Insight: Paintings & Pairings Gala

Thank You!

We can't thank you enough for all of your support of our 13th annual Paintings & Pairings Gala, held on October 4, 2024. We all enjoyed celebrating with paired hors d’oeuvres and wines, a delicious 3-course dinner, live and virtual auctions, networking, and a fantastic program highlighting dementia care in our community.

Over 450 guests joined us at the beautiful Westfields Marriott in Chantilly to celebrate the care, education, and support that Insight provides each year. We raised over $210,000 in support of our programs. We cannot thank you enough for your record-breaking support!

If you weren't able to attend (or just want to watch again!), hear more from a few of Insight's participants and family members about the 40 years of essential care Insight has provided for families in our community.

Support the Event

Event Highlights

Congressional Presentation

Anh Phan, representing the office of Congressman Connolly, presented a wonderful letter of support our 40th Anniversary during the event!
Event Program

Take a look at all the event details from the event program, including upcoming events at Insight, and more information from our fantastic sponsors!
Event Photos

Download Your Favorites!
Want to see more photos from the evening? Take a look at the event photos courtesy of Blue Lion Multimedia.

Excellence in Memory Care Award

Insight Memory Care Center's Excellence in Memory Care award recognizes programs and services that are models of excellence and positively impacting memory care in our community. This year’s finalists included:

Rebecca C. Harrison, LCSW, CDP
Dr. Jennifer Pauldurai
See Me at the Smithsonian

...and the winner is...

See Me at the Smithsonian

Congratulations to See Me at the Smithsonian! We sincerely thank you for your impact on memory care across our region! Research has shown that dementia-friendly museum programs like See Me can reduce isolation for both the individuals living with dementia and their care partners, as well as reduce caregiver burden. The See Me team has been trained in the best practices for working with people with dementia and their care partners. They meet people where they are, honor their lived experiences, and provide opportunities to create meaningful moments with loved ones.

Read more about this year's finalists and view our previous award winners. If you're interested in learning more, or have a nomination for the 2025 award, please contact Ben Werner at donate@insightmcc.org.

About the Event

Paintings & Pairings began in 2012 as a smaller gathering of Insight supporters who came together to enjoy the creative pursuits of our day center participants. Our art therapy program had just begun, and we saw the event as a wonderful way to highlight our participant’s talents. All of the paintings were for sale, along with a few tempting raffle item packages. And of course, what would an evening be without a little food or drink? We welcomed our guests with delicious hors d’oeuvres that were paired with chef recommended wine selections for an extra treat. And thus Paintings & Pairings was born, as we celebrated Insight through art and wine.

The event has grown each year, from 100 attendees in 2012 to nearly 400 at our last in-person event in 2019. With the pandemic, the event went virtual in 2020 and 2021, but still allowed for all the fun on our virtual event platform. We were fortunate to be able to gather again in-person in 2022, and welcomed nearly 400 again to celebrate in 2023! Over the years we've remained true to our roots with original elements of the event. Paintings include participant artwork, along with the works of local artists who are connected to our center and our cause. We have also expanded the raffle into a full silent and live auction, providing even more fun – and friendly competition! – during the event.

What hasn't changed each year is that all the proceeds from the event ensure families and our community are getting the support and care they need when faced with a dementia diagnosis. Thank you to so many that have celebrated with us from the beginning, those that have celebrated virtually, and of course those who attend Paintings & Pairings for the first time this year!