POLLYWOOD | PAT MICHELL'S BIRTHDAY

January 20 The Style Lounge, Park City, Utah

Washington Life and the Creative Coalition sent one of television's first daughters, former PBS President and CEO Pat Mitchell, big birthday wishes at a party we threw in her honor to kick-off Sundance. A television veteran herself, Mitchell has earned 37 Emmys, five Peabody Awards, and received two Academy Award nominations for her work in front of and behind the camera. As a Trustee of Sundance for over a decade, the Institute and festival have become a special place for her. Pat, the first producer to ever lead PBS truly reinvigorated its prime time line-up by moving aggressively towards diverse programming in ways once considered unthinkable. WL was particularly honored to be able to bring fellow Sundance Trustees Sally Field, Glenn Close, Adobe CEO John Warnock, eBay and Participant Films founder Jeff Skoll together with Washington friends Catherine and Wayne Reynolds, Dan and Rhoda Glickman, Gabriela Moreno, Maggie Cole, Nat Owens, Kori Bernharts, Laura Nichols, and Stephen Gaghan for an intimate dinner and birthday celebration. The Creative Coalition truly helped make this a special night and turned out in force with President Joe Pantoliano, Executive Director Robin Bronk, Executive Board members Gerry Byrne, John Paul and Eloise DeJoria, Jefferey Sachs, and supporters Paul Turcotte, Peggy Fries, Pierre and Isabelle Fay joining the celebratory feast. After a cocktail hour, featuring Patron tequila and special drinks provided by the Viper Room, guests raved about the soup and braised short ribs from Mason G, one of L.A.'s finest new eateries. Mitchell said it was "a birthday memory to last forever" and was particularly surprised when Glenn Close and her new husband, David Shaw led a chorus in perfect harmony, with an original song the couple sang to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic," toasting her with, "Our eyes have seen the glory of Pat Mitchell on a roll, she is giving way more speeches than the Congress as a whole, she's saving public television, she's doing it with soul! Pat Mitchell's marching on!