Created 11 years ago as a fundraiser for the Greater Washington Sports Alliance Foundation,
SneakerBall returned to the District Tuesday evening boasting a new organizational structure.
While this year's event benefited the community fund managed by
Events DC (guaranteeing the District's official convention and sports authority a minimum of $50,000), proceeds from all future SneakerBalls will be earmarked to DC Special Olympics.
And although the charitable component of the night might have changed, the format of the playful celebration remained essentially the same, including a stellar lineup of annual honorees.
The 2014 SneakerBall recognized three outstanding local leaders, with billionaire entrepreneur
Sheila Johnson (co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and current Washington Mystics team president), former Washington Redskins linebacker
London Fletcher, and Olympic gold medalist
Katie Ledecky all being honored.
Guests to yesterday's fundraiser spent the night inside the cavernous interior of the
National Building Museum, complete with performances by the cheerleading squads of both the Redskins and the Washington Capitals, before moving the fun to Dupont Circle hotspot
The Huxley for an official afterparty.
Staying true to one of the Greater Washington Sports Alliance's founding goals of attracting marquee sporting events to the greater Washington region, SneakerBall XI also highlighted the efforts being made in bringing the 2024 Olympics to the area.
Washington-based
ESPN reporter
Britt McHenry and
Washington Wizards announcer
Steve Buckhantz served as the official masters of ceremony for Tuesday's benefit, perhaps only being upstaged by the various official team mascots roaming the room throughout.
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Be sure to check out all of our photographs from this event HERE!