE

THE WONDER OF WILL GALA Folger Shakespeare Library | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL MUCH ADO ABOUT A LOT: Supporters of all things devoted to “The Bard” launched the most ambitious capital campaign in the Folger Shakespeare Library’s history by adding $450,000 to a capital campaign that has already raised more than half of the targeted $50 million for restoration, expanded public space, increased accessibility and systems upgrades. “Every person can find his or her story in Shakespeare; these plays are like the diary of humankind,” library director Michael Witmore told guests before a lively performance in the Elizabethan Theatre (songs by Alison Lu and a clever magic show by Alain “The Man Who Knows” Nu) followed by dinner in the Reading Rooms and cordials in the Great Hall. ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS IN 2022: Public access will be restricted during the three-year restoration, but Folger programs and events will take place at other locations in Washington, D.C. and throughout the nation.

Michael Witmore

Shannon Fairbanks and Thor Halvorson

Mike Williams, May Liang Lintott, Kathie Williams and Jim Lintott

Ashley and Alan Dabbiere

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Joseph Perta and Jim Burns

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Karen Barker Marcou, Michael Abbenante and Melanie Aitken

DC VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT BENEFIT Denielle Pemberton-Heard and Kathleen Buhle Biden

The Four Seasons | PHOTOS BY NAKU MAYO

Jake Tapper

Jacqueline Badger Mars and Jeanne Ruesch

COURT CHAMPIONS: Finding a skilled lawyer pro-bono is step one in breaking the cycle of domestic violence. To celebrate volunteer lawyers’ work and raise funds for victims, Rep. Debbie Dingell and CNN’s Jake Tapper hosted a benefit to support DC Volunteer Lawyers Project’s efforts — more than 100,000 volunteer hours over the years — allowing the group to serve more than 5,000 clients and family members who are affected as well. Kathleen Buhle Biden, director of strategic partnerships and former daughter-in-law of Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden, said that having an attorney can increase the likelihood of obtaining a civil protective order from approximately 30 percent to more than 85 percent. “Restraining orders,” she added, “can reduce the occurrence of violence and help survivors feel safe and more empowered.”

Lauren Leavell

Mary Mochary, Gilan Corn, Empress Farah Pahlavi, Anika Gaal Schott, Didi Cutler and Jennifer Myerberg WL EXCLUSIVE

YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS GALA

Eric Motley, Bitsey Folger and Dorothy Woodcock

National Museum of Women in the Arts | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

Judy Esfandiary, Young Concert Artists founder Susan Wadsworth and Olga Ryan 64

STRIKING HIGH NOTES: The choice of Mendelssohn’s melodious “Piano Trio in D Minor” to conclude the Young Concert Artists’ 40th anniversary gala was no coincidence. It had been a favorite chamber piece of Gilan Tocco Corn as a concert pianist, and the event was in her honor. Many of the Iran-born District resident’s friends gathered to pay tribute to her ebullient personality, passion for music and efforts as the Washington chairman of the Young Concert Artists. In a short speech former Iranian Empress Farah Pahlavi described how music had helped to sustain her in during a 40-year exile. “The best way I can go back to my country is when I listen to music,” Her Majesty said. Mary Mochary, a co-sponsor with Aniko Gall Scho , Didi Cutler and Jennifer Myerberg, inevitably mentioned Corn’s “contagious and enchanting laugh”—and it was immediately heard in the room. WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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Liz Schrayer, Heidi Brodsky and Jeff Schwaber

John Ourisman, Michael Blumenthal, Arlene Blumenthal and Beth Glassman

WL SPONSORED

BENDER JCC’S ‘IMAGINE’: A NIGHT SUPPORTING SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE J’ Bender JCC of Greater Washington PHOTOS BY NAKU MAYO

A LEGACY OF CIVIC ACHIEVEMENT: Supporters of the Bender Jewish Community Center in Rockville gathered to honor Jeff Schwaber, managing partner of the law firm Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC, as he received the Benjamin Ourisman Memorial Award for Civic Achievement in recognition of his 30 year service to the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. For the 61st presentation of the award, the late Mr. Ourisman’s grandchildren, Beth Glassman and John Ourisman, shared thoughts about his exemplary leadership and commitment to both his community and family. The evening provided vital funding for scholarships and programs at the Bender JCC including camp, preschool and fitness memberships, all of which are central to its mission.

Barry Sandler and Jenny Shtipelman

Lisa Gunty and Lisa Gottdenker Jerry Herman, Robert Litman and Louis Marmon

Michael Cardozo, Patricia Bennet Sagon and Charles Miller

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Bender JCC President and CEO Michael Feinstein and EarlCounty Stafford and Kay Kendall Montgomery Councilmember Andrew Friedson

Wendi and Daniel Abramowitz with Malki Karkowsky

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Catherine Jones, Jennifer Bognet, Diane Ray Brown and Debbie Killeen

Mary Grace Oakes and Ashley Houk WL SPONSORED

WOMEN & WINE

Sherrie Beckstead with Janet Davis and Barbara McDuffie

The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

“Wine dude” Dave Ritchey

Valerie Kelly, Dayna Kuchar and Jenna Jacobson

THIS IS OUR WHY: Event chairwomen Janet Davis and Barbara McDuffie made note that there were onl;y 90 women in the room 14 years ago when the benefit for Georgetown’s Lombardi Cancer Center first kicked off. At this year’s pink-hued bash, more than 750 females and 78 sponsors gathered for an empowering evening that has raised $3.2 million since its inception. Cancer survivor Lena Markley brought down the house with laughs (and tears) when she praised Lombardi’s nurses and staff who changed her life. The event raised $720,000, including a percentage from supportive “wine dudes” who missed part of Capitals game seven to deliver drinks during cocktail hour for tips. One lucky guest went home with a new Rolex courtesy of Liljenquist & Beckstead. NEW NAME ALERT The organization announced that it will be changing the benefit’s title to Lombardi Women Connecting for a Cure next year.

Studio Theatre Artistic Director David Muse and his wife Hannah Arem Victor Shargai, Zack Powell and Craig Pascal

WL EXCLUSIVE

Liam Forde and Shannon Dorsey perform at Studio Theatre’s 40th anniversary party

STUDIO THEATRE 40TH ANNIVERSARY Dock 5, Union Market | PHOTOS BY VITHHAYA PHONGSAVAN

Undine Nash, David Levy, Carole Feld and Carl Nash 66

OH SO INDUSTRIAL CHIC!: Studio Theatre’s 2019 gala celebrated 40 years of presenting a diverse repertoire that has earned widespread praise for new and contemporary works by playwrights from around the world. Just to be different and shake things up a bit, the party was moved from the theater’s sprawling 14th and P streets NW complex to Union Market’s Dock 5 — wonderfully staged and lighted for the occasion of course — where guests shared memories while mingling over cocktails and dinner before a performance by actor/singers Liam Forde and Shannon Dorsey that was followed by late-night dancing.

Sarah Collie and Gerald Tremblay

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Timothy Howard and Steve Staton WL SPONSORED

DC09’S VIRGINIA GOLD CUP PARTY

Julie Fagan, Jeanette Staton and Emmanuel Bailey

Photo by Sharon Reed Greg Taylor, Stephanie Rawlins-Blake and Yvette Alexander

Great Meadow, The Plains, VA. PHOTOS BY NANCY KLECK AND PLATINUM PHOTOGRAPHY

SPRING TRADITION: Unlike the Kentucky Derby, there was no rain or jockey disqualifications at the 94th Running of the Virginia Gold Cup as favorite Andi’amu took home the $100,000 purse in the featured race. High fashion and big hats were de rigeuer, as a record crowd of 75,000 clung to the rails or enjoyed hospitality tents brimming with food and libations. In its fifth year on Member’s Hill, DC09 transformed seven tents, hosting 240 civic leaders, philanthropists and corporate leaders. “Virginia Gold Cup provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge and show my profound appreciation to the many people that have dedicated their lives to the service others,” said DC 09 President Emmanuel Bailey. The new Meadow Club was inaugurated this year, where organizer Nate Chambers brought together next generation supporters under a tent at the finish line to support the Great Meadow Outdoors Foundation.

Vincent Orange and Paul Orange

Danella Sealock VanNiel and Guy Lambert

Damian and Sarah Mouton

Sheila Mitchell, Delphine Wilks, Henrietta Cook, Dayna Fleming and Nicole Millard

Rhonda Rogers, Montez Anderson and Yvonne Mingo

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Adean King

Brenda Willoughby and Shireen Dodson

THE LINKS HIGH TEA

Monique Samuels and Dr. Kellei Samuels

Omni Shoreham | PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

Nicole Bernard

EMPOWERING FEMALES OF COLOR: More than 500 women donning ornate hats and equally stylish couture to match gathered at the Capital City Chapter of the Links, Incorporated’s annual High Tea that recognizes and honors distinguished African American women. At this year’s event, female presidents of the United States’ historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were spotlighted for their contribution to the education field. Founded in 1946, The Links, Incorporated is “committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.”

Charlene Flowers and Xxxxx Xxxxx

Brad House and Molly Swagler

COMPASS DMV LAUNCH

Erika Gutierrez Sheridan and Drew Weymer

Palisades, Washington, D.C. PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL

Erika Litman and Diya Eggleston 68

Megan Dottermusch, Sarah Friedman, Jessica Dinan and Monika Steiger

CUTTING-EDGE CONSTRUCTION: Two modern houses in the Palisades neighborhood of Northwest Washington have a secret behind their sleek facades. The single-family homes were built by developer Prefab Partners using aerospace robotics and are now on the market via Compass. The techsavvy real estate brand threw a party at the “Salt & Pepper” properties to celebrate the launch of its social media account @ compassDMV. The evening featured barbeque from Federalist Pig, pop-tarts from Ted’s Bulletin and plenty of black and white touches. WA S H I N G T O N L I F E

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WL SPONSORED

CITY DANCE DREAM GALA Lincoln Theater | GALA PHOTOS BEN DROZ DANCE PHOTOS TAYLOR MICKAL PHOTOGRAPHY

WORLD-CLASS MOVES: From ballet’s arabesques and tap’s “spank HEEL step” to breakdance headspins, guests at the DREAM gala witnessed an energetic and spectacular evening of dance. Dynamic dancers from acclaimed companies took part in the evening — uniting professional classical, contemporary, tap, ballroom and hip hop artists from around the world. The event co-chaired by Patricia and Lloyd Howell, benefited CityDance DREAM, a tuition free dance program that provides access to high-quality dance training for underserved neighborhoods in the District while integrating academic support and family services. Launched in 2005, CityDance DREAM has grown to serve a 10-year, year-round program. Following the performances, the party continued at the Thurgood Marshall Center with guests busting some of their own moves.

Anna Gerberich, Joffrey Ballet and Pete Walker, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Repstyles Crew

Maki Onuki and Maureen Doyle

Patricia Howell and Lloyd Howell

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CityDance students

Irene Roth and Shigeko Bork

Tim Shriver

Kay Kendall and Mary Haft

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HOME LIFE Real Estate News and Open House I Inside Homes and my washington

:MWWM (¸EVXI :MWWM (¸EQSVI George and Kristen Lund’s grand home for opera fêtes. BY DARA KLATT PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL


HOME LIFE | INSIDE HOMES

ast month at the Washington National Opera (WNO), Giacomo Puccini’s sumptuous drama “Tosca” with its d “Vissi d’arte” aria and elegant sets depicting renowned grand Roman scenes returned. Perhaps befitting the captivating drama is the impressive home that plays host to many WNO philanthropic events: the Beaux-Arts Kalorama mansion belonging to George and Kristen Lund. Ascend the marble staircase to the second floor and into the soaring entryway of their reception hall with its 10foot windows and 14-foot ceilings, and you can appreciate the owners’ fondness for grand opera-like scenes.The living room on the left and dining room on the right are arranged like a soft, beautiful melody. Kristen Lund, a trustee of the WNO since 2013, who is also leading the effort to form a National Board of Trustees for the organization and is set to chair the 2020 gala, says the opera is a “labor of love.” “What I love about the opera is the artistic direction, the set design, fashion in the costumes, music in the orchestra … and the glamour of it.” Certainly elegance and glamour are reflected throughout the couple’s 1918 home, which was designed by Clarke Waggaman and George N. Ray, famed architects who were known for their prolific work in early 20th-century Washington; and decorated in 2015 by Kelley Proxmire of Kelley Proxmire Inc. “It’s very special,” says George Lund, who serves as CEO and chairman of Torch Hill Investment Partners LLC.

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ENTRY: Balustrade lamp by Chapman through Circa. Table from 1st Dibs. LIVING ROOM: Wallcovering: Phillip Jeffries. Rug: Galleria Carpets & Rugs. Secretary, giltframed chairs and twin coffee tables: owners’ collection. Fabric on Gilt-framed chairs: Manuel Canovas. Striped draperies: Calvin Fabrics. Drapery fabricator: JK Drapery. White sofa: Hickory Chair. Sofa Fabric: Nobilis. Glass-topped oval coffee table, side tables flanking white sofa, gilt armchairs and mirror above fireplace are the owners’ collection. Gilt armchair fabric: Cowtan & Tout. Marble-based lamps: visualcomfortlightinglights. com. Art above loveseat, white sofa, console and bust on console: Clients’ collection. Tufted ottoman: custom frame by JK Drapery. Ottoman fabric: Jane Churchill. Trim: Samuel & Sons.

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“Everyone who comes here, I think, feels lifted up by it.” The couple says that they host philanthropic events about once per month, usually evening cocktail parties with as many as 75 to 100 guests. The fêtes play well to the house, which he says was built with night-time in mind, with large-scale windows that subtly shine light without being overpowering. “A lot goes into all this stuff to get it right,” he says. Getting it right as a formal hosting space started with the embroidered-silk floral fabric from Pierre Frey that Proxmire used on accent pillows in the living room. The fabric inspired the palette in the dining and living rooms of cream, tan and gray, while the design scheme was developed around the “classic glam feeling of Gracie wall covering,” says Proxmire, who adopted silver/gray and beige/gold for materials in the living room and the foyer wallpaper. A mixture of furnishings from the Lunds’ collection was rearranged or reupholstered for the hall. One of the most stately pieces is a genuine pianoforte that stands confidently in the living area, specifically brought in for opera singers who perform at their receptions. Now, with limited notice, Kristen Lund can host a lavish event. “We have a flow,” she says. “The hardest part is inviting people ... giving them enough notice [and] thinking about whom I’m inviting.” However, it’s not all without slight hiccups. The couple realized after hosting two events that the skeleton key from the reception hall bathroom was missing (likely due to playful mischief of their two young children, ages 6 and 3). With a pinch of chagrin, she notes that “we had no idea that nobody could lock the bathroom door, so [guests] must have been holding it shut!” Fortunately, the “skeleton key incident” didn’t yield any pink-faced surprises. For most events, the children sleep soundly despite any boisterousness below. “It’s a big ol’ house,” George Lund points out. While ample events in the couple’s house are

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says

DINING ROOM: Dining table & sideboard: Nancy Corzine. Dining chairs and gilt mirror over fireplace: owner’s collection. Dining chair fabric & draperies: Pierre Frey. Drapery trim: Samuel & Sons. Drapery fabricator: JK Drapery, Inc.; Chandeliers: Niermann Weeks. Wall covering: Gracie Studio. Rugs: Galleria Carpets & Rugs.

centered on the WNO, they do play host to many other philanthropic activities both in and outside their home in which they are involved, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the French-American Cultural Foundation, Explore! Children’s Museum, National Council for the White House Historical Association, Free Yezidi Foundation, Mayo Clinic Leadership Council for Washington DC and the Atlantic Council. “Somebody said to me, ‘when is it going to be enough? When do you decide you have enough money? When do you decide you’re involved in enough things?’” Kristen Lund says. Her response? “You keep saying, ‘yes, yes, yes’ and you just hope that you’re improving lives and the greater good as a whole.” For Lund, who has been a fan of the opera since she was twelve, the “greater good” starts with “heart and love for the art” of opera. “Whatever they ask me to do, I do it with every part of me.”

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HOME LIFE | OVER THE MOON

All In An Artistic Family Lilla Matheson Ohrstrom helps people navigate life’s challenges through art-making. BY VI C KY MO O N

Lilla Matheson Ohrstrom and her sister and fellow artist Helen Matheson Hillard share a moment at Confederate Hall at Hickory Tree Farm. Photo by Vicky Moon

Lilla Matheson Ohrstrom comes by her immense artistic talents by way of hard work and, oh yes, a bit of genetic juice. We’ll get to that in short order. In her rustic, yet glowing Youngblood Art Studio tucked away in the village of The Plains where she serves as creative director of exhibitions, Ohrstrom has an out-sized energy for her work in mixed media as an artist and sculptor and is devoted to bringing in other artists devoted to all forms. One very impressive aspect of Ohrstrom’s accomplishments is as an art therapist. She spent years studying at such world-renowned institutions as the Parsons School of Design in

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New York City and the École des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. She’s traveled the globe and also trained in the U.S. at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art & Design in Washington, D.C. To top it all off, she received a Master’s degree in art therapy at George Washington University. Ohrstrom says she likes to “help people navigate life’s challenges through art-making.” Visitors to the countryside should make a trip out to see her current show and sale, “The Enchanted World of Joan Danzinger” at her studio through Sept. 30. Danziger, a Washingtonbased glass sculptor, specializes in insects and animals.

“It’s nice synchronicity that Joan Danziger is on view at the National Sporting Library Museum through Jan. 5, 2020 with ‘Canter & Crawl,’” says Ohrstrom, who recently served as the honorary chairwoman of the Piedmont Regional Art Show & Sale at the Grace Church in The Plains. All of the five Matheson siblings, including her three brothers and a sister, are artists. As the local summer garden party circuit kicked off in high style with the 21st annual Land Trust of Virginia soiree at Confederate Hall at Hickory Tree Farm, several members of the family were among the artists invited to attend for an afternoon of painting en plein air. Helen Matheson Hillard, her sister, was working on the front porch on a small landscape painting. Of course, the patriarch of the family, her architect and artist father Charley Matheson, was at the party with his wife, Julie Martin Matheson. A resident of Markham, he does lovely pen and ink, oil and watercolors. His sister, Lida Stifel of Potomac, was also one of the invited artists. “Both of my parents were always encouraging our creativity,” Ohrstrom notes, adding that her mother, Bonnie Buchanan Matheson, “had a flair for costumes and encouraged imaginary play.” The afternoon at the LTV gathering included a specialty drink called the “Mimi Bellini” in honor of co-hostess Mimi Abel-Smith, whose late parents, Alice and James Mills, once owned Hickory Tree Farm. The current residents, Susan Pope and Joseph Gargan, were also on hand as the LTV honored several stewards and conservationists of the wide-open spaces where artists can blissfully paint the gorgeous surroundings. The organization has put in place 175 easements totaling 19,292 acres in 15 counties across the state. “Art allows me a way to understand the world, which is hard to make sense of sometimes,” Ohrstrom concludes.

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OPEN HOUSE

Open House High-style living for sale in Maryland, Virginia and the District.

ASKING PRICE: Upon Request

GEORGETOWN

N STREET4 NW Designed by Mayor Cox in 1817, this Federal townhouse on Cox’s Row boasts over 7,500 square feet of elegant living on five floors with commanding staircases and a convenient elevator. Illuminated by tall windows, the house also features high ceilings and crown molding as well as a gracious entry foyer, double parlors, a library, bar and state of the art StudioSnaidero kitchen. Five bedrooms, six bathrooms, three powder rooms, six fireplaces, elevator, four garages and two additional parking spaces offer possibilities for both high style entertaining and casual living. Outside are professionally designed gardens.

MCLEAN

LISTING AGENT: Margaret Byrne Heimbold, 202.812.2750, Margaret. Heimbold@ LongandFoster. com, Long & Foster | Christie’s

ASKING PRICE: $3,500,000

CARLTON PLACE{ MCLEAN4 VA

Nestled on a tree-lined street in the Millwood neighborhood, this elegant Colonial combines LISTING AGENT: old-world charm with modern amenities. A well-designed floor plan and bright interior Steve Wydler, steve.wydler@ creates a space for both formal entertaining and everyday living. From the hardwood floors, compass.com, to the crown molding, high ceilings, and unique architectural elements, details have not been 703.348.6326, overlooked. Cook for family and guests in the gourmet kitchen, or spend summer days in the Compass landscaped grounds – complete with an expansive terrace and pool. Convenient to McLean and Tysons, yet just a short drive away from the District, this house is considered an oasis with the ease of city living.

KALORAMA MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW

LISTING AGENT: Kimberly Casey, 202361-3228 and Daryl Judy, 202-380-7219, Washington Fine Properties

Commanding a prime position on the District’s Embassy Row, this 1908-built house has been meticulously restored. Steeped in exclusivity and designer finishes, this five-level home spans approximately 6,700 square feet and offers five bedrooms, five full baths, and two half baths. An elevator services all floors, and both the attached garage and driveway are heated. This residence encompasses generous entertaining spaces, opulent millwork and significant lighting upgrades.

ASKING PRICE: $5,495,000

PALISADES POTOMAC AVE NW

ASKING PRICE: $2,750,000

Built in 2014, this residence is located at the end of a quiet two-block street, overlooking the C&O canal with seasonal Potomac River views. Spanning more than 6,000 square feet, the house boasts high ceilings, generous room sizes, an elevator to three levels, and chef ’s grade kitchen. Make way for a sumptuous master suite, five more bedrooms and four baths on the upper levels. The lower level includes an in-law bedroom and bath and two fireplaces. There’s also a twocar garage, porches that span the width of the house and a rear garden.

LISTING AGENT: Michael Rankin, 202-271-3344 TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

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HOME LIFE | REAL ESTATE NEWS

Spring Sales Vicki Kennedy sells in Kalorama and a modern dreamhouse hits the market in McLean. BY STAC E Y G R A Z I E R P FA R R

THE DISTRICT Peter Kaplan Jr. and wife Catherine purchased UNIVERSITY TERRACE NW in Kent for $4.75 million The brand new stone and stucco residence was designed by GTM Architects and constructed by Sandy Springs Builders. The four-level dwelling features the finest materials and workmanship from the gourmet kitchen and adjoining family room to the contemporary fireplace and sun-filled conservatory with a full picture glass surround. The fully finished walkout lower level is complete with a second family room, a game room, a guest suite and a media center. TTR Sotheby’s Marc Fleisher represented both the buyer and the seller in the transaction.

MARYLAND Paul and Sara Russell sold BRADLEY LANE in Bethesda for $2.6 million with the help of Long & Foster Gateway’s Genie Asmuth. This stately seven-bedroom Vermont granite center hall colonial was built in 1913 and is topped with a distinctive Italian red tile roof. The kitchen is a chef ’s delight with a grand island, table space, double refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers and a walk-in pantry. Mere

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Crafts style property boasts five bedrooms on three levels and over 7,700 square feet of living space. This charming property’s features include a dedicated office, a gourmet kitchen, a main level laundry center and a spacious lower level with a bedroom, bath and flex VIRGINIA room. Long & Foster McLean’s Laurie Stephen Stewart sold BENJAMIN Mensing was the listing agent while Stewart STREET in McLean for $2.3 million to an McElroy Real Estate’s Charisse McElroy undisclosed buyer. The 1999-built Arts & represented the buyer. blocks to the Chevy Chase Club, the house also boasts a raised flagstone terrace leading to the professionally landscaped, private back yard. Washington Fine Properties’ Traudel Lange represented the buyer.

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Private LLCs bought and sold KALORAMA CIRCLE NW for a cool $4 million. Perched atop Rock Creek Park, the European style, four-level residence offers sweeping views of both the park and Taft Bridge. Built in 1925, the property boasts embassy sized rooms, an expansive kitchen with elevator access, a brick walled private patio with a cocktail pool and a master suite with a Juliet balcony. The lower level features two heated garages, a large walk-in cedar closet, and a bonus room. McEnearney Associates, Inc.’s Nora Burke was the listing agent. Jack Realty Group’s John Pruski represented the buyer.

Glen Dodson purchased N STREET NW for $4.9 million. This historic property was the former home of Antonia Gordon and her late husband, Dr. Robert Gordon. The quintessential Washington rowhouse is a Federal jewel on Smith’s Row and dates to Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. The façade and other period details have been maintained for 200 years on this six-level row house. Features include an elevator, an exercise room, a wine storage and a carriage house. Nancy Taylor Bubes and James Peva of Washington Fine Properties were the listing agents. Bubes also represented the buyer in the transaction.

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Victoria Reggie (Vicki) Kennedy sold WYOMING AVENUE in Kalorama for $4.4 million. The three-bedroom Federal style townhouse that she bought in 2010 for $1.65 million after the death of her husband, Sen. Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy, was built in 1959 and once belonged to socialite Charles T. Cudlip. Washington Fine Properties Jean Hanan was the listing agent. Kennedy renovated and expanded the property to include amenities in the highest standard of building. The posh abode includes a marble floor center hall, a curved staircase with a circular skylight, a four-level elevator, a gourmet kitchen with a butler’s pantry and four en-suite bedrooms in addition to an elegant master suite. TTR Sotheby’s International Realty’s Michael Rankin was the buyer’s agent.

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PROPERTY LINES

MODERN DREAMHOUSE: A brand new custom residence built by Buchanan & Price, also the seller, in 2018 is for sale for $4.975 million in McLean. MOTTROM DRIVE, a five-bedroom, eight-bath contemporary is listed by Compass’ Mark McFadden. The house is sited on over two acres and offers more than 10,000 square feet of tasteful living spaces featuring dramatic glass walls, soaring ceilings and exotic wood finishes. The listing boasts a gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances, a wine cellar, an elevator and a home theater. TUDOR CHARMER: Richard and Elizabeth Sandza listed FOREST LANE NW for $3.49 million with the help of TTR Sotheby’s Michael Rankin. The six-bedroom Tudor sits on a discrete cul-de-sac within walking distance to Glover Archbold Park, shops and restaurants. The elegant residence perched on a half-acre lot boasts luxe landscaping and trees providing immense privacy. The property also features graciously scaled entertaining rooms, attractive architectural details and an abundance of natural light throughout.

NEW TAKE ON A CLASSIC: Garfield Holdings listed GARFIELD STREET NW for $4.75 million. The grand Neo-classical style mansion was built in 1928 and was recently renovated extensively. The property has been transformed to meet the needs of a modern family while maintaining its original character and charm. The open floor plan offers the perfect combination of large scale entertaining and expansive living spaces. Fine finishes include a professionally designed gourmet kitchen with a 12-foot Calcatta Miele marble island and top of the line appliances, restored antique cross hewn hardwood floors, 16-inch crown moldings and new-oversized windows. Compass’ Mark McFadden is the listing agent.

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HENRY THE K’S FORMER DIGS: P STREET NW, once rented by Richard Nixon’s secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, is listed for sale for $5.45 million in Georgetown. Kissinger is said to have rented the brick townhouse for $2,500 per month and had bullet-proof glass installed over the front windows. More recently, the East Village Federal was renovated from top to bottom to include formal entertaining rooms, an open kitchen with a family room and a private patio and back garden. Washington Fine Properties’ James Peva and Nancy Taylor Bubes are the listing agents. Send real estate news to Stacey Grazier Pfarr at editorial@washingtonlife.com.

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MY WASHINGTON FRANCO NUSCHESE Owner, Cafe Milano; President, Georgetown EntertainmentGroup INTERVIEW BY KEVIN CHAFFEE

I enjoy walking through Rock Creek Park all the way from my house off Connecticut Avenue in upper northwest to Georgetown and then up to Cafe Milano.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is one of the world’s most beautiful churches and where the popes say mass when they visit. Callista Gingrich, the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, sings in the choir when she is in town.

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I was on the board of the Washington National Opera for ten years and always like going to the Kennedy Center to see various productions. Now that my friend Gianandrea Noseda is conducting the National Symphony I will be going more often.

I don’t go out to restaurants very much but when I do, Plume at the Jefferson Hotel is a charming, elegant and quiet place to eat well and relax.

YOUR STAFF SOMEHOW MANAGES TO KEEP TRACK OF CUSTOMERS’ LIKES, DISLIKES, SEATING PREFERENCES, ETC. HOW DO THEY DO THIS? We know what they like and of course today’s technology has made that much easier. I give credit to Laurent Menoud, our maître d’ for the past 26 years. He remembers everything—what table they prefer, what food, wines and cocktails they like. If it’s a vodka and tonic, Laurent will know what type of vodka to make it with. SHARE A FEW FAVORITE ANECDOTES FROM THE PAST 29 YEARS. When Queen Sirikit of Thailand visited Washington in 2002 with her daughter and son, who is now the king, we closed the restaurant for two days to prepare for her private dinner. We tented the entire courtyard for cocktails and the 80 guests were seated inside at one big table. All the tablecloths and chair pillows were custom made in advance for the occasion although Her Majesty used her own silver flatware that she brought with her. People would never pay to do an event like that again. Another special evening was the National Italian American Foundation’s

dinner some years back when both Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida were special guests, but that’s a story for another day ... YOU OFTEN HAVE GUESTS OF OPPOSING VIEWS DINING AT THE SAME TIME AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE OK WITH THAT. We have Republicans and Democrats, Israelis and Palestinians and lots of others who don’t care to be in the same room together. Why? Because Cafe Milano is neutral. We’re “the Switzerland of Georgetown” and people know they have to behave—like they used to. YOU WERE THE GO-TO FOOD GUY WHEN POPE BENEDICT XVI VISITED WASHINGTON. I delivered a cake in the shape of St. Peter’s Square to the Vatican Embassy for his 81st birthday and had special commemorative plates made with each guest’s name inscribed on the bottom—they were all cardinals. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AMERICAN FOOD OR DISH AND WHERE DO YOU FIND IT? I love a good pastrami sandwich but I have to go to New York to get one at Katz’s Delicatessen on East Houston Street. YOU RECENTLY OPENED ANOTHER CAFE MILANO AT THE FOUR SEASONS IN ABU DHABI. DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO FURTHER EXPAND THE BRAND? I get a lot of requests and always have deals on the table but right now they are all on hold. I have to be very careful because I know I can only do a few places well. Plus, I’d really like to spend more time with those who inspire me to do something that will make a big difference in the lives of people in the long run. I’ve always wanted to give back. Life is not about money.

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P H OTO BY TO N Y P OW E L L ; R O C KC R E E K PA R K V I A W I K I M E D I A CO M M O N S ; K E N N E DY C E N T E R V I A F L I CK R ; BA S I L I CA V I A WI K I M EDI A CO MM O NS ; P LU M E CO U RT E SY O F T H E J E F FE R SO N H OT E L

MY TOP SPOTS

CAFE MILANO HAS BEEN THE GO-TO RESTAURANT TO SEE AND BE SEEN HERE SINCE THE DAY IT OPENED IN NOVEMBER 1992. WHAT IS THE SECRET OF ITS ENDURING APPEAL? People make a restaurant and everyone who works at Cafe Milano tries to do the best they can to make our guests feel at home. We try very hard to make sure we recognize our frequent customers—who know we will try to accommodate them, even at the last minute, when they need to make a reservation.




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