AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL 2025: Celebrating on the National Mall in the lead up to America’s 250th Anniversary in 2026
BALL for THE MALL became AMERICA'S BALL for THE MALL in honor of the Semiquincentennial, the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding, celebrating the 50 U.S States and Territories on the "Road to 250."
AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL welcomed a glittering crowd of nearly 600 partners and champions to celebrate and support America’s Front Yard. Against the backdrop of the soaring Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol, we came together on the National Mall to honor our nation's history and look ahead to the celebration of the U.S. Semiquincentennial—America's 250th anniversary in 2026. We share gratitude for all who joined us and generously supported our work with the National Park Service as Ball partners and sponsors.
The Trust for the National Mall officially launched Our Monumental Moment: The Campaign for the National Mall —Raising $250 million in honor of America’s 250th to restore, preserve and elevate the National Mall for 2026…and beyond. Get involved and support the campaign here!
AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL featured the Trust’s 2025 History, Heroes & Hope Awards and celebrated the National Mall’s history and purpose. Sign up for updates or contact events@nationalmall.org to learn how you can get involved in AMERICA’S 250th BALL for THE MALL coming on May 7th, 2026.
History, Heroes & Hope Awardees
Josh Harris
Managing Partner, Washington Commanders
Rosie Rios
Chair America250 U.S. Congressional Commission
Master of Ceremonies
CNN Anchor Pamela Brown
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown
Featured Speakers
Secretary Doug Burgum
U.S. Secretary of the Interior
David M. Rubenstein
Founder & Co-Chair, The Carlyle Group, Chairman and CEO, The Baltimore Orioles
AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL 2025 CO-CHAIRS
GEORGETTE “GIGI” DIXON
STACY KERR
CR WOOTERS
KATIE ZIRKELBACH
ROBBY ZIRKELBACH
AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL 2025 Host Committee
TIZZY BROWN
Miller Strategies, LLC
RACHEL CAGGIANO
Ogilvy
JOHN CHRISTMAS
HPS Investment Partners
ANTHONY COLEY
Corner Office Strategies
MARK & KRISTIN DAMATO
JOHN DREW
TCMA
KATHLEEN FORD
AARP
NICOLE & ERIC HOPLIN
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW)
BEN JENKINS
Locust Street Group LSG
KATHI & DAN KNISE
EPIC Insurance Brokers
CATHY MERRILL
Washingtonian
JARED OLDROYD
Clark Construction
ANNE PERRON
Temasek
ADAM & RACHEL WEISS
FIO360
JULIE EDDY ROKALA
Cassidy & Associates
JUDEE ANN WILLIAMS
CAA
Sign up here to receive news about AMERICA’S 250th BALL for THE MALL 2026
To learn more, email us at events@nationalmall.org
About AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL
The BALL showcases our History, Heroes & Hope Award, now in its eleventh year, which recognizes prominent individuals whose significant achievements represent the ideals and spirit behind the National Mall. The 2024 honorees were Dave Grohl, Mellon Foundation, and George C. Wolfe. Past honorees have included Sheila Johnson, Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad, Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie G. Bunch III, David M. Rubenstein and José Andrés.
Be a part of this monumental evening that welcomes an array of prominent philanthropists, business leaders, members of Congress, public officials and our generous partners and benefactors for an unforgettable night of celebration in support of the National Mall.
Our 2024 BALL featured speakers included the Honorable Deb Haaland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden, former Trust honoree David M. Rubenstein, Vice Chair, Trust Board of Directors and Founder and CEO of Salamander Collection Sheila Johnson, and Emcee Wolf Blitzer, CNN Journalist, Anchor of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL takes place on the National Mall against the extraordinary backdrop of the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol and the sprawling green lawn.
The BALL is the Trust’s signature annual fundraising gala that unites our key supporters to showcase the projects and programs we are delivering on with the National Park Service to restore, preserve and elevate this treasured American space. Our shared mission to ensure a vibrant and engaging National Mall for all takes on new meaning as we approach the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of American Independence in 2026, when the National Mall—America’s Civic Stage—will play center stage for this milestone commemoration.
BECOME A SPONSOR for AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL
Our marquee gala with sponsorship opportunities features a Chairman’s Reception (by invitation only), intimate awards presentation, seated dinner, dessert reception and jazz lounge. Join fellow guests, including Congressional leaders, featured speakers, award honorees, Trust Board of Directors and our generous philanthropic partners, for one unforgettable night.
Support the Trust’s mission and attend this exclusive event. Your gift will help steward the Trust’s work to restore, preserve and enrich America’s Front Yard. Depending on sponsorship level, partners can receive the following benefits and more, fully explained in the Sponsorship Packet:
Premier seating at the event
Invitation to the special Chairman's Reception
Recognition on invitation, website and social media prior to event
Recognition at the event through signage and program
Promotion in Trust partner media, earned media and social media
NEW: Become a Signature State Table Sponsor, your exclusive opportunity to join us for AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL with enhanced benefits, including special recognition, the opportunity to have a leading government policymaker or special guest join your table, and prime table locations for early sponsors.
For more information on AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL…
For questions about AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL, please email events@nationalmall.org.
For corporate partnership opportunities for AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL, please contact Tamra McCraw at tmccraw@nationalmall.org.
For individual sponsorship opportunities for AMERICA’S BALL for THE MALL, please contact Jan Jensen at jjensen@nationalmall.org.
Donations in lieu of attendance (table/seat benefits not provided) are welcomed. Donors will receive recognition commensurate with gift amount.
Donor Advised Funds: Please note that per IRS restrictions and guidelines, event tickets or sponsorships paid through Donor Advised Funds and/or private family foundations are not allowable.
A portion of each sponsorship or ticket purchase supports the vital work of the Trust for the National Mall. The estimated fair market value of goods and services provided is $500 per ticket, and the balance is considered tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
2025 Sponsors
Premier Sponsors
Signature State Table Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
David & Hallee Adelman
Bayer
Capital Group
Clark Construction
EagleBank
Hensel Phelps
Hilton
Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman
Korn Ferry
Linder Global Events
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
Ogilvy
Uber
Silver Sponsors
Akridge
Alpha Corporation
The Business Council
Business Roundtable
Capstone LLC
The Cigna Group
Consigli Construction
Deloitte
Destination DC
The Economic Club of Washington
Forbes Tate Partners
Greater Washington Board of Trade
Kathi & Dan Knise/EPIC Insurance Brokers
Lorton Stone, LLC
LSG
Ourisman Automotive of Virginia/Daniel Korengold & Martha Dippell
PCMA
Projection, Inc.
Ruppert Companies
TD Bank
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
VHC Health
Zirkelbach Strategies
BRONZE Sponsors
Sally & John E. “Chip” Akridge III
Will Caggiano
Dr. William J. Catacosinos & Ms. Juliana E. May
Pam & Tony Marquez
Anne Brady Perron & Jay Perron
Diane & Ned Powell
Ed & Martie Samek
MEDIA Sponsors
In-Kind Sponsor
Breakthru Beverage Group
Design Cuisine and DC Rental
Design Foundry
Effort, LLC
EventEQ
HP
Linder Global Events
MJ Valet
Tito's Handmade Vodka
History, heroes & hope awards 2025 HonoreeS
Josh Harris
Managing Partner, Washington Commanders
Founder 26North and Co-Founder Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
Josh is the Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders. He is an investor and business leader with over thirty years of experience. Over the course of his career, Josh has launched and scaled multiple platforms across sports, alternatives and philanthropy.
Josh is the Founder and Managing General Partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). In connection with the HBSE profile, Josh is the Managing Partner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils. Josh is also the Founder of 26North, a next-generation, multi-asset class alternatives platform with an initial focus on private equity, credit and insurance solutions.
Prior to founding 26North, Josh co-founded Apollo Global Management and spent over thirty years building the firm into a leading global alternatives investment manager. Across his platform – including through his foundation, Harris Philanthropies, Josh is committed to using a blend of philanthropic giving and impact investment to improve outcomes for underserved groups in communities where he has a deep connection. Josh and his wife, Marjorie, have five children and have been married for 29 years.
Rosie Rios
Chair, America250 U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission
43rd Treasurer of the United States
Rosie Rios is the Chair of America 250, the United States Congressional Commission planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. She served as the 43rd Treasurer of the United States and was the CEO of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the U.S. Mint, including Fort Knox with oversight over 4,000 employees and a $5 billion budget. She also initiated and led the efforts to place a portrait of a woman on U.S. currency for the first time in over a century. Following her eight-year tenure, she was appointed as a Visiting Scholar at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University with a focus on Millennials and Post-Millennials and resumed her role as CEO of Red River Associates, an investment management consulting firm and a co-host of several reality series focused on pre-IPO investments. Rosie served twice on the Treasury/Federal Reserve Transition Teams on behalf of President Barack Obama at the height of the financial crisis in 2008 and again during the pandemic economy of 2020 on behalf of President Biden.
AMERICA’S BALL FOR THE MALL 2025 FEATURED SPEAKERS
Pamela Brown
MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR AMERCA’S BALL for THE MALL 2025, CNN Anchor, Co-Anchor of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown
Pamela Brown is a multi award-winning CNN anchor and chief investigative correspondent, currently co-anchoring The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown, every weekday from 10am - noon Eastern. As CNN's chief investigative correspondent, Brown has earned numerous awards, including the prestigious Edward R. Murrow award, the National Headliner award, and an award from the Center for Integrity in News Reporting for impartial, objective, and fair news reporting. Born and raised in Kentucky, she brings both regional perspective and national journalistic excellence to her role as Master of Ceremonies.
Secretary Doug Burgum
U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Doug Burgum is the 55th Secretary the U.S. Department of the Interior. Raised in Arthur, North Dakota, Burgum worked as a chimney sweep to help pay his way through North Dakota State University before earning an MBA from Stanford University. In 1983, Doug literally “bet the farm” to provide seed capital for a software startup called Great Plains. Doug led Great Plains through a successful IPO and grew the company to over 2,000 employees before its acquisition by Microsoft. Burgum remained with Microsoft for six years as the Senior Vice President of Business Solutions. Doug later co-founded Arthur Ventures and served as chairman for international software companies including Atlassian, SuccessFactors, and as a board member for Avalara. In 2016, Burgum was elected to serve as North Dakota’s 33rd Governor.
David M. Rubenstein
Co-Founder and Co-Chair, The Carlyle Group, Chairman and CEO, Baltimore Orioles
David M. Rubenstein is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group. He is a 1970 graduate of Duke University and a 1973 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School. Mr. Rubenstein is a Baltimore native and is the Chairman, CEO, and principal owner of Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles. Mr. Rubenstein is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Chairman of many educational and nonprofit boards. He is an original signer of The Giving Pledge and the host of The David Rubenstein Show, Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein, and Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein.
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PAST BALL FOR THE MALL AND HISTORY, HEROES & HOPE AWARD HIGHLIGHTS
ABOUT THE HISTORY, HEROES & HOPE AWARD
The Trust for the National Mall created the History, Heroes & Hope Award in 2014 to honor the spirit and ideals that the National Mall represents for our country. The Award has recognized dedicated public servants, long-time volunteers, and patriotic donors.
The History, Heroes & Hope Award has traditionally been presented during the Trust’s annual BALL for THE MALL spring fundraising gala, with an audience of prominent business leaders, philanthropists, members of Congress and public officials.
Previous recipients of the History, Heroes & Hope Award have included:
2024: Mellon Foundation, accepted by President Elizabeth Alexander, Dave Grohl, 19-time Grammy-winning Musician, Author, Director, George C Wolfe, 3-time Tony-winning playwright, Director, Rustin film
2023: Sheila Johnson, Founder and CEO of Salamander Collection, and Her Excellency Emily Haber, German Ambassador to the United States
2022: Jon Batiste & Suleika Jaouad, Award-Winning Artists & Activists, and Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President and Chief Executive Officer of WETA-TV
2021: Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian, and José Andrés, Chef/Owner of ThinkFoodGroup and Founder of World Central Kitchen
2020: The Honorable Lamar Alexander, Senator (R-TN)
2019: The Honorable Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and the late Congressman John Dingell (D-MI)
2018: Donald Adam and Annemarie Emmet, Volunteers-in-Parks Program Volunteers
2017: David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, The Carlyle Group
2016: Jonathan Jarvis, Former Director of the National Park Service
2015: John E. “Chip” Akridge III, Founder and Chairman of the Board, Trust for the National Mall
For more details on previous History, Heroes & Hope Awardees, click here.