TRUST TRISH
Two dozen exceptionally “civil”
guests dined at the long table of
the Belgian embassy residence for
the International Foundation for
Education’s Civility Awards; wellnamed,
given the topic (and given the
host, polished and urbane ambassador Dominique Struye de Swielande).
Tennis coach Kathy Kemper,
founder and CEO of the IFE,
praised the honorees, Senator SusanCollins and Mayor Adrian Fenty,
for bipartisan cooperation and
for emphasizing civility’s value in
their personal and public lives. The
Ambassador expanded on this, as did George Vradenburg, the Phillips Collection’s
chairman and IFE dinner chair. IFE trustee Morton Kondracke (of Roll Call) moderated a Q & A with the Democratic mayor and Republican
senator that centered on the partisan-powderkeg
D.C. voting rights controversy.
At one point, the decidedly Democratic and
irrepressible Trish Vradenburg, whose husband
supports the GOP, exclaimed to the table:
“I
can’t believe I’m sleeping with a Republican!”
Unflappable George replied “And loving
every moment of it!” |
A GOLD STAR FOR THE RED CROSS
Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, the first woman
granted the title National Chairman of the
American Red Cross in its 126-year history,
hosted a superb party at her Georgetown
home in October. She returned from the
international relief organization’s trip to
Madagascar with genial party co-hosts Nancy and William Rollnick, who will once
again chair the Palm Beach Red Cross Ball
in January. The event honored Ambassador Nancy Brinker’s appointment as U.S. Chief of
Protocol as well as Chief of Protocol Emeritus Marion “Joe” Smoak, who has shepherded
diplomats at the Red Cross Ball for many
years. Seen: lots of Florida-connected folk,
including the honorees, Grace Nelson, (wife
of Senator Bill); Paul and Becky Rogers; Palm
Beach chapter head Marian Dupont; CeCeFarris and Mary Frances Smoak and her
husband William Walde.
Others included the new Hungarian
Amb., Ferenc Somogyni, with wife Andrea;
Samuel Szbogar, the Ambassador of Slovenia;
Ecuadorian Amb. Luis Gallegos; Mary Mochary and Phil Wine; Eric Motley, Donald and MiaGlickman, Carmen Petrowitz, Vicki Bagley; |
Jane and Calvin Cafritz and the newlyappointed
head of the President’s International
Education Initiative, Thomas Corts.
KIDSAVE GALA
In a poignant moment at the Italian embassy,
Amb. Giovanni Castellaneta introduced the
son of Chris Warnke, benefit co-chair with Pat Oxley for KidSave, which rescues at-risk
children. Twelve-year-old John (Sergei) Warnke said, “I was really happy when my
mom came to the orphanage and
picked me out. I wish that not only
me, but thousands of other kids
could be rescued, too.”Honored for their work
with children were Channel 4’s Barbara Harrison (who, through
“Wednesday’s Child” and other
programs, does so much for the
community), Sen. Mary Landrieu,
Stewart and Pat Van Scoyoc,
Thomas and Kecia Wherry and
the Urban League’s MaudineCooper. KidSave co-founders Randy Thompson and TerryBaugh emceed.TV’s beloved “Rhoda,” Valerie Harper,
held the audience in the palm of her hand
with her heartfelt plea for funds; they answered,
with checks for thousands from the floor …
even a few $10K checks. |
