The hot ticket this past weekend? The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 21st Annual Spring Gala, which on March 6 hosted about 900 guests who donned tuxedos and ball gowns to raise more than $1.6 million for cancer prevention and early detection.  

Several guests donned green in support of this year’s Irish theme, “Ireland: Legendary and Contemporary.” Irish step dancers from the Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance were the featured entertainment, and Irish Ambassador Anne Anderson gave the keynote address, pledging Ireland would become smoke-free by 2025.  

The Irish theme continued through dinner, which included whiskey-cured salmon, Irish sourdough biscuits, horseradish scones, and soda bread with Kerry Gold butter shamrocks. Dessert was a Guinness chocolate delice with butterscotch and malted barley ice cream.  

The gala also honored Sen. Michael D. Crapo, R-Idaho, with the 2015 Cancer Champion award. Crapo is a prostate cancer survivor.  

Not even last week’s late winter snowstorm prevented the ball from carrying on. Despite slushy and icy streets, the guests braved the elements. Rumor has it that the Guinness delice made the trip through the snow all the more worth it.  

The 114th: CQ Roll Call’s Guide to the New Congress


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