The 11th annual "Spirit of Mount Vernon" fundraising reception and dinner, held last week at George Washington's historic Virginia home, once again featured two of the first president's favorite foods: cheese and ice cream. Blue Bell Creameries and several members of the National Cheese Institute donated delicious products for the event, which raised $240,000 for the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington and $100,000 for the Wounded Warrior Family Support Program.
The dinner, hosted by the Distilled Spirits Council, drew more than 650 guests to the historic mansion located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Industry leaders, ambassadors, government officials and members of the media attended the event, which was co-sponsored by IDFA, the American Bankers Association, the National Restaurant Association, the National Retail Federation and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.
The evening began with ample offerings of fine cheeses followed by an elegant dinner with butterscotch bread pudding and vanilla ice cream topped with apple brandy sauce for dessert.
IDFA thanks the following members for their generous donations:
- Agropur Cooperative
- Arthur Schuman, Inc.
- Blue Bell Creameries
- Davisco Foods International, Inc.
- Glanbia Foods Inc.
- MCT Dairies, Inc.
- Pacific Cheese Co., Inc.
- Saputo Cheese USA Inc.
- Sargento Foods Inc.
- Valio USA Finlandia Cheese Division
More information is available here.