Philanthropy bridging donors and charities celebrated organizations fighting poverty and supporting injured marines at this year’s Charity Works Dream Ball.
Photos by Tony Powell
- The Charity Works Dream Ball at the National Building Museum. Photo by Tony Powell.
A SWELL TIME: Fully costumed “cigarette girls” handed out candy smokes and strutting flappers opened the Roaring Twenties-inspired CharityWorks Dream Ball benefiting the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and LIFT, a non-profit group that combats poverty. Guests, many in 1920’s-themed attire, bid on luxury silent auction items (vacation packages, jewelry, artwork) before sitting down to dinner and a program introduced by founder Leah Gansler. Auctioneer and former “The Apprentice” contestant Sam Solovey energized the crowd with a rousing live auction and Master Sgt. William “Spanky” Gibson got an ovation with stirring words describing Semper Fi’s emergency assistance programs for Marines and sailors injured in combat or training as well as those suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
