KEEN's 10th Annual Dinner & Auction

Paul Wharton, Charisse Jordan, Tara Chantal Silver, Mehrnaz Naini and guest

The Embassy of France was filled to capacity on Friday night when KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) hosted its 10th Annual Dinner & Auction. KEEN, conceived of and founded 18 years ago by Elliott Portnoy, is an organization dedicated to helping children and teens with intellectual and physical disabilities experience the joy of fun, friendship and fitness.  This fall, KEEN athletes will be exercising at the White House as part of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.

Guests enjoyed cocktails and treats from local restaurants Oyamel, Bezu and Hudson Restaurant and Lounge while browsing silent auction items and bidding robustly in the live auction. Karen Friedner and Dalia Naamani-Goldman were recognized as the volunteers of the year and the distinguished service award was presented to Daryl Nickel.  The KEEN Fest Committee made sure it was a night to remember.

— Report by Mimi Reisner and photographs by Suzanne Mazer

KEENFest co-chairs Michelle Benaim and Lesley McNamara

Heather Guay, Tara Chantal Silver, Mehrnaz Naini, Amanda Polk and Stephanie Snyder

KEENFest Co-chairs Lesley McNamara and Michelle Benaim, Stan and Nina Snow and Andrea Montone Rinaldi

Silent auction items

Amy Bowser, Hilary Keeley, Andrea Montone Rinaldi, Nina Snow and Leigh Marcus

KEEN Founders Elliott and Estee Portnoy

Alexa Smith and Andrea Montone Rinaldi

Alexa and Larry Smith and Maggie O’Neill

Barbara Guterman, Mehrnaz Naini and Tara Chantal Silver

KEEN Greater DC President Burt Braverman, the KEEN Distinguished Service Award Winner Daryl Nickel and KEEN Founder Elliott Portnoy