Last Night's Parties: Karina Smirnoff Attends The Lab School's 30th Anniversary Gala, & More!

[Katherine Schantz, Karina Smirnoff] [Michelle Bernard, Elijah Cummings] [Karina Smirnoff] Where: The National Musem Buidling

Who was there: Guests included Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Ed Markey, Sen. Amy Kobuchar, Chuck Hagel, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, MSNBC Contributor Michelle Bernard, Karina Smirnoff of Dancing With The Stars, Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Ford, Rep. Elijah Cummings, Vin Roberti of Roberti+White, LLC and owner of Charm Georgetown, Jaclyn Mason, and Muriel Bowswer.

Other Details: On Wednesday, November 12, The Lab School of Washington hosted its 30^th Anniversary Gala at The National Building Museum. The event honored five outstanding adults with learning differences who have made great achievements in their field. Honorees include Karina Smirnoff of Dancing With The Stars, Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Ford, Rep. Elijah Cummings, Vin Roberti of Roberti+White, LLC and owner of Charm Georgetown, Jaclyn Mason. For almost 50 years The Lab School of Washington has provided an educational experience for students who learn differently, either from having diagnosed issues like dyslexia, ADHD or other learning differences that made it challenging for them to learn in a traditional school setting. The annual gala and dinner dance, which raised close to $700,000 this year, raises critical funds to continue the mission of the school: to unlock each child's full potential.

Several honorees also toured the Lab School prior to attending the gala.  “In my opinion, we should have schools like Lab all over the country … this is the way schools should be!” said Karina Smirnoff.

[Lori Soto, Marty Cathcart, Ben Soto, Muriel Bowser] [Dannel Malloy] [Photography by Geoff Chesman]