Gala Season Washington Social Scene Prepares for Balls Promoting Worthy Causes by Daniel Brill íTis the season for Washingtonians to get dolled up in their eveningwear and party the night awayóall in the name of a good cause, of course. The spring and summer months are a busy time for the Washington social scene as a glittering array of balls and galas bring vibrant celebration and messages of global importance to the nationís capital. First, we take a look at some of the major events in April that attracted Washingtonís elite: On April 7, the National Hospice Foundation (NHF) held its annual gala to celebrate 40 years of the modern hospice care movement, which first began in London and moved to the United States in the 1970s. The NHF is a leading charity supporting improvement in end-of-life care, and it funds research and education across the globe. This yearís honorees included Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio), who received the Public Policy Award for her work to help children with life-threatening illnesses, and Joseph Califano Jr. who received the Health Care Architect Award for helping to make hospice care a Medicare benefit. Also in early April, Washington Life Magazine and Saks Fifth Avenue held the Four th Annual Substance and Style Awards benefiting Wired Kids, an organization dedicated to preventing sexual exploitation of children via the Internet. This yearís award recipients included Alma Powell, wife for former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Diana Goldberg, chairman of the National Childrenís Medical Center. Guests contributed to groundbreaking brain research on April 16, as the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) hosted the second annual Mission Possible VIP Reception and Gala at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. The gala kicked off a weekend of activities to support NARSAD, the worldís leader in donor-supported funding for brain and behavior research. Actress Margot Kidder presented the first Paul Wellstone Leadership award to Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.). A half-century-old tradition of elegance continued on April 22 with the 50th Annual Corcoran Ball, presented by the Womenís Committee of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Proceeds went to the Corcoran Gallery and its College of Art and Design to fund scholarships, exhibitions, restorations and acquisitions of artwork, and art education programs for Washington, D.C., area schools. In a nod to history, Spanish Ambassador and Mrs. Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza served as honorary patrons for the black-tie benefitójust as Ambassador JosÈ Maria de Areilza Conde de Motrico of Spain presided as the honored guest at the first Corcoran Ball in 1956. The ball featured an exclusive look at ìThe 48th Corcoran Biennial: Closer to Home,î a collection of works by 15 contemporary artists (see page B-). Guests were also treated to an artistic feast on April 29 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts 23rd Annual Spring Benefit Gala titled ìThe Garden at Bougival.î All proceeds went to support the museumís exhibitions, educational activities and other projects and was presented in conjunction with the exhibition ìBerthe Morisot: An Impressionist and Her Circle,î which features more than 75 paintings and drawings by the admired French impressionist and her contemporaries. Itís still not too late for Washingtonians to join area balls that promote worthy causes. On May 6, years of global community service will be honored at the 59th anniversary celebration of CARE, one of the worldís leading humanitarian organizations battling global poverty. A series of intimate dinners held at the residences of 30 ambassadors will culminate at the historic Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium for an evening of dessert and dancing. The ball is co-chaired by Jeanne Warner, wife of Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), Franki Roberts, wife of Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Diane Nelson, wife of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.). This yearís theme, ìConnections: Building a Better World Together,î emphasizes the importance of international collaboration and also celebrates CARE programs that empower women and help families across the world. For ticket information, please call (202) 595-2819. Music and culture unite on May 7 when the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) holds its annual gala and auction to benefit its artistic and educational arts initiatives throughout the Washington area. The event will be hosted by British Ambassador David Manning and his wife, Lady Catherine Manning. The gala traditionally raises more than $650,000 for arts programs such as Concerts in Schools, which brings free, live musical performances to community schools, as well as the Enriching Experiences for Seniors project. This yearís gala also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the WPASís award-winning Embassy Adoption Program, a partnership with D.C. Public Schools that has helped more than 35,000 students partner with 103 embassies to increase their knowledge and appreciation of foreign cultures. The gala will also include entertainment by Celtic fiddler Eileen Ivers, star of the original production of Riverdance, and her band Immigrant Soul. The annual WPAS Gala and Auction will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. For ticket information, please call WPAS at (202) 293-9325. Style takes the stage on May 12 when the Mosaic Foundation hosts its eighth annual benefit gala titled ìWest Looks East: Influences of Traditional Arab Design on Contemporary Western Fashion.î The benefit dinner, chaired by Maria Felice Mekouar, wife of the Moroccan ambassador, will feature 29 original couture outfits from 15 international designers, including Christian Dior and Giorgio Armani, in addition to a visual presentation of traditional Arab costume. The gala is the climax of the Mosaicís 2004-2005 programming designed to highlight the influence of traditional Arab style on contemporary design. Funds raised from the gala will go in part to a grant to the Childrenís National Medical Center for the development of an international tele-health program in Morocco. The gala will be held at the National Building Museum. For ticket information, please call Mosaic at (703) 288-4500. On June 10, the Washington National Opera presents its widely anticipated annual Opera Ball, a premier social event in the city. This yearís ball is being hosted by Brazilian Ambassador and Mrs. Roberto Abdenur, with proceeds going to support the Washington Operaís annual budget. After dinner at various embassies, guests will head over to the Brazilian Embassy for an exotic evening of dessert and dancing and entertainment by Bob Hardwick and his orchestraóso get your dancing shoes ready. For ticket information, please call (202) 295-2437. Daniel Brill is an editorial intern for The Washington Diplomat.