Easter Seals Advocacy Awards!

Last night we went to the Washington Convention Center for the 2016 Easter Seals Advocacy Awards.

We snapped special guest, award presenter John Travolta, and his wife, Kelly Preston, bookended by honoree Major General Carl McNair, US Army Retired, with Brigadier General Myrna Hennrich Williamson, and by Holland & Knight's and Easter Seals Board member Janis Schiff. 

The theme of the 2016 Advocacy Awards was Creating a Greater Community, with a focus on supporting community-based caregiving services. Here, Northrop Grumman's and 2016 Advocacy Awards chair Amy Caro, former Labor Secretary and Sen. Elizabeth Dole, with Easter Seals Board members Booz Allen's Robin Portman and Strelmark's Hilary Fordwich. 

At an exclusive VIP cocktail reception: former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. 

Following the VIP reception, guests headed to the ballroom for a lavish awards ceremony honoring military, government and business leaders for their commitment to those with special needs. Here, honorees US Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh, his wife, Betty Welsh, Veterans Affairs' Secretary Robert McDonald, and Diane McDonald. 

Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner featuring a delicious beef short rib and raspberry ganache tartlet for dessert. Here, Sodexo's Dave Scanlan with Marine Corps Assistant Commandant General John Paxton. 

US Air Force Lieutenant General Bob Otto, his wife, Ambassador and Committee member Chris Otto, with Board member Rick Stein. 

Nightingale Associates' Debbie Nightingale, Evans Inc's Sue Evans, Transformation Systems' Altyn Clark, and Womble Carlyle's Dondi Saunders. 

Easter Seals' Linda Janulis, Randy Rutta, and Jill Chimka.