Ashley Taylor Bronczek & Mary Anne Huntsman Host Komen Gala Kick-Off Party

KALORAMA -- Pink balloons lined the steps to the Huntsman family’s distinguished Kalorama home on Thursday evening, as Ashley Taylor Bronczek and Mary Anne Huntsman co-hosted a kick-off party to next week’s 2012 Honoring the Promise Gala at the Kennedy Center.

Yesterday’s playfully pink affair served as one final push by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s D.C. young professionals subgroup to help bring the nonprofit past its $2 million fundraising goal.

To date, the organization has already raised just shy of $1.5 million, with the Komen’s younger supporters accounting for nearly $250,000 of this amount.

In attendance at Thursday’s cocktail reception were Komen founder and CEO Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker and Illionois Congressman Aaron Schock, among dozens of young professional committee members and supporters.

While celebratory remarks by both the Ambassador and Congressman were delivered, the underlying tone of the night was one of levity, relaxation, and cheerfulness, with all guests getting into the spirit of the occasion by donning pink ties, shirts, dresses, skirts, and, in the case of the two young co-hosts, wigs.

A $100 minimum charitable donation to Komen gave attendees access to the warmly decorated Huntsman home, including a delicious buffet and seemingly bottomless glasses of chilled water and wine – all in addition to a ticket to the gala itself on September 28th.

And the gourmands who turned out in support might have recognized the Federal-style residence as the backdrop for the 2010 season of Bravo’s popular “Top Chef” show.

A truly fun way for some of the city’s younger residents to help continue Honoring the Promise.