Fight Night celebrates its 20th anniversary with plenty of boxing legends, donations, Marines, cigars, eye-candy, and the inspirational Joe E. Robert, Jr.

Mayor Adrian Fenty and Raul Fernandez. (Photo by Tony Powell)

By Michael Clements
Photos by Tony Powell
Video by Michael Clements

Forget for a moment the wafting clouds of cigar smoke, flowing Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon, juicy NY Strip steaks, curvaceous table hostesses and Redskins cheerleaders, live music by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, boxing legend after boxing legend and, well, the overall downright manliness of Fight Night. Forget it all and remember this: for 20 years Fight Night has been raising millions of dollars ($2.8 million last year and over $2.2 million this year) for Fight For Children and other organizations that provide education and healthcare services to low-income children in Washington, D.C.

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From left: Kerry Troup, gala co-chair Annual Taste of the Stars Gala; Joseph E. Robert III, gala chair Fight Night; Don Peebles, gala co-chair 2009 Dare to Dream; Simone-Marie L. Meeks, gala co-chair Ambassadors Ball; Joe Solmonese, President Human Rights Campaign; Barbara Merola, gala co-chair Corcoran 1869 Society Fall Fête; Tiffany Gates, gala chair The Choral Arts Society Holiday Concert and Gala; Jimmy Smits, gala co-chair Noche de Gala; Nina Pillsbury, gala chair Sibley Hospital Gala; Ann Walker Marchant, gala chair The Washington Ballet Spring Gala.

Photographs by Clay Blackmore
Styling: James Cornwell, PR @ Partners
Makeup: Myken Garcia & Francesca Mastri, PR @ Partners
Hair: Alicia Renee Jones & Dyan Zurich Smith, PR @ Partners
Photographed at the Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.

For full listings of all upcoming galas and events, please see our Social Calendar widget.

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In a city where influence is everything, these one hundred individuals rise to the top. Some are wealthy, but many are not. They represent a wide variety of professional fields, from faith to finance; but they all share two common traits: They work outside the federal government and hold sway inside the Beltway.

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