Local and national arts devotees will gather on stage at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center to celebrate and support Wolf Trap’s arts and education programs
Vienna, VA (August 7, 2018) – Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announces the 2018 Wolf Trap Ball, to be held Saturday, September 15, 2018 on the Filene Center stage at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Hosted in partnership with the British Embassy and in cooperation with the National Park Service, this year’s Ball honors the thriving arts and culture of Britain. As Wolf Trap Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, the Ball and its proceeds benefit the Foundation’s nationally recognized arts and education programs.
His Excellency Sir Kim Darroch KCMG, British Ambassador to the United States and Lady Darroch will serve as Honorary Hosts for the evening. The Ball is co-chaired by Teresa Carlson and Don and Angela Irwin.
“Wolf Trap Foundation is delighted to partner with the British Embassy for our largest fundraiser of the year. We share a uniquely close history with Great Britain that includes a common cultural heritage that is anything but common. The influence of their art and artists on American culture is extant in our past, present and is sure to be in our future. We are grateful to Sir Kim for his exceptional dedication to the arts and his and Lady Darroch’s involvement in this event and support Wolf Trap’s mission,” said Wolf Trap Foundation President and CEO Arvind Manocha.
“Wolf Trap is a special place – a national park, an arts education center, a world-class concert venue. I can’t think of anywhere else where you can hear Tony Bennett, and see a Harry Potter tribute show, with a hike in-between! It’s a place that welcomes everyone, that is unpretentious and inclusive, but that also showcases excellence in the performing arts – not least by inspiring the performers who appear there,” said His Excellency Sir Kim Darroch KCMG
Wolf Trap and the Embassy have crafted an evening that celebrates the arts, culture and cuisine of Great Britain. Upon entering, guests will see the Filene Center stage – one of the largest in the nation – transformed with images of The Union Jack, bustling streetscapes, and the iconic London Eye. Guests will be immersed in the sophistication and spirit of Great Britain through the magnificent décor and authentic cuisine. Inspirations for the evening include London’s classic pubs, and fashion influences spanning sophisticated tweeds and buttoned-down plaids to the edgy glamour borne from the U.K.’s punk subculture. Tunes from the First and Second British Invasions will entice guests to the dance floor at the after party following dinner, where the winning ticket of the Ball Raffle will be drawn at 11 p.m. This year’s “Fly Away to the U.K.” Grand Prize package includes a luxurious four-night stay for two at the five-star Rosewood Hotel in London, round-trip business-class airfare and dinner at Chef Gordon Ramsey’s Savoy Grill.
The Wolf Trap Ball benefits the Foundation’s renowned arts and education programs, including the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts and Wolf Trap Opera. Wolf Trap Foundation has served millions of preschool and kindergarten children, teachers, and caregivers across the country and abroad using performing arts disciplines to enhance academic and social skills. Similarly, Wolf Trap’s artistic programs range from eclectic multi-genre performances to classical, opera, and dance productions, including initiatives to commission new works and programming that reflect the culture and diversity of the Washington, D.C. region.
Each year, the Wolf Trap Ball attracts a diverse guest list of philanthropic, business, political, and cultural leaders, and generates more than $1 million in support of Wolf Trap Foundation’s arts and education programs. Approximately 800 guests are expected to attend this year’s Ball, including members of the Diplomatic Corps, the President’s Cabinet, the U.S. Congress, state and local governments, philanthropic leaders, and executives from national and international businesses.
The 2018 Wolf Trap Ball Lead Sponsors are Dan and Gayle D’Aniello, Gary D. Mather and Christina Co Mather. Amazon Web Services, The Boeing Company, Shashikant and Margaret Gupta, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Karen and Fred Schaufeld serve as Host Sponsors. Diamond Sponsors to date include Hillary and Tom Baltimore, Bentley Motors, Deloitte, Grant Thorton, KPMG, Microsoft Corporation, MicroStrategy, National Counseling Group, PwC LLP, Telos Corporation, Win Virginia, and Suzanne and Glenn Youngkin.
2018 Wolf Trap Ball – Saturday, September 15, 2018
Event Timeline
7:00 p.m. Cocktail reception begins on stage
8:15 p.m. Program and dinner begin
Remarks by Co-Chairs, Honorary Host, and Wolf Trap Foundation President and CEO
9:45 p.m. Dancing begins
11:00 p.m. Raffle prize drawing from stage
Midnight Event concludes
Tickets start at $750 for individuals, with VIP seating and recognition at $1,500. Sponsorship opportunities range from $10,000 to $100,000.
For details on reserving a seat or table for the 2018 Wolf Trap Ball, please contact Wolf Trap Special Events at 703.255.4030 or email events@wolftrap.org.
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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 area, as well as nationally. Wolf Trap features three performance venues: the outdoor Filene Center and Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, both 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 7,028-seat Filene Center is operated in partnership with the National Park Service and annually showcases 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 the Wolf Trap Foundation year round, and during the summer months is home to the Grammy-nominated Wolf Trap Opera, one of America’s outstanding resident ensemble programs for young 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, a diverse array of arts education classes, grants, and a nationally recognized internship program.
Media Information:
Erick Hoffman, Director, Communications
703.255.1917 or erickh@wolftrap.org
Emily Stout, Manager, Media Relations
703.255.4096 or emilys@wolftrap.org