Higher Achievement, one of DC real estate’s favorite causes, is returning the favor.

The 41-year-old organization devoted to mentoring Washington-area middle-schoolers will salute Vornado DC chief Mitchell Schear at its ninth annual gala at the Warner Theatre the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 2. Mitchell has chaired the gala six times and been a leading champion over the years in helping to raise over $6M for the cause. About 700 are expected to attend, including numerous industry notables.

The gala starts at 6:30pm with a 45-minute program emceed by two students, and is followed by a high-octane party in the atrium of the Warner Building—cocktails, drinks, dinner, music and dancing. Jay Epstien of DLA Piper is chairing this year’s event, and tickets are still available for $250.

This year’s Presenting Sponsor is HITT Construction, and other major supporters include Balfour Beatty, JBG, the Dweck Family Foundation, EagleBank, Gilbane, Red Coats, Arnold & Porter, ADI Construction, Whiting-Turner, Quadrangle and Bates White. Vice chairs of the event include Doug Donatelli, Mike Kelley, Bill McIntosh and Ron Paul. Mitchell’s Honoree’s Circle includes Jim Abdo, Mark Bisnow, Mark Ein, Wendy Feldman Block, Steve Goldstein, Michael Goodwin, Diane Hoskins, Debra Lehman Smith, Ray Ritchey and Wendy Silverstein.

Higher Achievement was founded by the late Greg Gannon, a teacher at Gonzaga College High School, and now serves 550 kids in fifth to eighth grade at seven locations in Wards 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the District, as well as a site in Alexandria. It has a paid staff of 36 directed by 10-year veteran Katherine Roboff, as well as 310 adult volunteers, mainly working professionals but also college students, who mentor an average of two to three hours a week.

Programs for students focus on after-school activities and a six-week summer academy that includes field trips and college visits. The results speak for themselves: 95% of participants graduate from high school on time, compared to 69% of students citywide. Join the Washington real estate community at the Higher Achievement gala on Nov. 2.