On September 12, 2012, the Diplomatic Courier was the proud media sponsor of the 34th Annual “The Ambassadors Ball” to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) National Capital Chapter. From the moment guests entered into the Ritz-Carlton in the West End, charity was abound. Ambassadors, Congressmen, and the who’s who of Washington were given electronic devices with the subtle encouragement to bid, bid, bid on the myriad of silent auction items available.
The cocktail hour was complete with passed hors d’oeuvres, champagne, and puppies. Yes, puppies. Up for auction were two little bundles of joy, in addition to the many international gifts, travel packages, art, and jewelry.
As we were drawn to our seats with music, the formal program was overseen by Emcee Nancy Cordes, CBS News Congressional Correspondent. After some introductory remarks and the seating of the VIPs, dinner was served. After a delightful salad with spicy pecans and beef tenderloin with the most mouth-watering pumpkin ravioli with percorini cream I have ever had, there was an international performance by Mariachi Estrella and the Sutradhar Institute. Following that was a tribute to the 2012 Honorees: Senator Robert Casey and Representative Lee Terry. Lastly, the Tribute to the Washington Diplomatic Corps recognized Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall, Chief of Protocol for the United States, His Excellency Roble Olhaye, Dean of the Washington Diplomatic Corps, and the Ambassadors Ball Co-Chairs. As bidding closed on gold Bahraini necklace and Michael Phelps collage, The Wright Touch took the stage and we danced the into the night.
For all the glitz and glam that is the Ambassadors Ball, the most important point is to raise money to end multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with the disease. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and over 2.1 million worldwide. Among the Diplomatic Courier’s guests and in support of this research were: Ana C. Rold, Editor-in-Chief; Anita McBride, Member of Diplomatic Courier’s Advisory Board, Elizabeth Burrell, Managing Director of the American Academy of Diplomacy, Emily Drew, Guest Producer at CCTV Americas, and yours truly, Lecturer at the College of William and Mary.
The evening was a smashing success and raised a significant amount of money for the NMSS, though I think my husband is secretly happy that I was outbid on a case of Chilean wine and private tour of the National Zoo. If only I had won a puppy.
Photo by Betty Adler. Courtesy of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) National Captial Chapter. All rights reserved.
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The 34th Annual Ambassador's Ball
November 5, 2012
On September 12, 2012, the Diplomatic Courier was the proud media sponsor of the 34th Annual “The Ambassadors Ball” to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) National Capital Chapter. From the moment guests entered into the Ritz-Carlton in the West End, charity was abound. Ambassadors, Congressmen, and the who’s who of Washington were given electronic devices with the subtle encouragement to bid, bid, bid on the myriad of silent auction items available.
The cocktail hour was complete with passed hors d’oeuvres, champagne, and puppies. Yes, puppies. Up for auction were two little bundles of joy, in addition to the many international gifts, travel packages, art, and jewelry.
As we were drawn to our seats with music, the formal program was overseen by Emcee Nancy Cordes, CBS News Congressional Correspondent. After some introductory remarks and the seating of the VIPs, dinner was served. After a delightful salad with spicy pecans and beef tenderloin with the most mouth-watering pumpkin ravioli with percorini cream I have ever had, there was an international performance by Mariachi Estrella and the Sutradhar Institute. Following that was a tribute to the 2012 Honorees: Senator Robert Casey and Representative Lee Terry. Lastly, the Tribute to the Washington Diplomatic Corps recognized Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall, Chief of Protocol for the United States, His Excellency Roble Olhaye, Dean of the Washington Diplomatic Corps, and the Ambassadors Ball Co-Chairs. As bidding closed on gold Bahraini necklace and Michael Phelps collage, The Wright Touch took the stage and we danced the into the night.
For all the glitz and glam that is the Ambassadors Ball, the most important point is to raise money to end multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with the disease. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and over 2.1 million worldwide. Among the Diplomatic Courier’s guests and in support of this research were: Ana C. Rold, Editor-in-Chief; Anita McBride, Member of Diplomatic Courier’s Advisory Board, Elizabeth Burrell, Managing Director of the American Academy of Diplomacy, Emily Drew, Guest Producer at CCTV Americas, and yours truly, Lecturer at the College of William and Mary.
The evening was a smashing success and raised a significant amount of money for the NMSS, though I think my husband is secretly happy that I was outbid on a case of Chilean wine and private tour of the National Zoo. If only I had won a puppy.
Photo by Betty Adler. Courtesy of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) National Captial Chapter. All rights reserved.
