WHAT:

Casino Night 2011 is expected to raise $100,000 to fight kidney disease in the Washington, DC area. A signature event of the National Kidney Foundation, Casino Night attracts a diverse group of guests from the business, medical and philanthropic communities. It is a black-tie optional event with a Mardi Gras Carnival theme featuring an evening of casino-style gaming including blackjack, roulette, craps, money wheel and Nintendo Wii Guitar Hero Tournament. There will also be premiere silent auction items, complimentary beer and wine, hourly spirit tastings, hors d’oeuvres and desserts as well as dance music.

WHO:

Honorary Chairs: LaVar Arrington, former Redskins player and host of "The LaVar Arrington Show" on 106.7 The Fan, and wife Trishia Arrington
Event Chair: Michael Ruggiero, Senior Director, Government Policy & External Affairs, Astellas Pharma US LLC
Host Committee Chair: Maureen Gleason Bryant, Business & Relationship Development, Orr Partners
Special Guests: DC Council Member Marion Barry, Ashley Elmore from ABC's The Bachelor, Anita Brikman from WUSA Channel 9

WHEN:

Saturday, February 26, 2011
8:00 p.m. – 12:00 midnight

WHERE:

Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

PRICE:

$100 - $175 per person

WHY:

The Washington, DC area leads the nation in the prevalence of kidney disease with an estimated 700,000 people affected, nearly 6,000 on dialysis, and more than 1,500 waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant. Casino Night raises funds to support medical research, patient and community services, professional education, and organ donation awareness. According to Honorary Chair, LaVar Arrington, "Kidney disease is an epidemic deeply affecting our hometown." Honorary Chair Trishia Arrington added, "We need to get the word out that kidney disease is treatable if detected in its early stages. People need to get tested if they have diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of kidney disease."