WD | Culture | Spotlight
Diplomatic Spotlight
September 2019
Prevent Cancer Foundation Spring Gala
Celebrating Social Secretaries
Swiss Ambassador Martin Dahinden and his wife Anita Dahinden served as honorary patrons of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 25th annual spring gala held at the National Building Museum to advance the foundation’s mission of saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early detection. The gala honored Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Haiwaii) for their work to protect coverage services for seniors, veterans and first responders, promote cancer education and expand expanding funding for biomedical cancer research.
On Aug. 1, the Meridian International Center welcomed over 120 guests to celebrate Washington’s social secretaries and cultural attachés. Ann Stock, chair of Meridian’s Board of Trustees, welcomed guests to a discussion featuring panelists Alicia Adams of the Kennedy Center; Francesca Craig of the Motion Picture Association of America; Diane Flamini of the Spanish Embassy; and Jonathan Steffert of the New Zealand Embassy. “You are how Washington and the rest of America gets to know your country, your culture, your national character and your people,” Stock said. “Because of your efforts, your ambassadors, diplomats and dignitaries are able to be more effective as it comes to your countries’ interests.”
Jessica Eberhart, Anita Dahinden, founder and CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation Carolyn Aldigé and Ambassador of Switzerland Martin Dahinden.
Embassy social secretaries pose in the garden of the Meridian International Center.
PHOTOS: JACK HARTZMAN PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS: STEPHEN BOBB
Jonathan Steffert of the New Zealand Embassy.
The décor was designed by weddings and celebrations expert David Tutera.
Founder and CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation Carolyn Aldigé, right, honors Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).
Shaista and Ray Mahmood.
Ambassador of Switzerland Martin Dahinden greets Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.).
David Adler, founder and CEO of BizBash, joins Elise Lemle and Crystal Bowyer of the National Children’s Museum.
Consular Corps Annual Ball Sophie Lott, vice consul for the British Embassy; Katherine Moss, directorgeneral of the Consular Corps College; Stan Myck, consul for the Embassy of Luxembourg; Ambassador of Finland Kirsti Kauppi; Tracey Stevenson, consular regional operation manager for the British Embassy; Yu-Mei Chen of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office; and Marina Sir attend the 2019 Consular Corps of Washington, D.C., Annual Ball held at the Finnish Embassy.
Liliana Sanchez, project manager at Parsons; Elisabeth Herndler of the Embassy of Luxembourg; and Heike Schuster, marketing and sales manager at Fecher LLC.
Sandra Pandit, former social secretary at the German Embassy, Francesca Baldanzi of the Embassy of Italy and Francesca Craig, former social secretary at the French Embassy.
Robert Sir, director of diplomatic and international sales for the St. Regis Hotel, and Marina Sir.
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Peyton Lee and Katie Marland of the InterContinental Hotels Group; Asma Faraz of the Embassy of Afghanistan; and Kelly Wheeler of the Embassy of Oman.
Linda Bisman of the Embassy of New Zealand, Kathleen Shea of the Meridian International Center and Tais Howland of the Embassy of New Zealand.
Jonathan Steffert, public diplomacy and public affairs officer at the Embassy of New Zealand; Diane Flamini, social secretary at the Embassy of Spain; and Francesca Craig, director of special events at the Motion Picture Association of America and former social secretary of the Embassy of France, listen to fellow panelist Alicia Adams, vice president of international programming for the Kennedy Center.
Monsignor Joszef Forro of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in D.C., Seungjin Choi and Su Yeon Seo, both from the Embassy of South Korea, and Monsignor Dennis Kuruppassery of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See.
Takako Sangoh of the Embassy of Iraq; Mareike Furlong of the Embassy of Switzerland; Joana Manhanga of the Embassy of Mozambique; and Mariana Luis of the Embassy of Mozambique.
Rickie Niceta, social secretary of the White House; Mónica Gross of the Embassy of Ecuador; Ann Stock; Meridian President and CEO Stuart W. Holliday; Diane Flamini of the Embassy of Spain.