Ready, Willing & Working Makes Magic & Miracles!

NORTHWEST -- The ‘magic of opportunity’ and the ‘miracle of the human spirit’ were on full display yesterday evening, during Ready, Willing & Working signature winter fundraiser, ‘Magic & Miracles’, held inside the ballroom of The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C. hotel.

The fourth incarnation of the elegant gala event, the night serves a dual role in both honoring the non-profit’s most ardent champions, as well as raising funds in support of its overarching mission of empowering individuals through a residential, paid-work rehabilitation program.

By providing participants with supportive services that apply a more holistic approach, Ready, Willing & Working seeks to break the cycles of homelessness, welfare dependency, and criminal recidivism that sometimes afflict larger metropolitan areas.

In so doing, the organization has won the praise of numerous local city officials, many of whom are able to witness the benefits of the program firsthand on the streets that they walk everyday and, correspondingly, through the communities that they represent in office.

And a handful of such officials, including D.C. Councilmember at Large Michael Brown, Ward 6 D.C. Councilmember Tommy Wells, and D.C. Department of Human Services Director David Berns, were in attendance at Wednesday’s gala to show their support.

Guests began the evening with a cocktail reception inside the hotel’s lower-level foyer. While mingling with members of Ready, Willing & Working’s Board of Directors and Young Benefactors group, including organization President Patty Brosmer, Availor Philanthropy’s Katherine Kennedy, and ABB Technology Ventures’ Grant Allen, attendees were free to bid on a variety of silent auction items (a first for the gala) donated by various area businesses.

At 7:00 p.m., everyone was then ushered into the Ritz’s ballroom for dinner and the start of the official program. Highlights from the event included Master of Ceremonies Kojo Nnamdi’s introductory remarks and a special performance by Master Magician Aedryan Methyus.

However, the clear high point of this year’s Magic & Miracles celebration, was the special video tribute aired in support of Board member Nancy Squires, who was the night’s special honoree.

Since it was founded, Ready, Willing & Working has helped hundreds of ‘men in blue’ who were once homeless or incarcerated to secure paid employment and to renew relationships with their children and family members.

Magical, for sure. Miraculous? Perhaps not, given the necessary support framework…