WIIT's
2007 Winter Gala and Silent Auction
December 12, 2007
On December 12, WIIT held its signature holiday event - the Winter Gala and Silent Auction. The auction netted just under $4,500 which will be used to help the WIIT Charitable Trust support its quality educational programs and professional development services.
The hugely successful event drew a crowd of over 100 people who enjoyed bidding for the varied and interesting donated items in the auction. These items included electronics, theater and sports tickets, collectibles, fine potables including rums and coffee from around the world, professional services, art work, gift baskets, and myriad handicrafts donated by the Washington, D.C. diplomatic, corporate and international trade community. The open bar was made available courtesy of spirits donated by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, DISCUS, -- which featured fun, festive cocktails such as the White Winter Twist and the Holly Berry Martini - and wines donated by the Embassy of New Zealand.
This year's affair was graciously hosted by the Embassy of Colombia at its historic Dupont Circle location. Built in 1906, the French-British-Italian-styled building provided an elegant setting for the evening. Her Excellency, Ambassador Carolina Barco also honored attendees with brief remarks about the Colombia-US Free Trade Agreement and other initiatives to create a hemispheric free trade area.
Once again, WIIT graciously thanks Ambassador Barco and the Embassy of Colombia for hosting the 2007 WIIT Winter Gala and Silent Auction. WIIT also thanks all volunteers, and all bidders and donors whose generosity helped to
Colobian Ambassador to the United States, Carolina Barco
(from left) Phyllis Derrick, Member of the Special Events Committee; Tonya
Kemp, WIIT President-Elect
(from left) Susan Schmidt, WIIT President; Amb. Barco