Last night we went to the 3rd annual Charity Champagne Reception hosted by the Irish Network DC (IN-DC) at The Dupont Circle Hotel.

We were pleased to meet Ireland’s first female ambassador to the US. We snapped Irish Ambassador Anne Anderson (right) with Maureen Dorsett and 2014 DC Rose of Tralee Queen Allison Wetterauw.

With no Guinness in sight, guests enjoyed champagne and specialty cocktails, as well as light hors d’oeuvres, while bidding on silent auction items. Here, Future Civic Leaders’ John McCarthy is flanked by Seven Twenty Strategies’ Angela Chiappetta and Franken Group prez Jessica Franken.

All funds raised were donated to the 2014 charity partners: Solas Nuo, which means “new light” and promotes contemporary Irish art, and Co-operation Ireland, an Ireland-based peace-building charity. Here, brother and sister duos: Alex Dallal, Michael Cook, Cher Dallal and Avril Cook.

IN-DC Board member Adrianne Bauer, event co-chair Brid Ryan, Solas Nua’s Paddy Megskall, Board member Mary Daughtrey, Catherine Brack and event co-chair Nick Rowan.

IN-DC was created five years ago to connect DC's Irish professionals and promote economic, social and cultural ties between the US and Ireland. Here, its member Monique Miller, Northern Ireland Bureau’s Steward Matthews and Christopher Crosbie, and ITEP’s Dave O'Donnell.