Gala

 Here are some photos from the Sorensen Institute's 2008 Gala which was held on April 25 in Northern Virginia. The event was a great success, and we want to thank everyone who helped to make this memorable evening possible.

The Virginia General Assembly has honored the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership during this, the 15th anniversary of our founding. The Assembly passed a resolution praising the work of the Sorensen Institute and hailing it as the national model for bipartisan leadership training.

Delegates, alumni, and State Advisory Board members Jennifer McClellan and John Cosgrove presented a copy of the official resolution to State Board Chairman Barbara Fried (above) at our recent 2008 Gala.

We are proud that the resolution was co-patroned by every one of our sixteen alumni now serving in the Virginia General Assembly.

Click here to download an official copy of the resolution.

At the 2008 Gala we presented this video montage of Senator John Warner.

At the Sorensen Institute's 2008 Gala recently, we presented this slideshow in honor of Senator John Warner.

Enjoy!

We are proud to report that the Sorensen Institute's 2008 Gala in Northern Virginia this past Friday was a great success. We will have photos and video to share with you in coming days here in the Newsroom.

You can also check out some of the press coverage here and here.

And as soon as C-SPAN schedules its broadcast of the Sorensen Gala, we will put out the word.

We'd like to extend our sincere thanks to all the investors who support the work of the Sorensen Institute by sponsoring this year's Gala.

FLASH: We confirmed late this afternoon that C-SPAN cameras will be joining us at the Sorensen Institute's 2008 Gala in Northern Virginia tomorrow night (Friday evening, April 25). The entire program will be taped for national broadcast at a later time.

At this year's Gala we are thrilled to honor U.S. Senator John Warner, the Honorary Chairman of our State Advisory Board, for his service to the nation and Virginia. Speakers will include Governors Holton, Robb, Baliles, Kaine, and of course Senator Warner. Our State Advisory Board Chairman Barbara Fried will moderate the evening's program.

The guest list also includes Senator Jim Webb and Governors Wilder, Allen, Gilmore, and Warner—making this the largest gathering of Virginia governors in the state's history.

We will post here in the Newsroom select photos and video excerpts from the Gala in coming days.

And as soon as we know the C-SPAN broadcast date and time, we will let you know.

Cox Communications is now running this piece about the Sorensen Institute on its CNN Headline News channel through the Washington metro area. This segment includes an interview with Barbara Fried, Chairman of the State Advisory Board, and alumnus Sean Connaughton (PLP Fall 95), Director of the U.S. Maritime Agency.

From the pages of the Charlottesville Daily Progress this morning:

"Sorensen to Honor Sen. Warner"
The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership will honor U.S. Sen. John W. Warner, R-Alexandria, at its annual Spring Gala in April.

Warner, 80, has served in the Senate since 1978. He is retiring this year, at the end of his fifth term. Warner is the honorary chairman of the Sorensen Institute’s Board of Directors.

“Senator Warner has done wonderful things for the commonwealth and the nation,” said Coy Barefoot, the Sorensen Institute’s director of communications and alumni relations. “This is an opportunity for all of us to take a moment and honor him for his service.”

The gala will be held on April 25 at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City. The reception will start at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. Many notable political figures, including all living former Virginia governors, are expected to be in attendance. Tickets, ranging in price from $250 to $50,000, can be purchased at www.sorensengala.com.