Scene in D.C.: Ayenda’s Girls, Alzheimer’s Cure, Fiorina
The tables were named after Afghan provinces and the host welcomed his guests in Farsi.
A dinner at British Ambassador Peter Westmacott’s residence last night supported the Ayenda Foundation, which operates learning centers where more than half the students are Afghan girls from impoverished areas.
The occasion came a day after a 14-year-old girl on her way home from school in Pakistan was shot in the head by Taliban militants for protesting the group’s efforts to limit education for girls. She survived.
Started in 2006 by Shamim Jawad, the wife of former Afghan Ambassador Said Jawad, Ayenda means “future” in Farsi.
Guests ate miso-soaked halibut and caramel souffle on Minton China with the royal crest. Tables were set in the residence’s main parlor, overseen by Andy Warhol’s famous painting of Queen Elizabeth.
Guests included Dutch Ambassador Rudolf Bekink and Stuart Holliday, chief executive officer of Meridian International Center.
The dinner’s 100 guests, who left with gift bags from Cartier, helped raise $100,000 for Ayenda.
Acting Skills
At the Phillips Collection last night, the Aspen Institute’s Dan Glickman brushed up on his acting skills as one of four readers of act one of “Surviving Grace.”
“I play an aging, balding, Jewish dentist,” said Glickman about his character. “I know three of those categories.”
The play was written by Trish Vradenburg, a screenwriter and wife of former AOL executive George Vradenburg, about her mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s.
The other readers were radio host Diane Rehm, actress Marilu Henner, and ABC correspondent Terry Moran.
The reading and cocktail reception raised more than $100,000 for USAgainstAlzheimer’s, an organization started by Trish Vradenburg to end Alzheimer’s by 2020.
Breast Cancer
Carly Fiorina, the former chief executive of Hewlett- Packard Co. (HPQ), says cancer taught her about leadership.
It is “about making something better for someone else. I used to think it was about titles, and how big your office is, and how big your budget is.”
The breast-cancer survivor, in Gucci pumps and pearls, was the honorary chairman and keynote speaker at yesterday’s La Vie En Rose luncheon, hosted by the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates Women’s Health Board.
The event raised $275,000 to benefit the board’s Mobile Mammography Program, which operates a Mammovan that screens 2,300 women in the Washington area each year. It was parked outside the French Embassy, awash in pink, the color of breast- cancer awareness.
Many of the male guests, like James Sherrick, senior vice president in the commercial division of BB&T Corp. (BBT), wore pink ties.
Guests sipped pink champagne on the patio before sitting for a lunch of pink-glazed salmon.
Sarah Bovim, corporate director of federal government relations for Whirlpool Corp. (WHR), gave away 40 KitchenAid Inc. pink mixers to top donors.
Other guests included Barry Wolfman, the CEO of George Washington University Hospital, and the president of the university, Steven Knapp.
(Stephanie Green is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
Muse highlights include Jason Harper on autos, Rich Jaroslovsky on technology.
To contact the writer on this story: Stephanie Green in Washington at sgreen57@bloomberg.net or on Twitter @stephlgreen.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Ayenda Foundation Dinner
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British Ambassador Peter Westmacott and Paula Dobriansky, former undersecretary of state.
British Ambassador Peter Westmacott and Paula Dobriansky, former undersecretary of state. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Ayenda Foundation Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Refugees International's Mariella Trager, Ayenda Foundation founder Shamim Jawad, and journalist Barbara Harrison.
Refugees International's Mariella Trager, Ayenda Foundation founder Shamim Jawad, and journalist Barbara Harrison. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Ayenda Foundation Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Dutch Ambassador Rudolf Bekink, right, and his wife, Gabrielle de Kuyper.
Dutch Ambassador Rudolf Bekink, right, and his wife, Gabrielle de Kuyper. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Ayenda Foundation Dinner
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Tables were named for Afghan provinces. The meal was served on Minton's china.
Tables were named for Afghan provinces. The meal was served on Minton's china. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
'Surviving Grace' Reception
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Screenwriter and playwright Trish Vradenburg with radio host Diane Rehm. Rehm participated in a reading of Vradenburg's play "Surviving Grace," which she helped edit in early drafts. Rehm said her first ambition was to be an actress. Her dream role: Meryl Streep's in "Kramer vs. Kramer."
Screenwriter and playwright Trish Vradenburg with radio host Diane Rehm. Rehm participated in a reading of Vradenburg's play "Surviving Grace," which she helped edit in early drafts. Rehm said her first ambition was to be an actress. Her dream role: Meryl Streep's in "Kramer vs. Kramer." Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
'Surviving Grace' Reception
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Former AOL executive George Vradenburg, actress Marilu Henner, and Aspen Institute executive director Dan Glickman.
Former AOL executive George Vradenburg, actress Marilu Henner, and Aspen Institute executive director Dan Glickman. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
La Vie En Rose Luncheon
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Carly Fiorina, CEO of Carly Fiorina Enterprises, at the La Vie En Rose luncheon. A breast cancer survivor, Fiorina said cancer was a "tough passage" and important teacher. "The goal of life is to grow old and live well," she said.
Carly Fiorina, CEO of Carly Fiorina Enterprises, at the La Vie En Rose luncheon. A breast cancer survivor, Fiorina said cancer was a "tough passage" and important teacher. "The goal of life is to grow old and live well," she said. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
La Vie En Rose Luncheon
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Barry Wolfman, CEO of George Washington University Hospital, journalist Cokie Roberts, and Steven Knapp, president of George Washington University.
Barry Wolfman, CEO of George Washington University Hospital, journalist Cokie Roberts, and Steven Knapp, president of George Washington University. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
La Vie En Rose Luncheon
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Sarah Bovim, corporate director of federal government relations for Whirlpool, with her daughter, Mila, at the event's candy bar.
Sarah Bovim, corporate director of federal government relations for Whirlpool, with her daughter, Mila, at the event's candy bar. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
La Vie En Rose Luncheon
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
James Sherrick, senior vice president in the commercial division at BB&T, Stephen Badger, CEO of George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, and Robert Goodson, attorney.
James Sherrick, senior vice president in the commercial division at BB&T, Stephen Badger, CEO of George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, and Robert Goodson, attorney. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
La Vie En Rose Luncheon
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Annie Keech, a school teacher, Erin Barry of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association political department, and Lita Frazier, executive director of government relations for CBOE.
Annie Keech, a school teacher, Erin Barry of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association political department, and Lita Frazier, executive director of government relations for CBOE. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
La Vie En Rose Luncheon
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
The Mammovan, parked outside the French Embassy, screens 2,300 Washington women every year for breast cancer. Experts believe early detection can save lives.
The Mammovan, parked outside the French Embassy, screens 2,300 Washington women every year for breast cancer. Experts believe early detection can save lives. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
La Vie En Rose Luncheon
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
The French Embassy set for a 'La Vie En Rose' luncheon.
The French Embassy set for a 'La Vie En Rose' luncheon. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
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