Annual Gala

2006 Benefit Gala Honoree
Brian Lamb
President & CEO, C-SPAN

Click here to view Gala Website

Gala Success!

Quick Links - Read :
| The Washington Post | Inside Politics | The Washington Examiner | Rave Reviews |

Click Here to view the ANWC Benefit Gala Photo Gallery

Photos by : Christy Bowe / ImageCatcher News 2005 ImageCatcher News 4911 Hampden Lane • Suite 3 • Bethesda, Maryland 20814 (office) 301-652-2774 • (fax) 301-652-7026 • (e-mail) imagecatcher@pressroom.com Click on photos to enlarge

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6317-2005Apr20.html

Inside Politics

By Greg Pierce

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050420-115748-3452r.htm

Roasting Ben and Sal

Celebrity roasts are fun, it says here, but they're one of the few things men can do that women can't. The American News Women's Club threw a roast of Ben Bradlee, the retired executive editor of The Washington Post, and Sally Quinn, his glam wife who was once the most-feared star of the Style section, the other night at the Fairmont Hotel. But for a few pointed remarks by Mary Matalin and James Carville, the roast degenerated into a contest to see who could say the most obsequious things about Ben and Sal as if they were still dishing it out on the pages of The Post.

Even the voluble Chris Matthews, who imagines he plays hardball, can't throw anything up to the plate but floaters. "Oh, we love you, Ben," he said. Some of the riffs were tasteless, but not many were funny.

It was too much for Ben and Sally. "Men can do these things, because they use insults as terms of affection," she said, "but women can't be mean unless they mean it." When Ben, one of the genuine tough guys of the news biz, got up to make the final remarks of the evening he was his famous old self. "Good evening to all you hacks," he said. He addressed the television journalists with the contempt all old-time newspapermen feel for boobs of the tube. "If you guys were not on camera, no one would ever have heard of you."

But it was for charity, and a fairly good time was had by all. Heavyweights of Embassy Row turned out, including the ambassadors of the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and even the former ambassador of Sri Lanka.

The Washington Examiner

http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/04/21/gossip/today/01buzzfeld22.txt

On the menu: Ben and Sally roast

Posties were noticeably scarce Tuesday evening at the Fairmont Hotel when the American Newswomen's Club roasted the couple so powerful that no last names were needed - just Ben and Sally - he, former Post executive editor, and she, former Style section dominatrix, 2005 recipients of the Helen Thomas Award for Excellence in Journalism. Roaster Al Hunt, now of Bloomberg News, said, "When Nightline trotted out its baseball expert Sally Quinn, I really got goosebumps. Then she said what it would be like when the Nationals score their first touchdown." And directed to Ben Bradlee: "I think it's very nice she let you keep your maiden name."

The one-two punch

Power couples Al Hunt and Judy Woodruff, Bob Woodward and Elsa Walsh, James Carville and Mary Matalin, Chris and Kathleen Matthews, and George Stephanopoulos and Alexandra Wentworth (via video) - did a schtick portraying Ben and Sally, where she announced herself as "Deep Throat." Post columnist Richard Cohen, who was in from New York for the occasion, explained that he was there alone "because I was supposed to appear with Nora Ephron."

Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball pointed out that Sally "used a typewriter like an Uzie." He went on to talk about all the careers Ben has launched - Chuck Colson, G. Gordon Liddy and Pat Buchanan. "One was the burglar and the other guy slid the red meat under the stage," he said.

No holds barred here. Mary Matalin, former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, quipped: "If there was any first lady of journalism it would be Jeff Gannon." Mary also pointed out that "everyone in this town falls into one of three categories: they worship Ben, they respect Ben or they are a Nixon family member," he said.

And her husband James Carville, erstwhile Democratic Party political advisor, held up his part of the show, too. "People say we have a mixed marriage, a Democrat and a Republican. Look at Prince Charles. They've got a mixed marriage - an Episcopalian and a Clydesdale."

The last word

The gracious Bradlee curtly summed it all up, while holding four index cards: "What an honor to be roasted by such a distinguished group of hacks. If you weren't on television, no one would have ever heard of any of you except for Woodward."

Buzz Karen at buzz@karenfeld.com

And the reviews are in…

“Here!  Here!  I received a lot of very positive comments from many attendees.  They loved the hotel, the food, the honorees, the roasters, and were wowed by the great prizes! I think the trip was a big hit!

Thank you Ginny and Paula and your many teams for a job well done.  Take a well-deserved bow! “

   ---Barb McLeod  

My husband, Hank, and I had a lot of fun.  The crowd  was  friendly and beautifully outfitted,   the  food  was  delicious, the speakers were funny  (for the most part),  and it was a treat to have a posh evening to break  up the  drudgery  of  everyday life.  We felt  like  we  were  in the midst of  a   real  Washington experience!  

  --- Maurine  Beasley 

It was such fun seeing everyone all dressed up and sitting with and catching up on news from my friend Pat Bergstresser, home on leave from her position as Director of the International Press Center at the State Dept. in Baghdad, Iraq, and her guest Alaa al Safar of the Iraqui newspaper Al Da-awa.  The food was delicious (avocado salmon with basal orange yogurt among other things as an appetizer!); the good natured stories by America's top journalist couples kidding "Ben and Sally" let us see how down-to-earth friends and family people they all are -- and made us feel abit on "the inside".  Quite fun! thanks for all your hard work!

  ---Peggy Sands Orchowski   editor, CQ

The Dinner was terrific!  I particularly liked the emphasis on couples being the roasters since the Honorees were a couple.  It was fun to watch them together.  The best line of the night was Ben Bradlee's comment that none of the roasters would be anybody without television....   Special thanks to all the members/volunteers who made the evening such a success.  

  ---Joanne W. Young

The food was great!  The "silent" gifts were great, and a lot of effort went into their acquisition.  Brava to the group who was responsible for these wonderful additions. In summation, we did have a  fine roast.  A lot of effort went into it and we have a lot of people to thank for it. And yes, we do have a great club!   

   ---Nancy Lang

What a great time we had!  The ANWC gala had all the right components for a perfect Washington party -- media celebrities, clever roasts and toasts, devine food and wine, "sparkling" guests, and the diplomatic corp. Our big investment in raffle tickets really paid off with two big prizes that we will continue to enjoy

  ---Sallie Forman 

SAVE THE DATE!

ANWC would like to thank Ann Telnaes, Pulitizer Prize Winner and ANWC Member for the Caricatures above.

Click here to View Email Invitation

The American News Women's Club
Thirteenth Gala & Helen Thomas AwardsDinner Honoring
Ben Bradlee & Sally Quinn
Tuesday April 19, 2005
Fairmont Hotel, Washington, DC
Tickets Available Now!

Click here to download Ticket Order Form

For more information call 202-332-6770
or email anwclub@covad.net

Power Couples Create Powerful Fun Gala Evening for ANWC

Mark your calendar for April 19th!  That's when Washington literati and glitterai will gather for ANWC's 13th Annual Benefit Gala.  This year's honorees are superstars of The Washington Post, former executive editor Ben Bradlee and his wife Sally Quinn , commentator and doyenne of the Washington social scene. They each will be honored with ANWC's Helen Thomas Award for Excellence in Journalism.

ANWC Board members Paula Lettice and Ginny Daly have signed on as co-chairs of the evening. The pair served as co-chairs of the event in 2002, which Daly chaired alone in 2000.  Fellow board members Lucy Spiegel of CNN and Sheilah
Kast of NPR are handling the program, as they did last year when ANWC honored Bob Scheiffer.  In an interesting and unusual twist, since this is the first time ANWC has honored a pair of journalists, those invited to roast and toast Bradlee and Quinn will also be couples of note.  According to Spiegel, Judy Woodruff and her husband Al Hunt have agreed to emcee the evening. Woodruff was honored with ANWC's award in 2002.

With a socko list of potential roasters and with an experienced and enthusiastic club committee putting things together, the evening promises to be one of those memorable nights to hear witty inside stories, to see and be seen, to experience
the glam of the new Fairmont Hotel and to revel in the sort of rollicking good time only ANWC and Washington can offer.

WHEN : Tuesday, April 19, 2005

6:30 pm Reception

7:30 pm Dinner and Program

WHERE : The Fairmont Hotel

2401 M Street, NW

COST : Ticket price $200 per person/ $375 per couple

Special valet parking rate $10

Raffle Items for 2005 Gala

Machu Picchu and You!

Win A Trip Of A Lifetime!
Prize Value Over $12,000
Limited Ticket Sales
1 in 300 chance

Machu Picchu and the Amazon. Win an unforgettable 12-day National Geographic Expedition to Machu Picchu and the Amazon accompanied by a National Geographic expert! This trip for two (double occupancy) is from October 4 - 15, 2005. Round trip air transportation provided by American Airlines. All internal flights within Peru are included in the trip.

The mountains and jungles of Peru offer a wealth of Spanish colonial cathedrals, Inca temples, remote rain forest habitats, and breathtaking Andean vistas. Discover the magnificent old capital of Cusco, hike to ruins in the Urubamba Valley, take a spectacular canopy walk high within the Peruvian Amazon rain forest, and explore the incomparable Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu, in its isolated mountaintop setting, is one of the world's most awe-inspiring sites. This sacred citadel was abandoned by the Inca, reclaimed by the jungle, and lost to history until it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and excavated with financial support from the National Geographic Society. Learn about the mysteries of "the lost city of the Inca" on a guided walk through the site. On a special nighttime visit to Machu Picchu, you will meet a shaman who will describe Inca spiritual beliefs.

In Tambopata, enjoy a private visit to the National Geographic-supported Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research to learn about the diverse world of tropical medicinal plants and how they are used by traditional cultures.

Meet with archaeologist and National Geographic grantee Guillermo Cock, who discovered thousands of ancient Inca mummies, and tour the world's largest private collection of pre-Columbian art at the Larco Herrera Museum in Lima.

Note on What to Expect: Participants should be physically fit as you will be traveling at high elevations in Cusco (12,925 feet) and Machu Picchu (8,000 feet). This expedition is not suitable for anyone who suffers from a respiratory disorder, circulatory ailment, or disability that limits mobility.

Raffle Tickets Cost
1 for $10
3 for $25
15 for $100


• Lunch with Helen Thomas for four
  
• Two in-studio seats to watch a live Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer
  Noon on any Sunday followed by coffee with Wolf
  
• Chanel Beauty Basket and Private Make-up Consultation Party
  for ten at Saks Fifth Avenue
  
• Two-night stay at The Inn at Five Gables, St. Michaels, Maryland plus a couple's massage
  
• "Weekend at the Fairmont Washington," DC Hotel, includes room and brunch for two at the Colonnade Room
  
• The Crystal Rose Pin by Ann Hand
  
• Wine Lovers' Basket with Private Tasting
  With Wine Expert Robert Cavanaugh
  
• Sugar House Day Spa Chocolate Therapy Gift Certificate and spa "goodies"
  
• Brunch for Two at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. and
  Coffee for a year from Caribou Coffee
  
• Mexican Gift Basket with Oyamel dinner gift certificate
• Washington Post Goodie Bag, including a signed Ben Bradlee book
  
• The Shakespeare Theatre - Two tickets to "Lady Windemere's Fan" &
  Round House Theatre- Two tickets to " Life x 3"
  
• Red Sage Restaurant Gift certificate
  

Last Year's Gala Update! - Honoree Bob Schieffer

The evening was a success! Click here to view the first batch of photos from the gala and stay tuned for the commentary on the event!

Click Here to read latest press release

"CBS NEWSMAN, ‘HORNED FROG’ BOB SCHIEFFER ROASTED BY
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND MEDIA MOGULS

Click here to read about the Gala in The Washington Post

Click here to read: Award, Roast for Shieffer, The Washington Times: Entertainment

Click here to listen to the Mp3 audio clip about the ANWC event from WTOP

“Twelfth Annual ANWC Gala and Award Dinner”

A black-tie Roast and Toast for CBS News’ Bob Schieffer, 2004 recipient of the ANWC Helen Thomas Award for Excellence in Journalism for Outstanding Contributions to Public Service. The event honoring Schieffer was held at Mandarin Oriental Hotel at L’Enfant Plaza on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 with Judy Woodruff as the emcee.

Roasters & Toasters included Gloria Borger, Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, Jim Lehrer, Senator Lindsey Graham and other friends and fans.

The 2004 Annual Award Dinner supports ANWC’s educational programs and university journalism scholarships

Table Favors

• Bloomingdales
• National Geographic
• City Museum
• Intelsat
  

The ANWC benefit gala raffle

Prizes included:

• Mandarin Oriental Hotel – One weekend night stay in a deluxe room overlooking the Tidal Basin at the new Mandarin Oriental including breakfast for two served in the Café Mozu or by In-Room Dining
  
• SAKS FIFTH AVENUE - Champagne & Dessert Celebration Personal Makeup Consultation and Fashion Presentation
  
  
• Sports Club/LA – Three month membership
  
• Ann Hand Brooch – Retail value $1200
  
• Spy Museum – Visit this exciting new DC attraction
  
• Philadelphia Trip – Includes luxury hotel accommodations at Lowes Hotel and dinner at a top-rated restaurant
  
• Robert Cavanaugh – in-home wine tasting seminar for 10
  
• Washington Ritz-Carlton Hotel – ”Tea for Two”
  
• Dandy Cruise – $150.00 Dinner Cruise Gift Certificate
  
• Gartenhaus Black Fur Stole – Retail value $900
  
• The Shakespeare Theatre - Two Tickets to Cyrano de Bergerac