Mary Ourisman

Mary Ourisman is a true mover and shaker on the Washington political, art and social scene and is fiercely dedicated to her many causes. The result of her vision and financial support is a much more culturally rich and diverse community.

After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin , Ourisman tried her hand at interior design before she became very involved in Republican-party politics and fundraising efforts. Later, she served as director of development for GOPAC.

Ourisman is a great supporter of the arts. She is a trustee of the Washington National Opera and a former chairman of its annual ball. She is also a former chairman of the National Symphony Ball (her husband, Mandy, is a Symphony trustee.) Ourisman co-chaired the Mt. Vernon Bicentennial Gala with Katherine Graham and ensured that it was special evening. This black-tie event marked an historic recreation of the acclaimed 1961 state dinner hosted by President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy at Mount Vernon for the then-President of Pakistan , Ayub Khan. It was the first time that a state dinner had ever been held off of White House grounds. Guests came from across the country to attend, making a grand entrance after cruising in style down the Potomac aboard a riverboat, just as invitees had done 38 years ago. “There were canons and flags and we even brought in Jackie Kennedy's chef from San Francisco to recreate the same meal that was served at the state dinner. The moon came up over the river, it was a really magical night,” Ourisman says.

“I like anything where you wave the flag, and things that are patriotic and that represent our country,” Ourisman says. That explains, no doubt, why she serves on the board of directors of the restoration fund of the president's guesthouse, the Blair House. In 2002, she chaired its gala, “A Sunday in Washington .”

Ourisman also serves as a trustee and vice chairman of the National Committee of the Performing Arts and on the board of the International Committee on the Arts, both at the Kennedy Center, in addition to being on the World Wildlife Fund's national council.

She is honored to be one of only 50 people from across the country to serve on the Smithsonian Institution's national board and her enthusiasm shows when she speaks of the institute. “Only one tenth of what the Smithsonian owns is in its museums, and remarkably it's free to the public. They have 16 facilities around the country and the world. There is even a tropical research center in Panama that began when we were digging the Panama Canal in Teddy Roosevelt's day when everyone kept getting sick from tropical diseases. It's a very special place, ” she says.

Not only does Mary Ourisman lend her talents to causes, but together with her husband Mandell, chairman of Ourisman Automotive Enterprises, they both give generously to many other charitable and worthy organizations to better our community.