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Dignity/Washington News
🌈  DignityUSA Conference 2025  |  July 4–6, Dublin, OH  |  Register Now!
December 26, 2012
by
DignityUSA
<h2><img alt=Dignity/Washington Logo src=/sites/default/files/ChapterLogos/WashingtonDC_0.jpg style=width: 180px; height: 121px; margin: 5px; float: right; />Dignity/Washington's 40th Anniversary Celebration</h2>
<p>By Tom Bower Dignity/Washington Board member and co-chairman with John Fegan of the event</p>
<p>Dignity/Washington celebrated its 40th Anniversary on the weekend of December 1-2 2012 culminating a year of community celebrations that attracted widespread interest and congratulations. The <em>Washington Blade</em> ran <a href=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/11/29/faith-of-our-fathers/ target=_blank>an extensive article</a> in its November 30 issue entitled “Faith of Our Fathers” discussing our chapter its history and DignityUSA’s long list of activities. <a href=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/11/29/faith-of-our-fathers/ target=_blank>The article</a> was written by staff writer Joey DiGuglielmo. </p>
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<p>On Saturday night December 1 a sold out gala dinner silent auction and entertainment for ninety members and guests was held in a private function room at Clyde's of Gallery Place. Members and local businesses donated works of art; weeks at a beach house at Rehoboth Delaware; restaurant and theater certificates; and tickets to MLB and NFL sporting events. Due to these generous donations the proceeds from this silent auction exceeded any of those previously held. Tim Gartshore one of Washington DC’s most respected stage performers winner of two Helen Hayes Awards for Best Actor and an eight-time nominee provided a pleasing balance of amusing and tender singing. Past DignityUSA president Mark Matson spoke inspiringly about the LGBT movement within the Catholic Church and the importance of Dignity both nationally and locally in creating progress. Dignity/Washington community awards were given out to deserving members and one award to a non-member Sr. Maureen Fiedler SL for her inspirational work on progressive issues and her current NPR show <em>Interfaith Voices</em> especially her series <a href=http://interfaithradio.org/Archive/2012-July target=_blank>Gay in the Eyes of God</a>.</p>
<p>Then at the 40th Anniversary Mass on December 1 the first day of Advent we were delighted to have a founding member of Dignity/Washington Sr. Jeannine Gramick SL as guest homilist. She concluded her fine remarks by reciting the lyrics to the song <em>I Am Who I Am</em> as a prayer. Never did Broadway sound so right. </p>
<p>For more photos of the event please check out Dignity/Washington’s Facebook page under Dignity/Washington 40th Anniversary Dinner.</p>
<h2>Dignity/Washington’s Annual Secret Santa Drive a Huge Success</h2>
<p>By Tom Hardy Dignity/Washington member and Drive co-chairman</p>
<p>The living room of Carl Spier and Tom Hardy’s home was filled to overflowing with presents from the 2012 Dignity/Washington Secret Santa Gift Drive. All of the presents were safely delivered on December 17 to the Maury Elementary School on Capitol Hill. The principal Caroline Albert-Garvey and her staff were delighted to receive so many gifts for their neediest children. Albert-Garvey and her assistants distributed the presents "secretly" to parents who later put them under the tree (or next to the mantle) for their kids on Christmas Eve. This was the thirteenth year of Dignity/Washington’s Secret Santa Gift Drive. “Coming as it does just a few days after the tragedy at Newtown” said Tom Hardy Drive co-chairman with his partner Carl Spier “Our delivery of Dignity/Washington's Secret Santa presents was especially poignant as we looked at the sweet faces of the youngsters in their classrooms and heard their laughter.” Well done Tom and Carl.</p>
<h2>“Help Us Avoid Suicide” Presentation Held at the Dignity/Washington Center</h2>
<p>By Henry Huot Dignity/Washington Board member</p>
<p>Guest speaker Keith Lisenbee clinical director of Dominion Hospital spoke for approximately forty-five minutes on November 17 on how to avoid suicide. His presentation was followed by a Q&A session from attendees at the Dignity Center. The Dignity/Washington community was responding to the suicide of two of its members in the past year and a half and seeking to educate itself about the warning signs of suicide as well as how to offer compassionate support.</p>
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