Vienna, Virginia (October 6, 2024) – On Friday, September 26, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts hosted its annual fundraiser gala. Led by Ball Co-Chairs Margaret and Shashi Gupta and Alka and Sudhakar Kesavan, this year’s theme was the Bollywood Ball, a dazzling celebration of culture, community, and performing arts. The sold-out event brought together business leaders, philanthropists, elected officials, and more for an unforgettable evening, all while raising more than $2.3 million in support of Wolf Trap Foundation’s renowned arts and education programs. This 2025 Ball is the highest grossing single fundraising event in Wolf Trap’s 54-year history.
“Just as our founder Catherine Filene Shouse envisioned, we continue to be a place where music and nature foster connection,” said Arvind Manocha, President & CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. “Between artists and audiences, between friends old and new, and between neighbors across the globe.”
Held on stage at the iconic Filene Center, more than 800 guests gathered to celebrate the curtain closing on Wolf Trap’s 2025 summer season. Guests were transported to the vibrant world of Bollywood with an immersive evening of music, dance, cuisine, and décor inspired by India’s rich artistic traditions. The celebration featured live entertainment, including a performance by Bombay Dreams singer/actor Manu Narayan and a surprising and delightful flash mob by Rhythmaya Dance.
“Wolf Trap’s significant work beyond its stages and in the community inspires us,” said Ball co-chair Margaret Gupta. “Education is central to our identity, and the Foundation’s flagship program, the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, empowers teachers locally, across the nation, and internationally with arts-based teaching tools to positively impact our earliest learners.”
Fellow co-chair Alka Kesavan echoed these sentiments, “I hope tonight you have been inspired by all you have learned about this storied organization, and how our live music and community programs benefit a variety of people in our community.”
The evening was a night to remember with decor by Silver Lining. Brilliant marigolds decorated the ceiling and floral arrangements were provided by Flowers at 38. Guests danced the night away with sounds by DJ Ravi Prasad and enjoyed live cocktail hour celebrations by Skylark Entertainment. Cocktails and cuisine were curated by James Beard Award-winning Executive Chef Vikram Sunderam of Rasika restaurant.
This year’s annual celebration was made possible due to the generosity of donors, including the Official Event sponsor Capital One.
Star Sponsors
Shashikant and Margaret Gupta
Alka and Sudhakar Kesavan
Presenting Sponsors
Jan Brandt
Strategy
Host Sponsors
Christopher and Andrita (AJ) Andreas
The Boeing Company
La’ Agra
Usha Kiran Foundation (Jai and Pallabi Saboo)
Governor Glenn and Mrs. Suzanne S. Youngkin
Diamond Sponsors
Acentra Health
Choice Hotels
Cross Country Consulting
Kim Engel Haber and Brett Haber/
The Dennis and Judy Engel Charitable Foundation
Sue J. Henry and Carter G. Phillips
Leana and Marc Katz
Kearney & Company
Matt Korn and Cindy Miller
KPMG LLC
Nancy Laben and Jon Feiger
L.F. Jennings
Gen. (Ret.) Lester L. and Mina Lyles
Gary D. Mather† and Christina Co Mather
Heidi and RJ Narang
Northrop Grumman
PwC
The Robbins Family
Srikant Sastry and Manjula Pindiprolu
Karen and Fred Schaufeld
The Shrivastava Family
Skadden
SOSi
Julie Myers Wood and John Wood
Emerald Sponsors
Jay and Jen Shah
Booz Allen Hamilton
Chevy Chase Trust
The Cornelius J. and Ellen P. Coakley
Family Foundation
Ernst & Young, LLP
General Dynamics
HII
Hilton Supply Management
HITT Contracting
Host Hotels & Resorts
JPMorgan Chase
Mason Hirst Foundation
Morgan Stanley Private Wealth
Management
PNC
Tickets.com
Sapphire Sponsors
Priya and Anirudh Kulkarni
22nd Century Technologies Inc.
Apex CoVantage
Deloitte
Guidepost Solutions
Park Hotels & Resorts
WilmerHale
ABOUT WOLF TRAP
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, produces and presents a full range of performance and education programs in the Greater Washington DC area, as well as nationally. Wolf Trap features three performance venues: the outdoor Filene Center including the Meadow Stage, and Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, located at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and The Barns at Wolf Trap, located down the road from the national park and adjacent to the Center for Education at Wolf Trap. The Filene Center, Meadow Stage, and Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods are operated in partnership with the National Park Service and annually showcase an extensive array of diverse artists, ranging from pop, country, folk, and blues to classical music, dance, and theatre, as well as multimedia presentations, from May through September. The Barns at Wolf Trap is operated by Wolf Trap Foundation year-round, and during the summer months is home to the Grammy-nominated Wolf Trap Opera, one of America’s outstanding professional training programs for early career opera singers. Wolf Trap’s education programs include the nationally acclaimed Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, and a nationally recognized internship program.
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