Join us for the Wendt Center’s 51st Annual Benefit on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Four Seasons in Georgetown.
Your gift will secure the Wendt Center’s high-quality grief and trauma services for the children, families, workplaces, and school communities who so desperately need them. We look forward to being with you for a truly inspiring evening.
This event will proudly feature:
Danielle Crittenden
Keynote Speaker
Danielle Crittenden is a journalist, author, and former host of the The Femsplainers Podcase and Substack, known for her incisive commentary on women and modern life. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and more. Her new memoir, Dispatches from Grief: A Mother’s Journey Through the Unthinkable, chronicles the sudden loss of her 32-year-old daughter, Miranda, in 2024, and the two interminable years of pain, love, and life since then. She is also the author of four previous books, including What Our Mothers Didn’t Tell Us: Why Happiness Eludes the Modern Woman, which was praised by Vanity Fair as the work of “one of the most important new thinkers about women and family.” Born in Toronto, she now lives in Washington, D.C., and Wellington, Ontario, with her husband, journalist David Frum.
David Gregory
Emcee
David Gregory’s career in journalism has spanned more than three decades taking him across the country and around the world. He spent more than twenty years with NBC News serving as Chief White House Correspondent during George W. Bush’s presidency and Moderator of Meet the Press. He also worked as a political analyst for CNN. Born and raised in Los Angeles, David started working as a reporter in local news at the age of 18 while a student at American University in Washington. He went on to cover the major news events of his time from the 9-11 attacks and their aftermath to the Trump presidency. A personal interest in recommitting to his Jewish faith as an adult through study and spiritual exploration resulted in David’s book entitled How’s Your Faith? in 2015.
We extend our deep gratitude for the dedication and efforts of our Benefit Co-Chairs and Committee Members:
Co-chairs: Carol Penskey, Lisa Schneiderman & Abby Schneiderman
Committee Members: Kathryn Handley, Betsy Wendt, Anne Howard, Nancy Palmer, & Faye McCray