Everybody Wins! DC Gala 2009

Everybody Wins! DC, my favorite non-profit, held their 14th annual gala in March at the Washington Hilton.  Everybody Wins! DC attracts a dedicated legion of volunteers and supporters, many of whom spend their lunch hours reading to students in DC Public Schools.  Highlights of the evening included a silent auction and dinner, a live auction led by Bob Levey, a welcome by Executive Director of Everybody Wins! DC, Mary Salander, remarks by General Colin Powell, USA (ret.), a speech by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and award presentations by United States Senator Tom Harkin and United States Congressman Jim Moran.  What follow are a few of my favorite photographs of the evening.

Students from Brent Elementary Student Choir provided fabulous entertainment during a portion of the evening.

I want to thank Operations Manager Vinny Hughes for inviting me back to photograph the event and Leigh Chowdhary, Program Manager, for her assistance.  I look forward to the 2010 gala and encourage everyone to consider how they can support EveryBody Wins! DC’s efforts to build literacy within our schools.  Please visit Everybody Wins! DC’s webpage for more about the gala and their programs.

Ben’s Portrait

Ben celebrated his 6th birthday in March, and I did not get around to making his six-year old portrait until this week!  He and I can share the blame.  On several occasions, I wanted to photograph him, but he either was unwilling, had just eaten something messy, needed a haircut or …well you get the idea.  In short, it was two months late, but there will finally be an updated photo on the wall of “my baby.”