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Black Tie
International:
Red Cross
Hosts 55th Annual International Ball at Mar-a-Lago |
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General
Chairman of the Ball, Mary
Ourisman, was Ambassador
Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America to Barbados
and the Eastern Caribbean --
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica,
Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis,
St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. Attending beside
Ambassador Ourisman is her
husband, Mandell Ourisman.
Photo by: Lucien Capehart
Photography
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Red Cross hosts 55th Annual
International Ball
at Mar-a-Lago
Hope, Service, Compassion and glamour
reign on Palm Beach |
PALM BEACH, Fla. (January 31, 2012) -
Over 400 guests and dignitaries from
around the world filled the Mar-a-Lago
ballroom on Saturday in support of the
American Red Cross with an evening of
fine food, wine and dancing. The
Honorable Mary Ourisman presided over
this year's event as Chairman,
representing the first time a former
U.S. Ambassador has served as General
Chairman of the Ball. Mary Ourisman was
Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to Barbados and the Eastern
Caribbean -- Antigua and Barbuda,
Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis,
St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. Ourisman was joined by The
Honorable Mary Mochary and Susan Keenan,
both serving as
co-chairmen and, Michele Kessler was
this year's Honorary Chairman.
The evening began with an official
receiving of the Ambassadors in the
White and Gold Ballroom, leading out to
a poolside cocktail hour followed by
dinner in the main ballroom. The
Honorable Stuart Bernstein, the ball's
Chief of Protocol, welcomed guests,
followed by the Marines of 4th Air Naval
Gunfire Liaison Company presenting the
colors. A red carpet procession and a
special U.S. Ambassadorial Host
Committee, comprised of over two-dozen
former and current U.S. Ambassadors,
welcomed world ambassadors from Mexico,
Sweden, Barbados, Slovenia, Trinidad &
Tobago, Denmark, and Morocco. The
National Anthem was performed by the
evening's bright star, 10-year old
Destiny Davis. Also honored for their
service and sacrifice were a contingent
of U.S. servicemen and women who
returned home after being wounded in
battle.
The Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter,
Chairman of the American Red Cross,
presented Michele and Howard Kessler
this year's Chairman Award for Lifetime
Leadership? on behalf of the
International Red Cross Ball. McElveen-Hunter
also spoke on the vital mission of the
humanitarian organization highlighting
the efforts of the Red Cross volunteers
around the nation. Ambassador Ourisman
spoke of the true international nature
of the affair, and in one of the
evening's highlights, the crowd stood as
one as Ambassador Ourisman honored the
servicemen and women in attendance while
also highlighting the Red Cross mission
of service to the armed forces.
Red Cross Regional Executive, Rob
Levine, said, "This year's ball was a
spectacular event, the leadership of
Ambassador Ourisman and the support of
her husband, Mandell, made the evening
both historic and very special for all
in attendance." Levine added, "It was a
wonderful night as leaders from around
the world celebrated the work of
thousands of American Red Cross
volunteers down the street, across the
country, and around the world."
For additional information, call
561-833-7711 or visit
www.pbtcredcross.org .
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds
and provides emotional support to
victims of disasters; teaches lifesaving
skills; provides international
humanitarian aid; and supports military
members and their families. The Red
Cross is a charitable organization not a
government agency and depends on
volunteers and the generosity of the
American public to perform its mission.
For more information, please visit
www.redcross-pbc.org .
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