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THE STARS COME OUT FOR THE USO-METRO'S 2ND
STARS & STRIPES, DIAMONDS & CLUBS CASINO NIGHT
Football Legend Brig Owens & the Reigning Miss America 2005 Deidre Downs Host Casino Night Event
The Sheraton National Hotel Arlington Continues Contributing to Annual Casino Night
Arlington, VA -- The USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro) joined with the Sheraton National Hotel to present the 2nd "Stars & Stripes, Diamonds & Clubs" Casino Night on Saturday, November 5, 2005, at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, VA (300 South Orme Street, Arlington, VA). Renowned celebrity hosts, such as former Redskin football player Brig Owens, Miss America 2005 Deidre Downs and America's Tenor Daniel Rodriguez, greeted close to 300 guests who participated in poker, blackjack, roulette and other fun and exciting casino games. Additional celebrity hosts included World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Superstar Chris Nowinski; musical artist and former US soldier Keni Thomas; country music duo The Mamasitas; five-time Ultimate Fighting Championship World Champion Randy Couture; Ultimate Fighting Championship's Hall of Fame Legend and WWF Superstar Ken Shamrock; and the USO's very own Liberty Belles.
Celebrity hosts were hob-knobbing with guests throughout the night, autographing pictures and shaking hands alongside USO-Metro President Elaine Rogers, “Everyone had so much fun at Casino Night, while raising much needed funds for USO-Metro’s programs for the local military community. We can’t thank our supporters enough!”
The event raised $30,000 for the USO-Metro organization through ticket sales and live and silent auctions. The Sheraton National donated food and beverage at cost for the event, as well as room nights for many of the corporate attendees. The contribution encompassed the hotel's ballroom, food & beverage, staff services, and other particulars. The Sheraton National has been the major sponsor of the annual casino night since its inception in 2004. "We're glad to continue our participation with this wonderful USO-Metro Casino Night event," said Paul Giovanini, General Manager of the Sheraton National Hotel Arlington. "It's high on the list of our hotel's priorities to contribute to worthwhile charities and to the local community. The USO-Metro covers both priorities and the Casino Night event has reached and gone beyond our expectations."
The live and silent auctions for the event encompassed a large variety of items that added to the success of the evening, such as a dinner with Dennis Miller at Lucky's Steak House in Santa Barbara, CA with a two-night stay in the Biltmore Hotel and airfare courtesy of U.S. Airways; a private performance by “America's Beloved Tenor” Daniel Rodriguez; master sculptor Lorenzo Ghiglieri's spectacular work-of-art - Flying Colors II, a sculpture capturing the unique grandeur and beauty of the American bald eagle; VIP tickets for four to the Daily Show with Jon Stewart in New York City; Shaquille O’Neal’s “Away Jersey” autographed basketball; and a tambourine autographed by Stevie Nicks. The Casino Night's big winner, Walter Reed patient Jason Pepper, received a three-night stay at the spectacular, brand-new Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel and round trip airfare, which he and his wife will use for a long-awaited honeymoon.
Special thanks goes to the sponsors of the USO-Metro's "Stars & Stripes, Diamonds & Clubs" Casino Night – RS Information Services, General Dynamics, SI International, ASD, Inc., Thales Communications, Rockwell Collins, AAI, U.S. Property Development Corporation, DSA, Lexis Nexis, Pitney Bowes, Oakwood Worldwide, Military Times Media Group, EDS, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, DRS Technologies, AT&T Government Solutions, Sun Microsystems, Lockheed Martin and Veritas Capital.
About the USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro)
The USO of Metropolitan Washington (USO-Metro) is a private, non-profit 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organization dedicated to "serving those who serve … and their families" from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland to Richmond, Virginia. On a daily basis, USO-Metro provides vital human services and programs free of charge to the military community to enhance their quality of life. For more information, visit www.USOmetrodc.org.
About the Sheraton National Hotel
The Sheraton National Hotel is conveniently located at the "Gateway to the Nation's Capitol," Washington, DC. The Hotel's 16 story hotel features 408 Standard and Club Level guestrooms including 17 suites, with many offering panoramic views of Washington, DC and Northern, VA. Our award-winning facilities offer over 25,000 square feet of newly renovated meeting space, including exhibit space featuring the latest technology in audiovisual equipment and services. Recognized as one of the Starwood's top hotels, the Sheraton National won MPI's (Meeting Professional International) Facility of the Year. For more information, visit www.sheratonnational.com.
