Fight Night Punches $2.2M Into Charity Coffers; Knock-Out Gala Raises $600k For Domestic Violence Victims

Be sure to check out all 37 of our photographs from the KNOCK OUT gala HERE!

NORTHWEST -- An annual culmination of power in Washington and one of the city’s largest philanthropic nights of the year, last week’s Fight Night and Knock-Out Abuse Against Women Gala struck much-needed blows for charity, with $2.2 million and $600,000 respectively raised.

Jack Quinn and Bret Baier. Baier announced a personal donation of $5,000 to Fight For Children.

Fight Night Honorary Chairman Joseph E. Robert, III (center).
As in prior years, both black-tie affairs returned to their homes at the Washington Hilton and The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC on Thursday, with the latter also serving as the setting for the joint after party, which lasted well into the morning.

Winston Lord and Chris Tavlarides. Tavlarides executive produced "The Good Son", a documentary about Fight Night Hall of Fame inductee Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini.

23rd ANNUAL FIGHT NIGHT

This year’s charity boxing match exceeded last year’s total by raising $2.2 million, including during its unparalleled live auction, for which donations doubled over 2011. Benefit organization, Fight For Children, was founded in 1990 as a way to marshal resources to help low-income kids in the nation's capital secure a brighter future.

D.C.’s politicians turned-out in force for the event, including Mayors Vincent Gray, Adrian Fenty, and Anthony Williams.

The biggest live auction item, a Washington Nationals baseball and motorcycle package featuring a one-of-a-kind autographed Chopper, sold for $100,000, an event record. In addition, the 50/50 raffle raised a total of $13,400 after the raffle winner donated his half back.

MC Hammer performed a variety of his hit ‘90s-era songs.
Fight Night Honorary Chairman Joseph E. Robert, III -- son of Fight For Children’s founder, the late Joseph E. Robert Jr. -- joined 2012 Chairman Raul Fernandez and Co-Chairmen Chuck Kuhn and Fred Schaufeld in the ring to honor legendary lightweight boxer, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, with the Fight Night Hall of Fame belt.

The Redskins Cheerleaders.

Joining Mancini on stage were the “Legends of Boxing,” which included Sugar Ray Leonard, Buster Douglas, Aaron Pryor, Gerry Cooney, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, and the “voice of boxing,” announcer Michael Buffer.

Notably, the money raised last week comes in addition to a $1.6 million gift led by Fernandez, Kuhn, Schaufeld, and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, that was announced just a few weeks back in support of Fight for Children’s new “Joe’s Champs” program.

Designed to ensure children in the District’s highest need neighborhoods are taught by highly-effective early childhood teachers, the new initiative is an integral part of a broader $10 million investment Fight For Children is making in early childhood education in D.C., through its Ready to Learn program.

“My involvement with Fight Night and Fight For Children is the best way I know how to honor my friend, Joe Robert,” said Fernandez. “And I know he would be honored to see his amazing legacy of fundraising carried on.”

The torch will pass to Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank next year, as the sports performance apparel business titan assumes the role of Chairman for the 24th annual Fight Night in 2013.

19th ANNUAL KNOCK-OUT ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN GALA

Across town, many of Washington’s most prominent women joined forces on Thursday, in raising approximately $600,000 to aid women and children who are survivors of domestic violence through sold-out ticket sales, sponsorships (FedEx was a top tier sponsor this year), a raffle, and the always extraordinary silent and live auctions.

Unique live auction items this year included a special experience at Saks Fifth Avenue to create a custom pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes, as well as a Presidential inaugural package with a two-night stay at the Four Seasons hotel complete with Rolls-Royce car service.

This year’s Knock Out Abuse Against Women dinner gala boasted a sultry “Moulin Rouge” theme complete with feathered centerpieces, sequined black tablecloths, and masked male dancers.

Keynote speaker, former super model and actress, Carré Otis, was honored for her strength and inspiration as a women’s emotional and physical health advocate, while WUSA9 anchor Andrea Roane emceed the show.

Gala co-founders Cheryl Masri and Jill Sorensen joined evening co-chairs Charrisse Jackson-Jordan and Michelle Schoenfeld in helping plan the event, which has raised more than $8 million dollars to benefit local charities that support victims of domestic violence over the past 19 years.

Be sure to check out all 37 of our photographs from the KNOCK OUT gala HERE!