are always welcome
Lunch Around the World - in Washington
Diane Williams, David Bodoh, Lori Sears, Sarah Johnson and David Sigler hosted a very successful event ahead of Elton's recent concert at Nationals Park. Here is their report:
"The 4th Annual Lunch Around The World in the Washington/Baltimore Area took place on Saturday, July 11, 2008 at the Banana Café Piano Bar, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC. Twelve people attended the festive, fun, and financially successful event, and many others who were unable to join us assisted with contributions of checks or silent auction items.
The LATW raised approximately $1,300 for the EJAF, with a few more pledged contributions still to come.
Attendees enjoyed three hours of Elton music; a silent auction featuring dozens of Elton collectibles; a generous buffet lunch and birthday cake; and a spirited game of Elton John Jeopardy. The Banana Café management, including manager, Grant, and wunder-bartender, Russ, provided wonderful service, great food, and friendly hospitality, and we are extremely grateful for their cooperation and support.
The hosts would like to thank the attendees as well as those who contributed financial support and/or auction items, all of which contributed to the cause. Thanks, of course, to our friend, Nancy Case, for her vision and enthusiastic support of new and continuing "Lunches Around The World!" And, as usual, the staff at eltonjohn.com provided invaluable support in publicizing and supporting this event!"
Many congratulations to the Washington team, and to everyone who took part in this fun event !
We have also recently heard from Patty Perrin in Mexico who told us that, despite the flu pandemic in Mexico City,she and her team have held a fund-raising Lunch Around the World, event just as they have for the past seven years. We are so grateful to Patty for the commitment she makes to help the EJAF every year, and hope to hear more about her event very soon.
Lunch Around the World is a method of fundraising for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, organised and run by Elton's fans worldwide. Back in 2002 Nancy Case conceived and hosted the first ever LATW event in West Palm Beach, Florida, raising $2305 for the EJAF. Over the years many of Elton's fans worldwide have followed Nancy's example, leading to LATW events across the USA in Birmingham, North Carolina, Kansas City, Indiana, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Racine, San Francisco, Staten Island, Washington DC, Boston, Manhattan, Atlanta, Minnesota, Westchester, St Petersburg and Sedona, and also in Great Britain, Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Russia, Israel and Australia. Many of these have now become annual events, and have grown over the years as more people become involved. Over the past seven years over $202,000 has been raised and given to the EJAF.
Events range hugely and have included cake sales, coffee mornings, boat trips, theatre trips, musical evenings, dinners, barbecues, online chats, online auctions and even an Elton John tribute concert. If you would like to arrange an LATW event in your area please contact The Editor for advice and information. We recommend that you start with something small and manageable and just have a lot of fun!
