A Good Cause at The George Town Club
Gathering on Wednesday to plan the 125th anniversary benefit for the Washington Home & Community Hospices, some 30 well-known supporters told of their love for the institution and praised the care given to friends and family members.
The benefit gala will be at the Italian Embassy on Saturday, April 26 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm Some 300 guests are expected to attend.
The luncheon at The George Town Club was a kickoff event to introduce the host committee to one another. www.thewashingtonhome.org
A famous national figure given care at the hospice was the syndicated Washington Post columnist Art Buchwald. He wrote with sensitivity and humor about his final days as a writing legend.
Overseeing the luncheon were Sharon Casey, chair, board of directors, and Tim Cox, CEO of The Washington Home. Among those who attended were photographer Didi Cutler, interior designer Barbara Hawthorn, Tandy and Wyatt Dickerson, social columnists Donna Shor and Mary Bird, arts activist Judith Terra, PR consultant Jan DuPlain, Harriet Fulbright, widow of the Arkansas senator and statesman, Christine Warnke, Shahin Mafi, Nicole D'Amecourt, Sheila Switzer and Robin Leeds.
Russian classical violinist Rafael Javadov provided the music.
Luncheon hosts noted that the Dickersons celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on Thursday (March 13). Dickerson is a founder of The Georgetown Club.
It was also brought to the attention of lunch-goers that this week marks the birthday of social photographer-about-town Neshan Naltchayan, who, as always, was on the job snapping people pictures for clients.
The non-profit charity cares for almost 2,500 residents and patients a year, bringing compassionate care to aging, chronically and terminally ill women and men. The home is located at 3720 Upton Street, NW in Cleveland Park.
In the 1800s, the home was a two-room house in the middle of town with no electricity or running water. Water was pumped from a well.
Williams House, co-located with The Washington Home, is the only inpatient hospice unit in DC where patients' acute symptoms are managed so they can return to hospice care in their own homes.