Knock Out Abuse: Photo & Video Highlights

What started out 17 years ago as 20 women at a dinner party at Georgetown's Cafe Milano, is now a must-attend charity event that Thursday night filled the ballroom at the Ritz on 22nd Street NW with more than 750 of Washington, DC's most prominent, powerful and passionate women. 

KNOCK OUT ABUSE is all about raising funds and awareness to help end domestic violence faced by women in the National Capital Area. 

The annual gala and related activities has raised more than $7 million in 17 years by its founders, Jill Sorenson and Cheryl Davis Masri. 

Local newswoman Andrea Roane emceed the event.

Meanwhile, real-life domestic violence survivor and New York Times best-selling author Leslie Morgan Steiner shared her own shocking tale of abuse. The Harvard graduate (whose mother, father, grandmother and grandfather are also Harvard alum) said she thought because of her education and family background, "It would never happen to me." Her new book is titled, "Crazy Love."

The gala, in general, took on a an upbeat tone, as it celebrated the accomplishments of women who have strong enough to stand up, speak out and give a helping hand.  

Actress Agnes Nixon of "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" was honored for her work in bringing awareness of the issue to the small screen. 

Exquisite dinner from the chefs' of the Ritz Carlton

Wonderful ladies on hand to support the cause

Vanessa and Markette pictured with Erika from RHODC

Fabulous items at the silent auction

Iconic song and models  for Robert Palmer song "Addicted to Love"

Tune in to the DC on Heels entertainment segment on TBD TV at 4:30pm and 6:30pm Monday, Nov. 15 for a full reap of the event. Until then, here are some more  photo and video highlights: 

Andrea Roane talks DCOH glam cam

Erika talks to DCOH glam cam

"You don't even want to know how much
I paid for these!" --Kelly Lovallo 

DJ Sixth Sense of BET and WKYS 93.9 fame
spins with DC on Heels!

Markette with PR superwoman Aba Kwawu

Miss & Mrs --> K Street Kate (Miss DC 2006) with
Markette (Mrs. DC 2008)

Dessert!

Vanessa clearly having fun with fireman

But she wasn't the only one...

All in good fun of course. 

We wouldn't be DC ON HEELS without checking out the shoes! This was a room filled with beautiful women and beautiful shoes!

And remember, look out for more about this event in our weekly entertainment segment on TBD!

xoxo,

Markette

Let's Connect!

    

A Shoe Extravaganza for a Good Cause

Indulging in a shoe crush can be a very dangerous thing...

... especially when there's chocolate involved!

But thankfully, the recent shoe extravaganza attended by DC on Heels wasn't only about the Badgley Mischkas!

Check out those heels!

Amid a setting of gorgeous shoes, beautiful accessories and chocolate-covered Oreos, the party's hosts -- Siobhan Davenport, Executive Director of The Rocksprings Foundation and philanthropist Ione Jamison, along with online boutique owner Lesley Elliott of New York City's ShoeCrush.com -- committed to raising funds and awareness about a unique program that provides scholarships for underprivileged youth to explore the great outdoors through our national parks. 

From left to right: Ione Jamison, Siobhan Davenport and Lesley Elliott
with beneficiaries of the 'Youth to Parks' program. 

So women shopped with a cause, and a portion of every sale went to the National Park Trust's Youth to Parks Scholarship Program.    

And to sweeten the deal, the hosts invited three young men from the St. Ignatius Loyola Academy in Baltimore who have benefited from the program to speak on its behalf. 

This young man was happy to see
the ladies shop for a good cause!

All three young men gave impressive speeches, in which they acknowledged that if it wasn't for the Youth to Parks program, they may have never had the opportunity explore national forests -- excursions that broadened their horizons beyond Baltimore City. 

Grace Lee, Executive Director of National Park Trust

The organization's executive director, Grace Lee, says there is medical evidence to show that children who spend more time engaging with nature in outdoor activities do better socially and cognitively, than children who do not. 

And on that note, she encouraged the more than 75 ladies who had gathered at Davenport's home in the suburbs of Washington to shop, shop, shop for the cause...

Markette warming up to a pair
of exquisite Bettye Muller pumps. 

Ione takes a shopping break
to snap a pic with Markette. 

There was a shoe for every occasion!

All smiles with party attendees.

Dr. Ianessa Humbert snuggles up to Buddy Bison,
the mascot of the National Park Trust.

Charlie's Angels?
The kids of the 'Youth to Parks' program may think so!

Want to get involved in the philanthropic shoe action? Go here to make a contribution, then go to ShoeCrush.com and enter the promo code: SHOECRUS10 to receive 10 percent off your next purchase!

xoxo,

Markette

Click on icons to connect with us!