Die-Hards Hail the Redskins
A throng of more than 800 devoted Redskins fans descended upon Tysons Corner with the pride of Washington, D.C.
By Chase Johnson
The Washington Redskins took a break from their preseason training camp yesterday to rub elbows with 800 of their most dedicated fans. Attendees sought autographs, traded stories and ate lunch with Redskins players, alumni and cheerleaders. They also participated in silent and live auctions that featured signed sports memorabilia and extravagant prize packages. It was all part of the 48th annual Welcome Home Luncheon at the Tysons Corner Ritz-Carlton, which benefits the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation.
Fans came from near and far to greet Redskins both past and current. H. Wade Johnson came from McClellanville, S.C., to trumpet “Hail to the Redskins,” along with Harry Horning of Manassas. Former Virginia resident Kelly Gleadall Beach flew in from Las Vegas specifically for the event, which she has done each of the last six years.
“I was born in D.C., and my lovely parents Bill and Fran Gleadall [of Leesburg] had season tickets at RFK [Stadium] back in the day,” Beach said. “I would go with my father to Bill Brundige’s restaurant, The Huddle in Purcellville, when I was about 10, before they didn’t allow little kids at the bars. A bunch of Redskins would come on Monday nights to watch Monday Night Football, so my dad would take me to watch the game and hang out with a bunch of Redskins.”
For the majority of fans, however, travel plans were a bit more conventional. Alex Mullen and Tim Lyberger commuted from Sterling. Michael Cooper brought his son Patrick from Annapolis, Md.
The Frakes family from Hyattsville, Md., has had season tickets since brothers Patrick and Daniel were young. The family members are all lifelong fans. “I went to my first game when my mom was pregnant with me in ’63,” Daniel said.
“My dad had 12 seats when we were kids growing up,” Patrick added. “It was always us and our friends and our neighbors always going as a big group.” The brothers had not been to the luncheon in 30 years, but wanted to bring Hunter, the youngest member of the family, to meet some of the players he had watched on the field.
Betsy Walsh from McLean celebrated her 73rd birthday the day of the meet-and-greet with her son, Tim of Herndon. Betsy Walsh is a 50-year season-ticket holder and was recognized by former Redskin Doc Walker, who emceed the luncheon.
Many military personnel took part in the festivities as well. A group of area soldiers being deployed to Iraq was given a standing ovation. D.C. National Guard Sgt. Dewitt Osborne came from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is being treated for combat injuries.
The event raised several thousand dollars for the Washington Redskins charities and Alumni Association. Among the prizes sold at live auction were a Super Bowl package, an opportunity to serve as a coin-flipper on field at a Redskins home game and an original painting of Redskins running back Clinton Portis by artist Anna Rose Soevik of Bethesda, Md.
Course of Action
(Heritage Hunt Golf and Country Club )
By Susan Anspach
The morning of June 13 saw the Heritage Hunt private course parking lot choked with golf carts and the 180 players vying for their turns to tee off with such St. Jude Celebrity Golf Tournament participants as former Washington Senators batman Frank Howard, D.C. United CEO Kevin Payne, former voice of Notre Dame football Tony Roberts, and Washington Wizards commentator Phil Chenier.
By and large, the visors bowed in concentration before tee time on the practice putting green were those of the “non-celebrity” participants—whose contributions totaled in excess of $200,000 for the pediatric cancer center. There was, perhaps, a more playful shade to the celebrities’ game approach. “My personal objective is I don’t have a heart attack and die,” said Howard. Added Chenier, “I had my lifetime’s low score on Saturday, so I don’t want to mess with that.”
![Six-year tournament player and Washington Wizards commentator Phil Chenier credited Steven Buckhantz with keeping him coming back. “When you have somebody close to [a cause], it’s an extra thing that grabs you.”](http://www.northernvirginiamag.com/wp-content/gallery/0909-society/0909_4.jpg "Six-year tournament player and Washington Wizards commentator Phil Chenier credited Steven Buckhantz with keeping him coming back. “When you have somebody close to [a cause], it’s an extra thing that grabs you.”")
HSUS Taking Action for Animals Conference, Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Puppy Love
(Hyatt Regency Crystal City)
Text by Julia Winkler; Photos by Kristin Elber
Gathering just over 1,000 advocates from across the country, The Humane Society of the United States’ 5th Annual Taking Action for Animals Conference in Crystal City on July 25 blended animal apostles with Hollywood elites and vegan treats. Catered by celebrity chef Tal Ronnen, the three-course banquet dinner was served amid rousing speeches by congressmen and leading ladies alike. HBO and silver screen starlet Ginnifer Goodwin kicked off events with a home video circa 1982, featuring the young thespian-to-be protecting a spider in her wagon. “I was part of this animal-loving hypocrisy,” Goodwin said. “So I started reading, and I started crying, and then I took off my leather shoes and became a vegan.”
Interrupted only by clinking forks and cheers of agreement, Rep. Jim Moran and Rep. John Conyers took the stage to provide a public policy focus, referencing impending legislation and encouraging conference-goers to visit Capitol Hill and lobby their senators and representatives before returning home. “This is not so much about protecting the rights of animals as much as upholding the moral obligations of humans. We have a moral obligation to treat defenseless, helpless creatures with respect and sensitivity, and when we don’t it reflects on all of us,” Moran said, adding that allowing inhumane treatment of animals “makes it easier for us to justify similar actions toward humans [and] causes society to become increasingly jaded over human violence.” After a stirring speech by Humane Society president and CEO Wayne Pacelle, as well as a performance by Nellie McKay, attendees could rest assured that their critter-cherishing community was as cogent as ever.
Bar Haul: PX’s ‘5 for $50’
PX, Alexandria
By Susan Anspach / Photography by Seth Freeman
PX and Restaurant Eve mixologist Todd Thrasher kept things moving Sunday, Nov. 9 at his “5 for $50” National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) evening fundraiser. “Derek, about five more minutes?” he called back to the speakeasy bar, looping an apron around his waist.
“But I’m just getting my groove on,” protested Komi mixologist Derek Brown, setting a bite of burnt orange-peel garnish ablaze in flame.
“That’s the way it always goes,” Thrasher shot back.
PX’s first charity event prompted the franchise’s first-ever lift on its no standing-room rule. Four hours saw as many star/guest bartenders doling out as many specialty cocktails to an all-too-obliging gathering of discerning taste-testers, including Washington Post food editor Joe Yonan.
(January 2009)
‘Office’ Work: Tahirih Justice Center
Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington
By Susan Anspach / Photography by Seth Freeman
Leading the chorus of praises at the 11th Tahirih Justice Center fundraising benefit Voices for Justice was master of ceremonies Rainn Wilson of Emmy-winning sitcom “The Office.” “You may wonder why I’m here tonight … It’s quite simple: Steve Carrell was not available,” quipped Wilson, who called for ovations for the Falls Church-based nonprofit staff, volunteers and chairs, professional volunteers, all donors and sponsors, “dental hygienists, farmers, anyone born Cesarean.” Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas spoke on behalf of Tahirih, which touts its mission as enabling women fleeing violence to access justice, in introducing client speaker Rati Sud. “Domestic absuse don’t just happen ‘out there,’” Sud attested. “It happens in our town, in our neighborhood, on our street.”
(December 2008)