The invitations read, “On behalf of the Reptilian Committee you have beenselected to shed your skin” for the November black-tie gala event held at theNational Press Club. And shed their skins they did—to the sounds of Milo Z, aNew York City funk band. The gala raised $20,000 for the Seed Foundation, anon-profit organization formed in March 1997 to establish urban residentialschools that prepare students academically and socially for success in college andthe professional world. The first school of its kind in the nation, the SEED schoolof DC moved to its permanent campus in January 2001.