Capital
City Ball to Benefit Charities Fighting Human Trafficking
Third annual gala to be held at the historic Washington Club
WASHINGTON, DC…November 5, 2009…The Capital City Ball, the all-volunteer group that raises money for charities, announced today that its third annual black-tie fundraiser will take place at 8:00 p.m. November 21, 2009 at the historic Washington Club on Dupont Circle. This year, proceeds from the event benefit three non-profit groups whose missions focus on fighting human trafficking and modern-day slavery around the world: The Emancipation Network, Innocents at Risk and Polaris Project.
The
Ball is a hot-ticket event in the city each year, drawing a diverse crowd from
among DC’s varied political, business, legal, philanthropic and diplomatic
circles. At the Capital City Ball, guests will enjoy an eleven-piece dance band,
live and silent auctions, open bar, hors d’oeuvres and dessert buffets. Ticket
prices start at $125 and are available online at www.capitalcityball.org/tickets.htm.
For VIP ticket-holders, an exclusive “After Party” will be held 1:00–3:00
a.m. at the Fairfax Hotel Jockey Club Restaurant on Embassy Row, a few blocks
from the Washington Club.
Guests
will be able to further support the charities by bidding on a variety of auction
items, including a one-week Tuscany villa vacation; a four-person gift
certificate for a chef’s tasting menu with cocktail and wine pairings; two
Masters Tournament 18th-hole tee flags signed by golfer Phil Mickelson; a Gibson
Guitar signed by musician Rob Thomas; and more.
“Our goal in founding the Capital City Ball was to create a memorable event that benefited deserving charities,” said co-founder John Dunford. “We chose human trafficking as our cause this year because the organizations dedicated to fighting it need a tremendous amount of support to be effective.”
Human Trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the world. It is an issue that affects every other country. An estimated 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked each year into the United States alone.
“We
are pleased to support this cause with an Honorary Committee that includes
ambassadors from 14 countries, U.S. senators, U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agents, authors, Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Strug and The Ricky
Martin Foundation,” said co-founder Bruce Fries.
The Honorable Carolyn Maloney and The Honorable Christopher H. Smith, from the United States House of Representatives, are co-chairs of the Honorary Committee. Sponsors include the Carstens Family Funds, Moiré Marketing Partners, ICF International and Washington Life Magazine. Miss District of Columbia 2009, Jennifer Corey, will make a special appearance.
About
Capital City Ball:
Founded in 2007 by Washington, DC professionals Bruce Fries and John Dunford, the Capital City Ball (www.capitalcityball.org) is an annual black-tie benefit that raises support for charitable organizations.
About
the charities benefitting from the 2009 Capital City Ball:
The Emancipation Network (T.E.N.) (www.tencharities.org) fights slavery by empowering survivors to rebuild their lives and with sustainable income, education and care. T.E.N. is an international organization that focuses on prevention by working in high-risk communities and educating children.
Innocents at Risk (www.innocentsatrisk.org)
)
creates awareness of human trafficking in the
United States and abroad. The Flight Attendant Initiative, a program launched in
2008, provides flight attendants with information about the signs of trafficking
and how to report victims.
Polaris Project (www.polarisproject.org) is one of the largest anti-trafficking organizations in the United States. Its comprehensive approach includes identifying victims, providing social services, operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center and advocating for stronger legislation.
Contact:
Pamela
Brehm, Media Relations
Capital City Ball
pamela@capitalcityball.org
www.capitalcityball.org
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