Mount Vernon Ladies' Association Regent Sarah Miller Coulson and Vice Regent Ann Cady Scott toasted the event.

Twenty Times the Spirit

The Spirit of Mount Vernon raises record funds on its milestone anniversary

The annual Spirit of Mount Vernon marked a celebratory and uplifting night on the estate. It was the 20th anniversary of its support of Mount Vernon’s mission of education, historic preservation, and promoting the legacy of George Washington. The evening highlighted the history of the event and honored the leadership and support that enabled it to become Mount Vernon’s largest fundraiser. In this milestone year, a record $940,000 was raised.

Attending were guests from the corporate, association, and government communities of the Washington, D.C., area, including members and key staff from Capitol Hill and the Biden administration.

The Ford Motor Company was once again presenting sponsor of the evening and also served as a platinum sponsor, along with Intuit and Ann and John Bookout.

The 2021 co-chair leadership included Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association; Andrew Lundquist, senior vice president of government affairs of ConocoPhillips; Shannon McGahn, chief advocacy officer of the National Association of Realtors; Gareth Moore, CEO and president of the Virginia Distillery Company; and David Whitestone, partner at Holland and Knight. Along with the event’s patron sponsors, co-sponsors, and gold sponsors, a special anniversary-year sponsor level included the generosity of several sponsors, including Fox Corporation, International Dairy Foods Association, National Association of Realtors, National Retail Federation, and the Virginia Distillery Company.

Senator Roy Blunt was the guest speaker. Guests enjoyed a sunset reception on the east lawn, with remarks from Mount Vernon’s Regent, Sarah Coulson, and president and CEO, Doug Bradburn. The evening also included a patriotic moment with fireworks over the Potomac River, dinner, and a live auction. “The Commandant’s Own,” the United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, was a highlight of the ceremony on the piazza.

During the evening, the estate recognized Peter Cressy, Ed.D., RADM (Ret.), Mount Vernon’s director of executive leadership programs and the visionary behind the first Spirit of Mount Vernon event. At the time, Cressy served as the president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. With his leadership and the support of the spirits industry and the Washington, D.C., association community, the inaugural event was held, notably, in the aftermath of one of the most challenging times in the nation’s history, just days after 9/11. The 20th anniversary event reflected on the country’s current challenges and its perseverance. Several Mount Vernon Board members sponsored the event in honor of Cressy’s service and were in attendance, including Sarah Coulson, Regent; Mary Lang Bishop, Vice Regent for Oregon; Ann Bookout, Vice Regent for Texas and former Regent; Helen Laughery, Vice Regent for Wyoming; Margaret Hartman Nichols, Vice Regent for Maine; Ann Cady Scott, Vice Regent for Missouri; Jean Sherrill, Vice Regent for North Carolina; and Catherine Waddell, Vice Regent for Illinois. Anne Neal Petri, Vice Regent for Wisconsin and Hilary Carter West, Vice Regent for the District of Columbia were also in attendance.

Recognized for their service were the past co-chairs of the Spirit of Mount Vernon, including Matt Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation; Tom Kuhn, president and CEO of Edison Electric Institute; Susan Neely, president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers; Mitch Bainwol, chief advocacy officer of Ford Motor Company; Steve Anderson, president and CEO of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores; the late John Graham, former president and CEO of the American Society of Association Executives; Tara Foscato, senior vice president of the PNC Financial Services Group; Michelle Korsmo, president and CEO of the Wine and Spirits Association; Mike Sommers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute; Brett Loper, executive vice president of American Express; Daniel Eubanks, senior manager of Intuit; and Dawn Sweeny, former CEO and president of the National Restaurant Association

Thanks to the support and commitment of the various communities, the Spirit of Mount Vernon has become one of the most popular evenings on the Washington, D.C., social and charitable calendar. 

Clockwise from top left:
Current and past event co-chair leadership was recognized on the piazza (from left to right): President Douglas Bradburn, Mike Sommers, Steve Anderson, Tom Kuhn, Shannon McGahn, Andrew Lundquist, Michael Dykes, Gareth Moore, Michelle Mason, and Daniel Eubanks.

Dr. Peter Cressy and Sarah Anne Cressy. Dr. Cressy was recognized for his leadership and commitment to Mount Vernon's mission during the evening.

Special guest speaker, Senator Roy Blunt, on the piazza.

The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps performed during evening fireworks.

Scott Melville, president and CEO of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association and incoming 2022 Spirit of Mount Vernon co-chair, during the live auction.

Gen. John Allen, Gen. John Kelly, Dr. Douglas Bradburn, and R. Scott Rettig.

Photos by Dan Chung.

The cocktail reception featured perfect weather and the unblemished view that the Washingtons once enjoyed.

Fall Fundraiser

The Life Guard Society raises a record amount toward restoring the Washington bedchamber

On September 25, the Life Guard Society held its fall fundraiser on Mount Vernon’s east lawn, overlooking the Potomac River. The event raised more than $300,000—a record amount for the group—toward restoring the Washington bedchamber. On display were rarely shown personal objects of the Washington family that would have been in the bedchamber at some point. The evening began with the release of a rehabilitated bald eagle, injured in Hurricane Ida, by Belinda Burwell of Wildlife Veterinary Care, an organization that provides free veterinary and rehabilitative care to wildlife.

During the dinner, the Daughters of the American Revolution and Mount Vernon honored past chairs Jim and Jo Carol Porter with a framed commemoration of their first visit to the estate. A video revealed to the crowd the inaugural winners of the Mount Vernon Prize for Civics and History in honor of Dr. Jennifer London. After remarks from Douglas Bradburn, Mount Vernon’s president and CEO, “General Washington” himself spoke to the guests on the importance of civic education. The evening concluded with fireworks over the Potomac.