EMBRACE. SUPPORT. PROTECT. IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
Support survivors of domestic violence.
In light of the global pandemic, the traditional 27th Annual Knock Out Abuse Gala Dinner that was scheduled to take place on November 12, 2020 has been cancelled. We are revamping our plan to address the need to support survivors as well as find ways to connect with our friends and donors. While we are no longer having our physical gala, we are continuing to support our beneficiary organizations and need your help more than ever!
COVID-19 is having a devastating effect on women and children in abusive households. Due to shelter-in-place orders across our nation, women and children are living in isolation and fear causing many to experience the most challenging time ever. Abusive partners are using COVID-19 to “further isolate, coerce or increase fear in the relationship” according the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The safety net for victims of violence has always been thin. Now, it’s straining to the breaking point.
Coming together to support families in crisis is paramount. The time is now to embrace, support and protect women and children who are victims of domestic violence. We need you to STAND UP and be the solution!
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
$25,000
Wings
-
Opportunity to speak during “Knock Out Month”
-
Prominent logo recognition on KOA website, social media and electronic sponsor reel
-
"KOA Spotlight” on social media feed & story
$15,000
Angel
-
Formal recognition during “Knock Out Month”
-
Prominent logo recognition on KOA Website, social media and electronic sponsor reel
-
“KOA Spotlight” of social media story
$10,000
Safe Space
-
Name listing on KOA Website, social media and electronic sponsor reel
-
“Safe Space Thank You” on social media story
KNOCK OUT ABUSE IS A 501(c)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION: IRS-ID #54-1907723.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.
Proceeds go directly to beneficiary organizations that offer one-on-one counseling, long and short-term housing, legal assistance, financial education, employment skills training and job placements.
GIVE A VIRTUAL EMBRACE
$25-$10,000
KNOCK OUT ABUSE IS A 501(c)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION: IRS-ID #54-1907723.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.
Proceeds go directly to beneficiary organizations that offer one-on-one counseling, long and short-term housing, legal assistance, financial education, employment skills training and job placements.
MEET THE CHAIRS
$100
PROVIDE PRE-PAID CELL PHONE FOR SURVIVOR
$50
TWO WEEK SUPPLY OF DIAPERS AND TOILETRIES
$25
PROVIDE MEAL FOR ONE FAMILY
$1000
PROVIDE EMERGENCY SAFE SPACE LODGING FOR ONE WEEK
$500
PROVIDE TABLET/ LAPTOP FOR AT HOME LEARNING
$250
GROCERIES FOR ONE WEEK
GRACE BENDER
Grace Bender, a native Washingtonian, has more than thirty years experience in public relations, government relations, management, and community volunteer work.
Mrs. Bender has been active in many non-profit organizations both as a board member and as a committee member. Her work has included program development, fundraising, financial management, creating special events, as well as chairing galas and balls. The organizations range from inner-city nonprofits to major cultural institutions. Mrs. Bender was instrumental in creating a foundation that serves the metropolitan area.
In the business world, Mrs. Bender was vice president of a consulting firm that represented companies seeking new business in emerging markets. Her previous experience also included working as a government relations consultant to a law firm representing corporate and institutional clients on legislative issues. Prior to joining the law firm, she worked with a government relations consulting firm. She has also worked as director of public relations for a hotel. In these positions, she was involved in all aspects of public relations and advertising.
Early in her career, Mrs. Bender was the vice president of a leasing corporation, where her responsibilities included leasing equipment and vehicles. Prior to assuming this position, she was vice president of a car rental agency, a subsidiary of the leasing corporation. Responsibilities included the reorganization of this company.
Over the years Mrs. Bender has also worked on numerous national and local political campaigns in various capacities.
MARLENE MALEK
Marlene Malek is a community activist, health care advocate and a patron of the arts.
Ms. Malek is Vice Chairman of Friends of Cancer Research which is our country’s leading voice in advocating for policies and solutions that will get treatment to patients in the safest and quickest way possible. She serves on the Board of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, as well as the Duke University’s Cancer Institute in Durham, NC. Ms. Malek also served on the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Leadership Council. Ms. Malek received a President Appointment to the National Cancer Advisory Board which is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH). She served a six-year term.
Ms. Malek is Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Marymount University, and was awarded Marymount University’s Gold Medal for Community Leadership and the University’s Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award. Other community activities include the Board of Trustees for Vital Voices Global Partnership and Explore - Children’s Museum.
Ms. Malek was a Presidential Appointee to the Board of Trustees for the J.F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts from 2002-2008, and now serves on their International Committee. Additionally, she serves on Boards of Trustees for the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Ford’s Theater Society in Washington, DC, and Vital Voices Global Partnership.
Supports Republican Governors and is a member of the Executive Roundtable of the Republican Governors Association and she also serves on the Board of the Vice President Residence Foundation.
The Washingtonian Magazine named Ms. Malek, a “Washingtonian of the Year” for her work in building support for cancer research. For 33 years, the Washingtonian has honored people who make this region a better place.
Ms. Malek graduated from Marymount University School of Nursing, resides in McLean, VA and has two grown children and five grandchildren.
2020 SPONSORS
2019 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Gina Adams · Amy Baier · Liliana Baldassari · Hillary Baltimore · Sandra Barros · Mary Barth · Lisa Bartholomei
Nina Feliciano Bender · Megan Beyer · Kathleen Biden · Traci Otey Blunt · Sharon Bradley · Stacy Burka
Antionette Cook Bush · Susan Cannaday · Carolyn Casey · Marcy Cohen · Nora Connors · Donna Cooper
Karina Corell · Patti Cumming · Michelle Curtis · Lisa Davis · Karen Donatelli · Gunilla Ekberg · Samia Farouki
Amra Fazlic · Norah Clair Gourlay · Denise Grant · Jocelyn Greenan · Ginny Grenham · Alana Hadid
Marielle Hadid · Barbara Harrison · Debbi Jarvis · Kathryn Minor Jones · Kay Kendall · Roya Kingdon
Susanne Larsen · Kelli Lawson · Liz Levin · Tanya Lombard · Stacey Lubar · Emily Madan · Rebecca Magnusun
Ladan Manteghi · Barbara Martin · Victoria Michael · Erica Moorhead · Sarah Guinan Nixan · Lynne O’Brien
Michele Petersen · Kenya Pierce · Olwen Pongrace · Linda Potter · Allison Priebe · Christine Rales · Norma Ramsey
Kathryn Rand · Andrea Roane · Linda Roth · Jayne Sandman · Mary Margaret Scharf · Karen Schaufeld
Michelle Schoenfeld · Dina Matar Senouf · Marie Sylla-Dixon · Mori Taheipour · Maria Trabocchi · Mariella Trager
Anna Trone · Cynthia Steele Vance · Neva Vogel · Mary Frances Wain · Humaira Wakili · Rondi K. Walker
Susan Weiner · Robyn Wells · Sheryl Watkins Wilbon · Amal Zaari
2019 GALA CHAIR COMMITTEE
Abiye Abebe · Bela Aggarwal · Ashley Arias · Courtney Armour · Brandy Nannini Axdahl · Vinoda Basnayake
Sherrie Beckstead · Grace Bender · Tracy Bernstein · John Burns · Zarah Burnstein · Mary Butler
Sela & Art Collins · Francesca Craig · Elissa & Tom Davidson · Lynda Erkelitian · Jean-Marie Fernandez · Nesrin Fraga
Omar Franco · Juleanna Glover · Indira Gumorova · Ashley Gunn · Natalie Jones Hallahan · Mona Hamdy · Erik Huey
Charrisse Jackson-Jordan · Maura Jeffords · April Jones · Cindy Jones · Robert Koch · Melissa Kuipers
Dr. Arlene Lamba · Kim Luk · Sylvester Lukis · Kristen Lund · Ann Walker Marchant · Erika Martin
Beth & Zeid Masri · Dorothy & Terry McAuliffe · Gloria Nauden · Sara & Peter O'Keefe · Sarah Omolewu
John Porter · Susanna Quinn · Teresa Foss Del Rosso · Sheikha Rima al-Sabah · William Rubin · Matt Stanton
Chris Swonger · Siobhan Thomas · André Wells · Trish Yan · Eun Yang
PAST SPONSORS
HOPE DIAMOND
Pernod Ricard USA · David Rubenstein
DIAMOND
AT&T- The Humanity of Connection · EJF Philanthropies · EverFi
Fight for Children · Norma & W. Russell Ramsey Foundation
The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC
RUBY
Bender Foundation, Inc. · Distilled Spirits Council of the United States/Responsibility.org Embassy of the State of Qatar · FedEx · Denise Grant & Frank Raines
International Game Technology PLC (IGT) · Northrop Grumman
RLJ Companies/RLJ Lodging Trust · Rubin Turnbull & Associates – Bill Rubin · TAA PR
EMERALD
Grace Bender · The Boeing Company · BrandLinkDC · Scott & Patrice Brickman Family Foundation · Children's National · Clark Construction Group, LLC · Marcy & Neil Cohen
Constellation Brands · Corcoran Partners · Elissa Davidson & Sara O'Keefe · DC09
Karen Donatelli & Anna Marie Parisi-Trone · Edrington · Ernst & Young LLP · Events DC
Kimberly Engel & Family - The Dennis and Judy Engel Charitable Foundation
Carl M. Freeman Foundation · JBG Smith · JP Morgan Chase & Co. · Alfred Liggins & Radio One
Ann Walker Marchant · The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation · Cheryl & Hani Masri
Dorothy & Governor Terry McAuliffe · Microsoft · NFL · Lynne & Greg O'Brien · PhRMA
Qatar-America Institute · Christine Rales · Rhythm Management Group Corporation
Karen Schaufeld · Susheria Restaurant- Nesrin Fraga · T-Mobile · United Parcel Service
Verizon · Janet & Bobby Waid · Washington Speakers Bureau
SAPPHIRE
Dr. Sanjeev & Mrs. Bela Aggarwal · Sandra Barros & Peter Lowy · Brown-Forman Corporation
Carolyn Casey & Scott Fassbach · Patricia & Marshall Coleman · Diageo North America
DC Elite Image- Teresa & Mark Del Rosso · Events by André Wells · Dr. Sachiko Kuno
Ellen & Adam Spiegel · TTR Sotheby's International Realty/ KVS Title
PEARL
Arent Fox LLP · Artemis Real Estate Partners · Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS)
Entertainment Software Association · Samia Farouki · KEA Technologies · Robert Koch
Beth & Zeid Masri · Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation
BEST FRIEND OF KNOCK OUT
Barnes & Thornburg, LLP · Lisa Barry & James Gale · Megan Beyer & Cynthia Steele Vance · Angela Bradley- BTI Security Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck · Natalie & Wes Bush · Mary Butler · Linda and Davis Camalier · Capari America
Nora Connors · Samia Farouki · Ashley Foxworth · Nicole Frances · Norah Clair Gourlay · Ginny Grenham
Gus & Marie Griffin · Anjali & Arun Gupta · Deborah Harmon · JOY Collective · Susanne Larsen · Stacey and Gregory Lubar
Kristen Lund · Mastercard · April McClain-Delaney · Stephanie Phillips · Naureen Rahman · Andrea Roane · Linda Roth - PR
Jim Ryan · Walker Plastic Surgery · Nancy Zirkin · Lisa Zuccari
FRIEND OF KNOCK OUT
Lee Ann Anderson · Loleta & Larry Bailey · Lisa Bartolomei · Rose Blackburne · Jay Blumenkopf · Sharon Bradley · Stacy Burka
Christine Chuke · Elaine Cole · Gregory Connors · Mary-Frances Daly · Kathy Damico · Margaret Davidson · Lia Dean · Mirim Dellsola
Kelly Dibble · Amra Fazlic · Chris Fraley · Katia Goffin · DeAnna Gravillis · Natalie Jones Hallahan · Valerie Jarrett · Andrea Kirstein
Lynne Lightfoote · Luxco · Emily Madan · Rebecca Magnuson · Ladan Manteghi · Barbara Martin · Mary McDavid
Alexina Montgomery · Carolyn Niles · Michelle Petersen · Susan Pfeuffer · Olwen Pongrace · Linda Potter & Tim Shriver
Jayne Sandman · Catherine Scavellov · Beth Singer · Karen Sonneborn · Mori Taheripour · Anna Van Meter · Claire Wagner
Mary Francis Wain · Humaira Wakili · Susan Weiner · Sheryl Wilbon · Emma Zingone