Johnny Holliday

Another successful Dream Foundation Gala

by Johnny Holliday

There's nothing like spending a Saturday evening at a fundraiser like the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation Gala! Even better is having it be on the same day your favorite baseball team wins a game.

Hats off to Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, chair of the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. Marla is the driving force behind the foundation, and what a show she put on Saturday night at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.

This year's event was their fifth and by far the biggest, in terms of attendance and money raised for the various foundation charities.

Rob Dibble and I had the pleasure of acting as co-emcees of the festivities. Bob Carpenter would have been there, as he always has been, had it not been for the graduation of his daughter from college. We had a ball!

Debbi Taylor and I also hosted what will be a half hour special on the gala, which will air on MASN later this month.

Among some of the fabulous items auctioned off was a Stephen Strasburg jersey - the same one the Nats first-round draft pick wore against the St. Louis Cardinals down in Viera on March 19. It went for $6,500.00!

Every Nats coach and player was on hand as well. Manager Jim Riggleman received a thunderous ovation from the fans, who earlier in the day had watched the ballclub get by the Florida Marlins 5-4. The atmosphere was electric, especially with the entire roster of players on hand.

There was a Nationals player seated at every table. What a treat that was for those at the event! From Zim to Nyjer, Levo to the Hammer, Pudge to Dunn, from top to bottom on this ballclub, you've got nothing but first class professionals who go out of their way to help those less fortunate in our great community.

I feel it all starts at the top of any successful organization. With the Washington Nationals it's the Lerner family, Stan Kasten, Mike Rizzo, Jim Riggleman, the coaches and the players. We've got something good going here in DC. And you know something, it's only going to get better