Global Child Nutrition Foundation's Annual Gala

The Mellon Auditorium

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) was the guest of honor Monday night at the Global Child Nutrition Foundation's (GCNF) annual gala dinner and awards ceremony, a sold-out evening in the Mellon Auditorium.

The GCNF is a non-profit international arm of the School Nutrition Association, an industry group dedicated to informing and supporting administrators of federal student meal programs.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced Lugar, the recipient of the 2011 Gene White Lifetime Achievement Award. Former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and American Beverage Association CEO Susan Neely co-presented Lugar with a unique trophy.

Also honored at the dinner were USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah, Mary Kate Harrison and Jill Conklin.

— Report and photographs by Christina Wilkie

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) addresses the crowd

Susan Neely, Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and Dan Glickman

GNCF's Director of the Year, Mary Kate Harrison

Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) accepts the Gene White Lifetime Achievement Award

Nancy Rice, president of the School Nutrition Association

Marshall Matz, Joel Jacob, and former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman

Jill Conklin, Individual Industry Member of the Year

Jean Bragg and Becky Swain, school nutrition advisers from Georgia

Lawrence Goodman with USAID's Dr. Rajiv Shah