The 5th Annual Magic & Miracles benefit for Ready, Willing & Working was held Thursday, November 29th at The Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street, NE.

The event began at 6:00pm with cocktails, a silent auction, raffle drawing and plenty of delicious food provided by Cava Mezze, Matchbox Capitol Hill, The Sweet Lobby and MK Catering. TopChef Contestant Bart Vandaele of Belga Cafe (right)entertained guests as he prepared one of his signature dishes: Celery Waffle with Duck Confit and Orange Cotton Candy.

Guests were invited into the Sprenger Theater at about 7:15pm, where they were greeted by our “men in blue,” who passed out programs as they entered. Paul Pascal, Vice President of Ready, Willing & Working, introducedMaster of Ceremonies Paul Berry (left: Paul Pascal, Paul Berry and Brenda Pascal).

Local 14 year-old singing sensation Adalia Jimenez began the program with the singing of our National Anthem.

Councilmembers Tommy Wells and Vincent Orange each spoke during the presentation, offering their praises and support of the program.

The highlight of the evening was when National Capital Bank was honored for their generous support of the Ready, Willing & Working program since its inception. “Honor Guard,” a video produced by Matthew McClain, featured Team Member Willie Taylor, along with National Capital Bank President Jimmy Didden and his brother, CEO Richard Didden. Kathy Didden, the widow of the late George Didden, shared her story of how George wanted to employ formerly homeless and incarcerated individuals to clean the streets of Capitol Hill, which eventually led to the formation of Ready, Willing & Working. Click here to watch the video tribute, or see the link below.

Ready, Willing & Working would like to thank everyone who came out to support the “men in blue” at The 5th Annual Magic & Miracles.

Above, from left: Jimmy Didden, Kathy Didden, Richard Didden and RWW President Patty Brosmer

Tickets are $75 and are available for purchase at rww.eventbrite.com

Featuring the talented Josh Norris for magic and entertainment, 14 year-oldlocal singing sensation Adalia Jimenez, a silent auction, heavy hor d’oeuvres, and several notable guest speakers.

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Nancy Squires of The Squires Group

National Capital Bank

Capitol Hill Business Improvement District

Capitol Hill Exxon

Phil Truluck, The Heritage Foundation

Media Sponsor:

K Street Magazine

Food Selections Provided By:

Cava Mezze

Matchbox Capitol Hill

The Sweet Lobby – Winner of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars

Featuring a Signature Dish from TopChef’s Bart Vandaele of Belga Cafe

 

Honorary Host Committee:

The Honorable Saxby Chambliss, United States Congress

The Honorable Barbara Lee, United States Congress

The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, United States Congress

The Honorable Vincent Gray, Mayor of the District of Columbia

The Honorable Marion Barry, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Muriel Bowser, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable David Catania, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Jack Evans, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Kenyan McDuffie, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Vincent Orange, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Tommy Wells, District of Columbia Council

George McDonald, Founder and President of The Doe Fund

Harriet McDonald, Executive Vice President of The Doe Fund

Ready, Willing & Working is gearing up for The 5th Annual Magic & Miracles benefit on Thursday, November 29 at The Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street, NE. (Buy your tickets here!) Dozens of local businesses have generously donated items for the event’s silent auction. It is certainly going to be one of the highlights of the evening so don’t miss out!

A special thanks to our Silent Auction Chair, Linda Brekke who has also contributed many pieces of gorgeous jewelry to the event, that she handmade herself.

Please show your gratitude by patronizing these businesses for their support of Magic & Miracles:

Art and Soul Boutique

Bike and Roll DC

Bouvier International Salon

Bundle of Cookies

Dawn Price Baby

Edible Arrangements, Capitol Hill

Folger Theater

Forecast Fine Clothing and Home Accents

Frager’s Hardware

Georgetown Cupcake

Ginkgo Gardens

Hill’s Kitchen

Homebody – Outfitters for Contemporary Living

Labyrinth Games and Puzzles

Lavagna Ristorante Italiano

Michael Anthony Salon

Montemartre Restaurant

Newman Gallery and Custom Frames

Pesce Seafood Bistro

Playseum

Schooner Heron Charters

Tracy & Company Salon

Vidalia Restaurant

Washington Redskins

Washington Nationals

Woven History

and much more to come!

If your business would like to donate an item to the silent auction, please contact Kelly Maslar at kmaslar@capitolhillbid.org or 202-842-3333 ext. 10. All donations are tax-deductible.

Tickets are $75 and are available for purchase at rww.eventbrite.com

Featuring the talented Josh Norris for magic and entertainment, a silent auction, heavy hor d’oeuvres, and several notable guest speakers, including George and Harriet McDonald of The Doe Fund in New York City.

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Nancy Squires of The Squires Group

National Capital Bank

Capitol Hill Business Improvement District

Capitol Hill Exxon

Phil Truluck, The Heritage Foundation

Media Sponsor:

K Street Magazine

Food Selections Provided By:

Cava Mezze

Matchbox Capitol Hill

Featuring a Signature Dish from TopChef’s Bart Vandaele of Belga Cafe

 

Honorary Host Committee:

The Honorable Saxby Chambliss, United States Congress

The Honorable Barbara Lee, United States Congress

The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, United States Congress

The Honorable Vincent Gray, Mayor of the District of Columbia

The Honorable Marion Barry, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Muriel Bowser, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable David Catania, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Jack Evans, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Kenyan McDuffie, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Vincent Orange, District of Columbia Council

The Honorable Tommy Wells, District of Columbia Council

George McDonald, Founder and President of The Doe Fund

Harriet McDonald, Executive Vice President of The Doe Fund

 

Ready, Willing & Working (RWW) is thrilled to announce that Paul Berry will be the master of ceremonies for the 5th Annual Magic & Miracles Fundraiser on November 29, 2012. The event will be held from 6:00-9:00pm at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street, NE.

With more than 35 years of media experience, Paul Berry is one of Washington’s most respected journalists.   Paul is host of his own weekly syndicated radio talk show on Radio America where he discusses local and national issues with newsmakers, journalists, and Washingtonians.  In addition, Berry heads his media consulting business, and recently started his world-wide “R & B Travel” agency.

Paul was senior anchor for ABC-7”s 5, 6, and 11 pm newscasts in Washington DC.  Berry joined ABC-7 in 1972 from his native city of Detroit where he spent four years as an anchor/reporter at the ABC owned outlet WXYZ.  During his military service in the USAF, he graduated from the DoD Information School (DINFOS) and served with the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) assigned to the Tuy Hoa Air Force Base in Vietnam where he worked as Program Director and Sportscaster.  While on assignment, Berry established the first independent FM radio station in South Vietnam.

Recognized as a “man of the people,” Berry is highly regarded in the Washington area for establishing two WJLA/community service programs, “Crimesolvers” and “Seven on Your Side.” Over the years, Berry has been recognized countless times for his relentless work and commitment to the community. In 1982, Berry was named the unanimous winner of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Ted Yates award, given to the individual demonstrating outstanding professional and personal qualities in their contribution to Washington television news and public affairs.

In November 1982, Washington Mayor Marion Barry honored Berry by declaring November 12, “Paul Berry Day in the District.” On February 15, 1994, D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly repeated the honor. Berry has also received community service awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the National Capital Optimist Club, and the Associated Press Chesapeake Broadcasters Award.

Berry received the 1986 Humanitarian Award of the National Martin Luther King, Jr., Student Leadership Conference in recognition of his long record of community involvement, particularly as a role model of Washington area youth. In 1989, Berry received both the Mid-Atlantic Professional Golfers’ Association -Citizens Award and the Olender Foundation “Generous Heart Award.” Washingtonian Magazine named Berry “Washingtonian of the Year” in 1991. He won the 1993 Capital Region Emmy Award for Outstanding News Anchor, and in 1994, Berry was voted into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences “Silver circle” in recognition of his 25 years of contributions to Washington Television.

Active in the community, Berry is a member of several local civic, charitable and professional organizations.  He serves on the Board of Trustees for Ford’s Theatre in addition to several other boards including The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and the Paul Berry Academic Scholarship Foundation.  He is past president of the Chesapeake Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and currently serves as a commissioner for Maryland Public Television, and as a member of the Talbot County Tax Assessment Board, re-affirmed and appointed by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley respectively.

 

Stay tuned for additional event details and ticket information.