More than 600 guests turned out for the 15th annual Best Buddies Ball at the home of Sargent and Eunice Kennedy Shriver Saturday night, where Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) presented Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) with the Spirit of Leadership Award for his commitment to people with disabilities.
Anthony Shriver founded Best Buddies in 1989. The organization pairs high school and college students with students who have developmental disabilities, and it has grown into more than 950 chapters with 50,000 volunteers on campuses in the U.S. and around the world.
During the evening, guests mingled with celebrities from Washington and Hollywood as they strolled through the large auction tent, sipping cocktails, bidding on their favorite silent auction items and stealing glances at Robert DeNiro, Grace Hightower and Penelope Ann Miller.
The more adventurous guests grabbed their two minutes of fame by trying to ride the mechanical bull, the main attraction of the event’s “Harvest of Friendship” theme. During dinner, guests bid on live auction items ranging from an African safari to a week on a private yacht.
Later, music by The Temptations lured people onto the dance floor with classic tunes while a crowd gathered to chat with Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell, one of Best Buddies International board members and a long time supporter.