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French drawing room at Hillwood

Events

Enjoy enriching and educational programming year-round.

2025 Annual Gala

Celebrate the opening of the dazzling exhibition, From Exile to Avant-garde: The Life of Princess Natalie Paley. 

Join Executive Director Kate Markert, Honorary Co-Chair Mark Lowham, and 2025 Co-Chairs, Connie Briggs, Jacqueline Henry, Barry Dixon, and Will Thomas for a beautiful evening. The black-tie gala on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, will support of Hillwood's mission to share the cultural treasure that Marjorie Merriweather Post left for the public's enjoyment. 

Begin the evening with cocktails and be the first to tour the special exhibition From Exile to Avant-garde: The Life of Princess Natalie Paley at 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m., enjoy a starlit dinner on the magnificent Lunar Lawn.

Your support is vital to Hillwood's continuing work to educate and inspire the public through the legacy of Marjorie Merriweather Post's collections and gardens. Gifts will support the development of innovative new programming, educational opportunities, and special exhibitions.

Dress code is black tie. 

Valet will be provided. 

Thank you, sponsors!

$25,000

Ellen MacNeille Charles

$20,000

Barry Dixon and Will Thomas • The Gorham Family Charitable Fund • Bill and Donna Roberts • Mr. and Mrs. Ronald N. Slimp II • TTR Sotheby's International Realty

$15,000

Nathan and Connie Briggs • Yvonne B. Craver • Lucie Greer •H. Alexander and Jacqueline Henry • Renata and Spence Patterson 

$10,000

Joshua Hildreth and Richard Robinson • Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Mark Odom • Skip Sroka and John Kammeier

$5,000

Aon Huntington Block Insurance • Gloria Hidalgo • Kathie Legg and Rajib Chanda • Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott • Alison Cady Martin • Genevieve L. Murphy • Beth Newburger • Stanley and Leah Rumbough • Ms. Nedenia Rumbough and Mr. Jan Roosenburg

$3,000

Charlotte and Michael Buxton • Kenneth and Nina Gradia • Jo-Ann and Steven Grigoriou • Patrick and Sheila Proby Gross • Walter and Judith Jones • Amy and Marc Meadows • Debbie and Arthur Page • George and Patti White

$1,500

Amy Ballard • Janice H. Brambilla • Michele Hartlove and Dan Sherman • Eve A. Lilley • Lucy S. Rhame • Shelley Wasserman • Nan Shaver Whalen • Jonathan G. Willen

We hope you add your name to this esteemed list of event sponsors!

Sponsorship Opportunities:

$25,000 ($22,500 tax deductible)

  • One table of ten at the gala with preferred location
  • Opportunity to host an event for up to fifty guests at Hillwood with the Executive Director or Chief Curator
  • Opportunity for a private curator-led tour for up to twenty 
  • Logo placement on the invitation and website, as well as on the list of sponsors at the gala
  • Recognition in the press release
  • Recognition on Hillwood's Donor Wall
  • Recognition of sponsorship in remarks made at the gala

$20,000 ($17,500 tax deductible)

  • One table of ten at the gala with preferred location
  • Opportunity for a private curator-led tour for up to twenty 
  • Recognition on the invitation and website, as well as on the list of sponsors at the gala
  • Recognition in the press release
  • Recognition on Hillwood's Donor Wall
  • Recognition of sponsorship in remarks made at the gala

$15,000 ($12,500 tax deductible)

  • One table of ten at the gala with preferred location
  • Opportunity for a private curator-led tour for up to fifteen 
  • Recognition on the invitation and website, as well as on the list of sponsors at the gala
  • Recognition in the press release
  • Recognition on Hillwood's Donor Wall
  • Recognition of sponsorship in remarks made at the gala

$10,000 ($8,000 tax deductible)

  • Gala seating for eight
  • Opportunity for a private curator-led tour for up to ten
  • Recognition on the invitation and website, as well as on the list of sponsors at the gala
  • Recognition on Hillwood's Donor Wall
  • Recognition of sponsorship in remarks made at the gala

$5,000 ($4,000 tax deductible)

  • Gala seating for four
  • Opportunity for a private curator-led tour for up to eight 
  • Recognition on the invitation and website, as well as on the list of sponsors at the gala
  • Recognition on Hillwood's Donor Wall

$3,000 ($2,500 tax deductible)

  • Gala seating for two
  • Recognition on the invitation and website, as well as on the list of sponsors at the gala
  • Recognition on Hillwood's Donor Wall

$1,500 ($1,250 tax deductible)

  • Gala seating for one
  • Recognition on the invitation and website, as well as on the list of sponsors at the gala

Please note: Sponsorships that offer benefits to the donor cannot be funded, in whole or in part, through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) or foundation. Hillwood will accept a grant from a DAF only if the donor-advisor chooses to waive sponsorship benefits including event tickets. Incidental benefits such as donor acknowledgements are permitted. In line with DAF regulations, Hillwood cannot accept personal payments to cover the cost of event tickets associated with the sponsorship grant.

Individual Tickets are $750 each and will go on sale in mid-April. 

Co-Chairs

Connie Briggs • Jacqueline Henry • Barry Dixon • Will Thomas

Honorary Co-Chair

Mark Lowham

Committee

Mary Amons • Trevor Baker • Maribeth Burg • Charlotte Clay Buxton • Lauren Cummings • Ann Marie Cushing • Elaine DelCerro • Elizabeth Elser • Todd Gambill • Jo-Ann Grigoriou • Michela Gorham • Michele Hartlove • Kathryn Vigé Hicks • Kathie Legg • Valeri McIntyre • Elizabeth Odom • Renata Patterson • Jenny Saad • Mary Slimp • Amy Tessier • Alison Zink

For additional information, please contact Amy Hill, Special Events Manager, at 202.243.3974 or ahill@hillwoodmuseum.org.

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Jewels of the Ocean Gala, 2024

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Light Up the Night Gala, 2023

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Light Up the Night Gala, 2023

Specialty Cocktail by Design Cuisine

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Marshall Keys Quartet

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Blackberry Tart by Design Cuisine

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Step and repeat featuring Hillwood's logo

Roaring Twenties Gala, 2021

Photographer: Tony Powell