BALL for THE MALL 2024 Program Book

TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL

MAY 8, 2024

Presenting our 2024 History, Heroes & Hope Awards

A Celebration of Storytelling on the National Mall

WELCOME

Dear Friends of the Trust for the National Mall,

We are honored to gather with you this evening on America’s Front Yard to celebrate the iconic place where the story of our nation is told and where it continues to unfold, weaving the tapestry of the American experience.

Tonight, we mark the 10th anniversary of our History, Heroes & Hope Awards program, which began at our annual gala in 2015. We are proud to honor three incredible storytellers who represent the ideals of the National Mall through their impressive body of work. We also celebrate our important work and mission, established in 2007, to support the National Park Service to restore, preserve and elevate the National Mall and its historic purpose.

Our shared work takes on new and pressing meaning as we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. The Trust and the National Park Service have ambitious plans leading up to this historic milestone, including the restoration of Constitution Gardens and the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, to create a model urban park for all, along with the reimagining of Sylvan Theater to be our nation’s premier center stage. We are also creating new civic learning experiences and volunteer programming to help students and visitors connect more deeply to our history and the democratic ideals on which our nation was founded.

We are grateful for your continued generosity that makes our important work possible and ensures the National Mall will endure and inspire for generations to come.

With gratitude,

CATHERINE TOWNSEND President and CEO, Trust for the National Mall

BRUCE BROUSSARD President and CEO, Humana, Inc.

Dear Friends of the National Park Service & the Trust for the National Mall,

Thank you for your support of this burgeoning partnership, where the federal government and the private sector have joined together to ensure the National Mall remains a vibrant civic space and a welcoming and worthy ambassador of our nation.

Together, the National Park Service and the Trust are preparing for the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. Record crowds will come to the National Mall and the eyes of the nation and the world will be upon us. We intend to exceed their expectations and present a National Mall that showcases the breadth of the American experience and provides lifelong memories for those who visit.

Although we are focused on the 250th, our ultimate gift to the nation will be a thriving partnership between the National Park Service and the Trust, one that long outlives the anniversary and readies the Mall for generations of visitors to come. Thank you for joining us tonight. We hope to see you on the National Mall and as a familiar face of this partnership long into the future.

Sincerely,

JEFFREY P. REINBOLD Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks, National Park Service

A MONUMENTAL MOMENT

Dear Friends of the Trust for the National Mall,

The National Mall is a unique living monument where you can walk in the footsteps of women and men fighting to be heard for freedom, equality, and human rights. Its grass, trees, and monuments are alive with the memories of our great history as it has unfolded over 250 years.

The creators of this great open space for free American expression were visionaries, indeed. We owe them a great deal to preserve and continue to give to this great legacy. As the great experiment we call America continues, the National Mall needs us, but we need it even more.

I wonder what it must have felt like to conceive of this great open wonder all those years ago — a space created for all to enjoy, in all its splendor, where our imaginations flourish. Now more than ever, it is critical to support the teaching of history and civics, and to elevate the Mall as a place that will endure and inspire for generations.

As America looks forward to its 250th anniversary in 2026, the National Mall will be center stage for this grand American celebration. I am honored to serve on the Trust’s Honorary National Mall Council helping to elevate the National Mall’s historic purpose for this milestone celebration.

I am pleased to welcome you and share gratitude for all who support America’s Front Yard.

Sincerely,

LYNDA CARTER, MEMBER Honorary National Mall 250 Council

BALL FOR THE MALL EVENT PROGRAM

NATIONAL ANTHEM & PRESENTATION OF COLORS

Christine Lyons, Operatic Soprano

WELCOME

CNN's Wolf Blitzer

Anchor, The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

OPENING REMARKS

Catherine Townsend

President and CEO, Trust for the National Mall

Jeffrey Reinbold

Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks, National Park Service

HISTORY, HEROES & HOPE AWARDS

The Hon. Deb Haaland U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Mellon Foundation, Accepted by Elizabeth Alexander, President

DINNER

BALL CO-CHAIR REMARKS

Nels Olson, Member of the Trust Board of Directors and Vice Chairman and Co-Leader, Board & CEO Services, Korn Ferry Georgette “Gigi” Dixon, Secretary of the Trust Board of Directors and Head of External Affairs, Wells Fargo

FEATURED SPEAKER

David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chair, The Carlyle Group, Chairman and CEO of the Baltimore Orioles

Introduced by Bruce Broussard, Board Chair, Trust for the National Mall, President and CEO, Humana, Inc.

HISTORY, HEROES & HOPE AWARDS

George C. Wolfe

Filmmaker: RUSTIN, Depicting the March on Washington and Tony-Winning Playwright

Presented by Sheila Johnson & Dr. Carla Hayden

Dave Grohl

19-time Grammy-Winning Musician, Songwriter, Best-Selling Author, D.C. Native, and Favorite Son

CLOSING REMARKS

Wolf Blitzer

JAZZ LOUNGE & DESSERT RECEPTION

Presented by Wells Fargo

A MONUMENTAL MOMENT

NATIONAL MALL 250 LEADERSHIP

NATIONAL MALL 250 CO-CHAIR

Bruce D. Broussard

Board Chair, Trust for the National Mall President and CEO, Humana, Inc.

NATIONAL MALL 250 CABINET

Roz Brewer Former CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance

Marlene Colucci Chief Executive Officer

The Business Council

Ambassador

Nancy Brinker Founder, Promise Fund & Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick President Emeritus Howard University

Jeb Bush Founding Partner & Chair Finback Investment Partners

Enrique Lores President & CEO HP Inc.

Elaine Chao Former Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation

Retired President & CEO Boeing

W. James "Jim" McNerney Jr.

HONORARY NATIONAL MALL 250 COUNCIL

President George W. Bush & Mrs. Laura Bush

President Bill Clinton & Hillary Rodham Clinton

President Barack Obama & Mrs. Michelle Obama

Lynda Carter, Singer, Songwriter, Producer

Senator Elizabeth Dole, Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation & U.S. Secretary of Labor

Admiral Bill McRaven, USN, Ret.

HONORARY NATIONAL MALL 250 CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE

The Hon. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)

The Hon. Ben Cardin (D-MD)

The Hon. Joni Ernst (R-IA)

The Hon. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

The Hon. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

The Hon. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

The Hon. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)

The Hon. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

The Hon. Angus King (I-ME) Chair, Senate Subcommittee on National Parks

The Hon. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

The Hon. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

The Hon. Mark Warner (D-VA)

The Hon. Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA)

The Hon. Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-VA)

The Hon. Shontel Brown (D-OH)

The Hon. Ken Calvert (R-CA)

The Hon. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

The Hon. James E. Clyburn (D-SC)

The Hon. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

The Hon. Debbie Dingell (D-MI)

The Hon. Ron Estes (R-KS)

The Hon. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) Ranking Member, House Committee on Natural Resources

The Hon. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Democratic Leader, House of Representatives

The Hon. Betty McCollum (D-MN)

The Hon. Seth Moulton (D-MA)

The Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

The Hon. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources

The Hon. Ryan Zinke (R-MT)

FEATURED PRESENTERS

WOLF BLITZER

CNN Journalist, Anchor of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

Wolf Blitzer is anchor of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, which airs weekdays at 6pm ET. One-on-one interviews with prominent figures shaping news on the world stage has been a hallmark of Blitzer and The Situation Room throughout the entire 18-year on-air run, one of the longest running shows to air on CNN. Blitzer has been with CNN for over 30 years, having joined in 1990 as the network’s military-affairs correspondent. Throughout his career, Blitzer has interviewed some of history’s most notable figures including many U.S. presidents and foreign leaders.

CATHERINE TOWNSEND

President and CEO, Trust for the National Mall

Catherine Townsend joined the Trust in 2016 with a vision and commitment to awareness and support for the Trust and enriching the National Mall in partnership with the National Park Service. A resident of Washington, D.C. for over 35 years, she brings expertise in mission-driven non-profit leadership. Catherine previously served as the President and Executive Director of the D.C. Public Education Fund, Senior Advisor at Townsend Public Affairs, and Associate Director of Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry. Catherine is also the founder and coach of HoopGirls on Capitol Hill, a youth girls basketball program.

JEFFREY REINBOLD

Superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks, National Park Service

Jeffrey Reinbold is the superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, bringing more than 30 years of experience and expertise with the National Park Service. Reinbold manages the iconic monuments and memorials of the nation’s capital, including our National Mall, and cares for treasured neighborhood green space with a budget of approximately $36 million and alongside a staff of nearly 300 and thousands of volunteers. Reinbold has previously served as the National Park Service’s Assistant Director for Partnerships and Civic Engagement.

THE HONORABLE DEB HAALAND

U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Secretary Deb Haaland made history when she became the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. She is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a 35th generation New Mexican. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from the the University of New Mexico (UNM) and her J.D. from UNM Law School. Secretary Haaland became the first Native American woman to be elected to lead a State Party and one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress, where she focused on environmental justice, climate change, missing and murdered indigenous women, family-friendly policies, and beyond.

DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN

Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Carlyle Group, Chairman and CEO of the Baltimore Orioles

David M. Rubenstein is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s most successful private investment firms, managing $373 billion around the world. Rubenstein is Chairman and CEO of the Baltimore Orioles, and Chairman of the Boards of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the National Gallery of Art, among several other fellows and board seats. He is a leader in philanthropy, having made transformative gifts to the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and several other national treasures.

BRUCE D. BROUSSARD

Board Chair, Trust for the National Mall, President and CEO, Humana, Inc.

Bruce Broussard has served as Chair of the Trust Board of Directors since December 2022 and as President and CEO of Humana since 2011. Under his leadership, Humana has created an integrated care delivery model centered on improving health outcomes, driving lower costs, enhancing quality, and providing a simple and personalized member experience. Prior to joining Humana, Bruce was Chief Executive Officer of McKesson Specialty/US Oncology, Inc. where he served in a number of senior roles, including Chief Financial Officer, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.

SHEILA JOHNSON

Board Vice Chair, Trust for the National Mall, Founder and CEO, Salamander Collection

Sheila Johnson is Founder and CEO of Salamander Collection, ranked No.4 in Minority-Owned Companies in the Washington D.C. Metro area, and ranked No.4 as the Largest Women-Owned Businesses in Greater D.C. As Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Ms. Johnson is the only African American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals and WNBA’s 2019 World Champions, Washington Mystics. Ms. Johnson was also named on Forbes Magazine’s Top 50 America’s Richest Self-Made Women.

DR. CARLA HAYDEN

14th Librarian of Congress

Carla Hayden is the 14th Librarian of Congress, serving since September 14, 2016, as the first woman and the first African American to lead the national library, nominated to the position by President Barack Obama. Prior to her current role, Dr. Hayden was the CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, and has held many prominent librarian roles over the years, including Chicago Public Library and the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Hayden was president of the American Library Association from 2003 to 2004. In 1995, she was the first African American to receive Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year Award.

HISTORY, HEROES & HOPE AWARD

HONOREE: DAVE GROHL

THIS IS AN AWARD FOR STORYTELLING — D.C. IS THE BEGINNING OF MY STORY, A STORY THAT’S COME FULL CIRCLE AS I ACCEPT THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR ON THE NATIONAL MALL.

Dave Grohl is a 19-time Grammy-winning musician, founder and lead singer of Foo Fighters, songwriter, best-selling author and D.C. native. This award recognizes his exceptional lifetime of achievement as a legendary songwriter, storyteller and artist, bestselling author of The Storyteller, and as a Springfield, Virginia native with strong roots in Washington D.C.

Grohl has been an inspired advocate for storytelling in all its forms. The National Mall is a place where all Americans have a voice, and his life’s work gives voice to stories and inspires listeners and readers around the globe.

Grohl has been one of the most beloved and respected figures on the international music scene since his debut with Nirvana on 1991’s generation-defining record Nevermind, which would go on to sell more than 30 million copies.

In 2013, Grohl made his debut as a feature director/producer with the acclaimed documentary Sound City—the story of the Van Nuys CA studio where Nirvana recorded Nevermind. Premiering to unanimous raves at Sundance and achieving a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Sound City focused both on the history of the legendary studio and on the ongoing fight to preserve the human element of music.

Grohl has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice—first as a member of Nirvana in 2014 and then as a member of Foo Fighters in 2021. In addition to his extensive catalogue with Nirvana and Foo Fighters, Grohl has a well-earned reputation as a prolific collaborator who has worked with Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Neil Young, and Elton John—to name a few.

HONOREE: GEORGE C. WOLFE

TO BE HONORED BY THE TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL WITHIN THE YEAR THAT THE [RUSTIN] FILM WAS RELEASED, IS HUMBLING TO SAY THE LEAST. I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL AND PROUD.

George C. Wolfe, director, RUSTIN film, is a Tony Awardwinning playwright, producer and filmmaker. This award recognizes his incredible work to bring RUSTIN to the big screen, a film that beautifully represents the history and purpose of the National Mall. The film is a poignant reminder of the power of Bayard Rustin’s leadership as the force behind the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on the National Mall, the space where history is commemorated and where history is made. Importantly, it also tells the story of how the watershed March cemented the National Mall as America’s Civic Stage where all voices can be heard.

Wolfe has firmly established himself as one of Ameria’s most important and influential cultural voices. He also recently directed Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom would go on to win two Academy Awards. Wolfe first gained international acclaim for his play The Colored Museum, which opened at New York City’s Public Theatre. He has directed 17 Broadway productions. Wolfe made his directorial film debut with Lackawanna Blues, which won four NAACP Image Awards. Subsequently, Wolfe directed The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks starring Oprah Winfrey and Rose Byrne. Wolfe has served on distinguished boards, including the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities. He was also the Chief Creative Officer for the Center of Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta and was a producer of the Public Theatre/New York Shakespeare Festival. George C. Wolfe was named “Living Landmark” by the New York Landmarks Conservancy.

HISTORY, HEROES & HOPE AWARD

HONOREE: MELLON FOUNDATION

The Mellon Foundation is the nation's largest supporter of the arts and humanities and is receiving the award, accepted by its President Elizabeth Alexander, for its vision and generous support for the Beyond Granite initiative. The inaugural exhibition of Beyond Granite, entitled Pulling Together, was led by the Trust for the National Mall in 2023, and brought six extraordinary stories and six extraordinary works of art to the National Mall for the first curated exhibition of its kind on America's Front Yard. The widely acclaimed exhibition reached an estimated 2 million visitors on the National Mall, bringing new voices and stories to the nation's most iconic commemorative landscape.

Through grants, the Mellon Foundation seeks to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. The Mellon Foundation's Monuments Project is an unprecedented multiyear commitment by the Mellon Foundation that is aimed at transforming the nation’s commemorative landscape to ensure our collective histories are more completely and accurately represented, and explores how we might foster a more complete telling of who we are as a nation.

Accepting on behalf of Mellon Foundation:

ELIZABETH ALEXANDER, PRESIDENT

THE MALL HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN BOTH OUR COUNTRY’S HISTORY AND MY OWN HEART AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN WASHINGTON. BEYOND GRANITE HAS HELPED TO REIMAGINE WHOM, WHAT, AND HOW WE CELEBRATE IN THIS HISTORIC CIVIC SPACE...

Foundation President, Elizabeth Alexander, is a celebrated poet, scholar, cultural advocate and a nationally recognized thought leader. Dr. Alexander was previously the director of Creativity and Free Expression at the Ford Foundation where she guided the organization in examining how the arts and visual storytelling can empower communities.

An author or co-author of fifteen books, Dr. Alexander was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, for poetry, and is a New York Times bestseller. In 2009, she composed and delivered the poem “Praise Song for the Day” for President Barack Obama's inauguration. TIME Magazine named Dr. Alexander one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2022 and in 2019, she was awarded Harvard University’s W.E.B. Du Bois Medal.

BEYOND GRANITE INITIATIVE

Beyond Granite

Groundbreaking Exhibit Brings Six Art Installations and Inclusive Voices to the National Mall

The Trust for the National Mall is honored to lead the Beyond Granite initiative in partnership with the National Capital Planning Commission and the National Park Service. This important new program, funded by the Mellon Foundation, brought a series of art installations to sites around the National Mall in August, 2023.

Nearly two million visitors experienced the inaugural Beyond Granite: Pulling Together exhibition on the National Mall. The exhibit featured a dynamic series of art installations designed to bring new stories and new voices to the National Mall in dialogue with the monuments and memorials. This inaugural exhibition of Beyond Granite was widely acclaimed for helping more people feel seen, heard and represented on the nation’s most iconic, commemorative space.

The Trust is grateful to the co-curators of the exhibition, Paul Farber and Salamishah Tillet, and the six artists who brought their stories to life on the National Mall. The exhibition was spotlighted in more than 400 stories in local, regional and national publications and broadcast outlets – including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, CBS News Sunday, NPR Weekend Edition and more.

Learn more at beyondgranite.org

Meet the Artists:

See the Exhibitions:

Wendy Red Star The Soil You See...

Paul Ramírez Jonas Let Freedom Ring

vanessa german Of Thee We Sing

Ashon T. Crawley HOMEGOING

Tiffany Chung For the Living Derrick Adams America's Playground: DC

Of Thee We Sing America's Playground: DC

HOMEGOING Let Freedom Ring

The Soil You See... For The Living

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIR

Bruce D. Broussard

President and CEO, Humana, Inc.

TREASURER

Edward L. Samek

Retired Chairman and CEO

The MRC Group, Former Chair, Friends of Acadia National Park (2011–2017)

Cory Alexander

VICE CHAIR

Sheila Johnson Founder and CEO, Salamander Collection

SECRETARY

Georgette “Gigi” Dixon Head of External Engagement, Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion (DSRI), Wells Fargo

Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs UnitedHealth Group

Valerie Camillo Spring 4th Advisory

Armeane M. Choksi, Ph.D.

Financier, Author, Former Vice President of the World Bank

Kate Curtin Lindsey Owner/Chair and Chief Executive Officer Alpha Corporation

Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel Chair, New York State Council on the Arts

John Drew

President and CEO of TCMA, A Drew Company

FOUNDER & CHAIR EMERITUS

John E. Akridge III Founder and Chairman Akridge

Lanny Griffith Chairman, BGR Group

Eric Hoplin CEO, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors

Stacy Kerr Partner, Penta

Nels Olson

Vice Chairman and Co-Leader, Board & CEO Services, Korn Ferry

Pamela Scholl President, Dr. Scholl Foundation

Ambassador Craig Roberts Stapleton Senior Advisor, Stone Point Capital

Catherine Townsend

President & CEO, Trust for the National Mall

HOST COMMITTEE

CO-CHAIR

Georgette “Gigi”Dixon

Wells Fargo

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Sally & John E. “Chip” Akridge III

Sherrie Beckstead

The Sherrie & Sidney Beckstead Fund

Mary Brady

The Economic Club of Washington, D.C.

Valerie Camillo

Herschend Family Entertainment

Cheri Carter Boeing

Martha Dippell & Daniel Korengold

John Drew TCMA

Nicole & Eric Hoplin

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors

Stacy Kerr & CR Wooters

Penta | Uber

CO-CHAIR

Nels Olson

Korn Ferry

Kathi & Dan Knise Ames & Gough

John Mason Altria

Cathy Merrill Washingtonian

Jared Oldroyd Clark Construction

Frank Pinto PWC Companies

John Richardson EagleBank

Gabor Vida

Rosewood Washington, D.C.

Katie Zirkelbach Zirkelbach Strategies

CREATING A VIBRANT & ENGAGING

THE NEWEST VISITOR ATTRACTION ON THE NATIONAL

MALL

In 2023, the U.S. Park Police Horse Stables and Wells Fargo Education Center opened to the public on America’s Front Yard. The facility was designed and built by the Trust for the National Mall, thanks to its generous benefactors and supporters. The education center welcomes visitors to learn about the U.S. Park Police Mounted Unit and its history on the National Mall.

PLAN YOUR VISIT nationalmall.org

EXPANDING VOLUNTEER & CIVIC EDUCATION ACROSS THE NATIONAL MALL

Our award-winning volunteer program, led by the Trust in partnership with the National Park Service, mobilizes a diverse community of volunteers to educate visitors and help them connect to this iconic space, creating a more vibrant and engaging National Mall for all. The Trust continues to expand volunteer and educational programming, adding new opportunities for civic learning and elevating the experience of visitors — on-site and virtually.

AMERICA’S FAVORITE NEW PASTIME DEBUTS ON AMERICA’S

FRONT YARD

Built & Opened - 2023

For the first time ever, the Trust for the National Mall and Humana rolled out National Mall of Pickleball featuring three days of match play and community both on and off the courts.

In 2023, from pro picklers to first-timers, over 800 players and 8,000 visitors experienced this free event for all skill levels against the backdrop of the iconic monuments and memorials.

U.S. Capitol

A MONUMENTAL MOMENT

INSPIRED BY THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE IN 2026, THE TRUST AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAVE AMBITIOUS PLANS TO ELEVATE THE NATIONAL MALL AND ITS HISTORIC PURPOSE FOR THIS MILESTONE CELEBRATION.

Restoring Constitution Gardens

Creating a Model Urban Park and a Space to Inspire on the National Mall

Reimagining Sylvan Theater

This groundbreaking project will transform the existing Constitution Gardens lake and parkland, and the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Centrally located near the Lincoln Memorial, the original Constitution Gardens was designed for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, but is now ecologically unsound and underutilized. Inspired by 2026, the Trust will restore this 36-acre park, rebuilding its central lake, restore wildlife ecology, add visitor amenities, and create new spaces for community learning. Once restored, it will showcase sustainability and become a place for respite, reflection, recreation and learning.

Revitalizing a Humble Site as our Nation's Center Stage

The original National Sylvan Theater was built more than 100 years ago. Today, it is a small public theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument that simply cannot meet the demand of the local community for modern, accessible performance space.

The new Sylvan Theater will feature expanded capacity to host free performances and First Amendment activities. This humble site will be transformed into a premier center stage befitting the National Mall, making a lasting impact now and for future generations.

New Civic Learning Experiences on the National Mall

Activating America's Greatest Living History Classroom

The new National Mall Gateway, a first of its kind civic learning experience on the National Mall, will provide innovative tools for deeper engagement and curated content to elevate the experience of the National Mall for visitors — both in-person and virtually. The National Mall Gateway will teach our history, amplify the voices that are shaping our future, and connect today's students with the meaning behind the National Mall, its history, and its purpose.

This new learning experience will engage people of all ages, featuring enhanced digital and on-site programming for educators and students. Inspired by America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, it will educate current and future generations of citizens.

Expanding Volunteers-In-Parks to Bring the Mall to Life

The Volunteers-in-Parks program, led by the Trust for the National Mall in partnership with the National Park Service, mobilizes a diverse community of volunteers to educate visitors and help them connect to this iconic space, creating a more vibrant and engaging National Mall for all.

The Trust continues to expand this award-winning program adding more than 100 volunteers in 2023 alone. This dedicated team of more than 250 volunteers helps NPS rangers bring the Mall to life for all who visit.

The Trust is grateful to its generous benefactors who support this programming, including the Merrill Family Foundation, for its dedicated multi-year support of the Trust for the National Mall’s volunteer programming. The Trust is grateful to the many volunteers who help guide, welcome and educate visitors across the National Mall.

Learn about ways to support this program, or become a volunteer by contacting volunteer@nationalmall.org

OUR SPONSORS

PREMIER SPONSORS

David M. Rubenstein

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Sally & John E. "Chip" Akridge III

The Sherrie & Sidney Beckstead Fund

Sheila Johnson, Founder & CEO, Salamander Collection

GOLD SPONSORS

Valerie & Larry Camillo

Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman

Ourisman Automotive of Virginia/Daniel Korengold & Martha Dippell

SILVER SPONSORS

Akridge

Alpha Corporation

Amazon

American Petroleum Institute

Ames & Gough

BOHLER

Business Roundtable

Mary & Armeane Choksi

Consigli Construction

Crowell & Moring LLP

Crown Castle

Deloitte

Destination DC

Greater Washington

Board of Trade

Guest Services, Inc.

Hensel Phelps

King & Spalding

Linder Global Events

LSG

Lugano Diamonds

Pam & Tony Marquez

Jim & Haity McNerney

Netflix

Projection, Inc.

Ruppert Companies

TD Bank

VHC Health

Zirkelbach Strategies

BRONZE SPONSORS

Bernstein Family Foundation

Lanny & Susan Griffith

Eric & Nicole Hoplin

Betsy Jordan

Ed & Martie Samek

MEDIA SPONSORS IN-KIND SUPPORT

Design Foundry

Occasions Caterers

work to support activities where local community residents can access cultural experiences and expressions that are relevant to them, and where communities can collaborate in new and different ways.

Capital Group is proud to support the Trust for the National Mall and its work to restore, preserve and enrich the National Mall.

GENERAL

CONTRACTING

OWNER’S

REPRESENTATION

CRAFTSMEN

The world’s first comprehensive stakeholder solutions firm.

@pentagrp

pentagroup.co

The world has changed. Running a business requires new skills, new tools, and a new framework for engagement with stakeholders.

Penta is purpose-built to help businesses navigate an increasingly complex stakeholder environment.

Penta de nes, informs, and strengthens decision-making and understanding between our clients and their stakeholders.

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350+ Professionals

200+ Clients

DINNER MENU

FIRST COURSE

Elote Corn Soup Sip

Chilled Corn Soup with Crema, Cotija Cheese, Queso Fresco

With Corn Nuts, Cornbread Stick

Spring Greens With Carrot Lace And Lemon Ricotta

Spring Greens, Delicate Lace Crisps Of Sweet Potato, Golden Beet, Carrot

With Dollops Of Lemon Ricotta, Grapefruit Segments, Pickled Cucumber Ribbons, Lemon Vinaigrette

MAIN COURSE

Beef Tenderloin And Medallions of Lobster Tail

Herb-crusted Beef Pavé, Horseradish, Parsley, Garlic Gremolata

Maine Lobster Tail Medallions, Lemony Fava Bean, Parmesan Purée, Light Saffron Cream Sauce

With Chioggia Beets, Fava Beans, Tiny New Potatoes, Thyme, Lemonwith

VEGETARIAN & VEGAN

Tempeh Schnitzel

Triangles Of Tempeh, Dijon, Gluten-free Breadcrumbs

Braised Green Cabbage, Vegan Fricassee Of Mushrooms

With Crisp Slaw Of Green Apples, Watermelon Radish, Brussels Sprouts, Dijon Vinaigrette

COFFEE & BONBONS

Salted Caramel Macarons

French Macarons, Dulce De Leche, A Pinch Of Fleur De Sel

French Press Coffee Service

Decaffeinated Coffee, Cream, Sugar

THE NATIONAL MALL IS A SYMBOL OF DEMOCRACY AND UNITY. IT CHAMPIONS NO OTHER CAUSE BUT HAS ALWAYS NEEDED ITS OWN CHAMPIONS. YOUR GIFT TONIGHT WILL MAKE A MONUMENTAL DIFFERENCE

Thank you for supporting the Trust for the National Mall and our work in caring for this vital place — for our country and for each other.

Changing the game for lifelong health

We’re proud to partner with the Trust for the National Mall. Join us at the National Mall of Pickleball in September 2024.