Another Knock Out

Knock Out Abuse Against Women‘s (KOA) Annual Gala went with the “groovy 60′s” theme this year.  Several of my friends who have been long time supporters of the cause shared with me “most of the women usually do just cocktail or black-tie, not the theme”.  I do recall a few years ago there was an Argentine theme.  It’s a bit easier to do a cocktail dress with some South American flair then “60′s”.  The crowd was decked out in dresses of vibrant colors, lots of reds, oranges, golds.  I have an inkling of feeling that my friends just didn’t want me to do “groovy” for this gala.  However, the ladies in DC do know how to get creative and many boldly went where others may feel out of their comfort zone.  I learned there are several kinds of 60′s themed attire. There’s the groovy, man-look, the Mad Men-look, the movie star-look, the Twiggy/model-look, the disco queen-look, even the Jackie-O-look.  I’m sure there’s more. But the women at KOA had all the looks covered.

Each year, the event gets better, with the cacophony chatter of hundreds of women starting to quiet down faster during the speaking portion of the evening (during Robin Givens‘ address, you could have heard a pin drop).  There’s fewer embarrassing moments such as pseudo male strippers prancing around shirtless on stage, or Kathleen Turner slurring, cursing, and forgetting her what she was intending to say.

The vibrant and beautiful Gina Ferguson Adams, who holds the position of Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at FedEx Corporation, received a standing ovation and a surprise designer handbag delivered by non other than a FedEx delivery man in the middle of her thank you speech for being the Event Chair. This year’s Committee Chair was Ann Walker Marchant of the Walker Marchant Group, who, during her talk, spoke straight from the heart with no notes, which is pretty rare to see.  We are usually prone to watching speakers read directly from a teleprompter (and badly) or from sheets of paper.

Of course, this night isn’t all about the party, party, party, and AFTER party, all though, for some women it’s mostly about the AFTER party (like Cinderella, I booked out of there at midnight because I know what ensues).  This is about raising lots of money for the prevention of domestic violence and the education on this topic.  It’s about talking about an issue that no one really wants to hear about, is embarrassed to discuss, is in denial that’s it’s occurring. It’s a beautiful thing that because of organizations like KOA and Becky’s Fund we are able to say we have come a long way, baby from the days of the 60′s and the era of Mad Men when spousal abuse was a hush hush thing.

I do think it’s ironic that while Fight Night which is happening simultaneously across town at the Washington Hilton, is rousing up the men with their cigars, Scotch, boxing, the Redskin cheerleaders, and the scantily clad “hostesses”, we at Knock Out are cheering each other on in the fight against domestic abuse.  We are feeling empowered, proud, strong and confident.  Then the doors open for the After Party and the boys will be boys come trotting in the Ritz doors, down the stairs, in hopes of finding a few fun women to get down and dirty with on the dance floor.  Ahh. Tradition.

For more information on Knock Out Abuse and what you can do to help, please go to www.knockoutabuse.org

Here’s a great re-cap from Washingtonian.com with photos:

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/14062.html

And I’d like to say thank you to Cindy Jones, who once again graciously, hosted me at her table this year.