An Evening of Luv

THANK YOU! – We are thrilled with the success of our annual Luv u Project event, An Evening of Luv, which was held on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022 at Bethesda Country Club in Bethesda, MD. This year’s event honored award-winning comedian and friend of The Luv u Project, Lewis Black.  Event guests enjoyed an evening filled with great food and wine, special awards, entertainment by Jeff Stilson, and updates from The Luv u Project work.

For questions about the 2023 event, please contact Leah Bell at [email protected].

Available Sponsorship Opportunities:

Presenting Sponsor

$25,000 (tax-deductible:  $24,000)

• Company name/logo on pre-event promotional materials – including Save the Date, social media posts, invitations and all other materials
• Company logo and link to company website on The Luv u Project website
• Company recognition during event program
• One reserved table (10 tickets) – company name will be displayed on table
• 10 event ticket holders invited to private sponsor and patron reception, which includes passed hors d’oeuvres, wine bar and meet & greet with Lewis Black
• Opportunity for The Luv u Project representative to speak at company hosted event

Reception Sponsor

$10,000 (tax-deductible:  $9,000)

• Company logo on signage at event reception
• Company recognition during event program
• Company name on The Luv u Project website
• One reserved table (10 tickets) – company name will be displayed on table
• 10 event ticket holders invited to private sponsor and patron reception, which includes passed hors d’oeuvres, wine bar and meet & greet with Lewis Black

Table Sponsor

$3,000 (tax-deductible:  $2,000)

• One reserved table (10 tickets) – company/group name will be displayed on table
• 10 event ticket holders invited to private sponsor and patron reception, which includes passed hors d’oeuvres, wine bar and meet & greet with Lewis Black

Patron Ticket

$300 (tax-deductible:  $200)

• One event ticket
• Ticket holder is invited to private sponsor and patron reception, which includes passed hors d’oeuvres, wine bar and meet & greet with Lewis Black

General Event Ticket

$200 (tax-deductible:  $100)

• One event ticket

If you or your organization would be interested in sponsoring our annual event. Please contact [email protected] for more details.

Known as the King of Rant, LEWIS BLACK uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and animated finger-pointing to skewer anything and anyone that gets under his skin. His comedic brilliance lies in his ability to make people laugh at the absurdities of life, with topics that include current events, social media, politics and anything else that exposes the hypocrisy and madness he sees in the world.

Receiving critical acclaim as a stand-up, actor and author, Black has performed for audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In 2012, he performed eight sell-out shows at Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. Since 2014 Lewis Black has done over 400 live streaming shows, called THE RANT IS DUE, at the end of each of his standup performances. Adding his own unique style, Lewis delivers audience-written Rants which have been submitted from the fans at his show and throughout the world.  These rants are now available on Lewis Black’s podcast, Rant Cast.

Born in Washington D.C. on Aug. 30, 1948, Black was raised in Silver Spring, Md. Colicky as a baby, he was destined to be angry and easily irritated. His mother, a teacher, and his father, a mechanical engineer, instilled the importance of education and the necessity to question authority—lessons that influenced Black throughout his life. He fell in love with the theatre at age 12, after seeing his first play, which led to pursuing a career in drama. Degrees followed from the University of North Carolina and Yale Drama School, with a stint in Colorado owning a theatre with a group of friends in the interim. During his tenure at UNC, Black ventured into stand-up, performing at Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill. Stand-up was a steady presence as he pursued his career in theatre.

Black eventually settled in New York City and became the playwright-in-residence at the West Bank Café’s Downstairs Theatre Bar. He oversaw the development of more than 1,000 plays, including works by “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin, “American Beauty” writer Alan Ball, as well as his own original works. In addition to overseeing the works on stage, Black emceed every show. As the West Bank grew, so did Black’s stand-up skills. He left the West Bank in the late 1980s to pursue stand-up full time.

In 1996, his friend Lizz Winstead tapped him to create a weekly segment for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” The segment, a three-minute rant about whatever was bothering him at the moment, evolved into Back in Black, becoming one of the most popular and longest-running segments on the show for both the Jon Stewart era, and now The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.  Black has also taped four specials for the “Comedy Central Presents” series, co-created “Last Laugh with Lewis Black” and presided over “Lewis Black’s The Root of All Evil.” His popular appearances on Comedy Central helped to win him Best Male Stand-Up at the American Comedy Awards in 2001.

Increased exposure from “The Daily Show” generated a record deal with Stand Up! Records. His first CD, “The White Album,” was released in 2000 to critical acclaim. Black followed with eleven more—six under the Comedy Central Records label. He has received six Grammy® nominations and two wins for his work. The first nomination came in 2006 for “Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center Blues,” the second in 2009 for “Anticipation.” In 2007 he won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album for “The Carnegie Hall Performance,” and again in 2011 for “Stark Raving Black.” His 2012 release, “In God We Rust” (Comedy Central Records) was also nominated for a Grammy.  This year he was again nominated  for a Grammy, for his comedy album “Thanks for Risking Your Life”.

Black has filmed two specials for HBO, including “Black On Broadway” and “Red, White and Screwed.” The latter was nominated for an Emmy® in 2007. He had a regular feature for two seasons on “Inside the NFL” (for which he earned a Sports Emmy) and in 2006, he was asked to participate in “Comic Relief.”

In 2009 Lewis filmed his first feature length concert film, “Stark Raving Black,” at the Fillmore Theatre in Detroit. The film had a limited run in theaters across the U.S. and Canada in the summer of 2010. At the end of the theater run, premium movie channel EpixHD picked up the film for its channel, along with the accompanying documentary, “Basic Black.” Both are aired regularly and can be found in the EpixHD on-demand queue. In 2011, he produced his second full-length concert, “In God We Rust,” which also airs on EpixHD. In August 2013, Black recorded his ninth stand-up special “Old Yeller: Live At The Borgata.” His newest special Thanks for Risking Your Life (premiered October 6, 2020) was his last live performance before the Covid lockdown.

In 2015, Black joined the cast of Madoff (ABC mini series). Black portrays Ezra Merkin, who, after investing with Madoff and receiving great returns, brought many famous and well-to-do Jewish clients, including Elie Weisel and The Hadassah Organization, to Bernie’s fold.

Black has appeared on “Larry King Live,” “Piers Morgan Tonight,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’ Brian” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Black has also had numerous appearances on CNN and MSNBC and has occasionally done the weather with Al Roker.

In the midst of a rigorous touring schedule, regular TV appearances and movie roles, Black has written three best-selling books: “Nothing’s Sacred” (Simon and Schuster, 2005), “Me of Little Faith” (Riverhead Books, 2008) and “I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas” (Riverhead Books, 2010). All garnered critical praise as well commercial success and spent numerous weeks on the New York Times best sellers list.

Black has penned more than 40 plays, many of which have been produced around the country. “The Deal,” a dark comedy about business, was made into a short film in 1998 and picked up by the Sundance Channel. In 2011, his play “One Slight Hitch” was produced at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and then again in 2012 at both the ACT Theatre in Seattle and The George Street Theatre in New Brunswick.

In 2006, Black had a break-out year as an actor, co-starring with Robin Williams in Barry Levinson’s “Man of the Year” (Universal Pictures). He also appeared as “the fake dean of a fake college” in Steve Pink’s “Accepted” (Universal Pictures) and as the harried airport manager in Paul Feig’s “Unaccompanied Minors” (Warner Bros.). He lent his voice to Jimmy in Bob Sagat’s parody “Farce of the Penguins” (Thinkfilm).

In 2015, Black notably voiced the character “Anger” in the Academy Award winning film from Pixar, “Inside Out.” The film is about an 11-year-old-girl, Riley, who is dealing with a move across the country, and wrestling with the emotions inside her head: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and, Lewis Black. Early film pitches actually named the comedian to illustrate how an iconic voice like Black’s could bring a character like Anger to life. Black, who’s a fan of all things Pixar, calls the opportunity a career-defining role. “I knew from the very beginning that this was going to be special,” he says. “I’ll be remembered as this little red guy who yells and his head goes on fire.”

As a long time mentor with the 52nd Street Project, Black was roasted in Charred Black 2007, which drew the largest fundraising numbers in the Project’s history. He’s a member of their advisory board, is co-chair of their capital campaign, and in 2000, the Ron Black Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in memory of his late brother. Black is also committed to raising funds for the Rusty Magee Clinic for Families and Health. He’s a strong supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Luv u Project and a variety of charities for Autism including NEXT for AUTISM.  He was honored by both The Brady Center for his commitment to ending gun violence in 2012 and by the ACLU of Georgia with their National Civil Liberties Award. At the Williamstown Theatre Festival, he established the William Foeller Fellowship, having taught and performed at the festival for more than a decade. Black also supports our military personnel and has performed in three USO Holiday tours with Admiral Mullen, Robin Williams, Kid Rock, Kathleen Madigan and a host of others.

Black resides in both Manhattan and Chapel Hill, N.C. Still loyal to his alma mater, he’s worked with UNC students to create the Carolina Comedy Festival, a yearly festival on the UNC campus that highlights performances and provides workshops and lectures for budding comics, writers and performers. With his involvement at UNC, Black continues a life-long commitment to education and the arts. He continues to tour heavily, playing countless dates each year and providing a cathartic release of anger and disillusionment for his audience.

In his leisure time, Black likes to play golf, even though golf hates him.

Thank you to all guests who are making arrangements to travel for Evening of Luv!  Please see the information below to help you best make your travel plans.

Hotel Accommodations:

Transportation from Hotel to Event:

A shuttle will be provided for guests staying at Canopy by Hilton in North Bethesda to the Bethesda Country Club for An Event of Luv on November 16th.  The shuttle will also bring guests back to the hotel at the conclusion of the event.

Nearby Airports:

Reagan National Airport (DCA) – 23 miles from hotel

Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) – 26 miles from hotel

Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) – 36 miles from hotel

An Evening of Luv 2022 Entertainment by:

Jeff Stilson

Jeff Stilson has been nominated for 14 Emmys and has won two. He also
directed the documentary “Good Hair,” which won the Special Jury Prize
at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and received a 2010 WGA screen
nomination for outstanding achievement in a documentary screenplay.
Stilson began his career in show business as a stand-up comedian after
graduating from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts
degree. Besides having his own comedy specials on HBO and Comedy
Central, Stilson, who is the descendent of Finish circus performers, has
made regular appearances on Letterman, Ferguson, Conan, and Leno, as
well as the Australian show “The Panel.” He was also featured as a
correspondent on Michael Moore’s “TV Nation.” He has received his 14
Emmy nominations for comedy writing and producing on “Late Show With
David Letterman,” “TV Nation,” “Politically Incorrect,” “The Chris Rock
Show,” “The Osbournes,” and “Da Ali G Show.” In 1999 and 2002 Stilson
was honored with Emmys for his work on “The Chris Rock Show” and
“The Osbournes.”

Get Ready to Bid on the Following Fabulous Live Auction Items!

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Experience

Here’s your passport to experience some of the world’s greatest bourbon!  This package includes airfare and hotel stay for two to beautiful Louisville, KY.  Enjoy an eight-hour excursion with sampling of iconic bourbons and distillery tours on what’s known as the “South Route” of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.  Your personal tour leader will share interesting history and knowledge as you sit back and enjoy the ride.  You will also enjoy a dinner hosted by The Luv u Project’s founder and president Rich Mattingly and a three-day Avis car rental.  Winner of this package will also receive the following rare, allocated bottles of bourbon: Blanton’s, Colonel E.H Taylor and Weller Special Reserve.  (Based on availability; blackout dates are the week of the Kentucky Derby and Bourbon Festival)

Experience includes:

• Round trip coach class airfare for two people
• 3-night stay in a standard guest room at the Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, or comparable in Louisville
• Stitzel-Weller Distillery exclusive before hours tour and tasting of Bullet Bourbon
• Maker’s Mark Distillery tour, tasting and bottles to dip in wax; plus, each of you will receive a bottle to hand dip in their iconic red wax and take home
• Lunch for two in Bardstown, listed as one of the 100 Best Small Towns in America
• Jim Beam Distillery tour and tasting
• Private custom experience in a luxury SUV with your personal tour leader; should you prefer to customize your day’s itinerary, the driver and vehicle are at your disposal for eight consecutive hours
• Southern inspired dinner with Rich Mattingly at a local restaurant
• Three-day Avis car rental
• Three bottles of rare, allocated bourbon including: Blanton’s, Colonel E.H Taylor and Weller Special Reserve

Donated by Helen Johnson, Rich Mattingly and Michelle Ashton

Beach Getaway in Beautiful Mexico

Enjoy a relaxing seven days and six nights on the beach in a four bedroom/four-bathroom beach front condo.  Punta Pelicanos condos are located in La Cruz De Huanacaxtle between Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita.  This oceanfront condo has direct access to Mexico’s beautiful beaches and the quaint little fishing village of La Cruz De Huanacaxtle. There are many great restaurants to enjoy in La Cruz and nearby Bucerias, and the condo is just 20 minutes from Puerto Vallarta. Take a five-minute walk down the beach to the Marina and fresh fish market. This condo is available to the winner in July, August and September of 2023. It can easily sleep up to eight adults, so bring the whole family for an incredible week on the beach!  (The package cannot be extended beyond 9/30/23)

Donated by Robin and Mary Beth Treadway

Wine Tasting in Napa Valley

Be inspired by the charm of Napa Wine Country in California for 3-4 nights at the Andaz Napa Valley, a charming boutique hotel in downtown Napa located within walking distance of the Napa Valley Wine Train.  While there enjoy the Napa Valley Wine Train Legacy Tour for two.  This six-hour journey includes: three-hour rail tour of Napa Valley, welcome taste of sparkling wine, a four-course wine country inspired meal, one hour vineyard tasting & photo opportunity at the Napa Valley Sign, and a one hour tasting at Charles Krug & V. Sattuai.  Also, includes an Avis Car Rental to get you around town and enjoy the many wineries and sites in Napa Valley.  Winner will receive a bottle of Axios Wine.  (Number of nights depends on room type choice; no expiration date)

Donated by Helen Johnson, Michelle Ashton and Josie Schaffer

Lewis Black Customized Experience

If you love Lewis Black, this is the experience for you!  Enjoy two tickets and two meet & greet passes to see Lewis Black in ONE of the following cities in 2023:

Salt Lake City, Utah – February 11 (Eccles Theater)

Baltimore, Maryland – April 2 (Hippodrome Theatre)

New Orleans, Louisiana – April 16 (Fillmore New Orleans)

Memphis, Tennessee – April 21 (Graceland Soundstage)

The winner of this package will also enjoy a two-night stay at a Marriott property and a three-day car rental in the city of the selected show.  This is a winner’s choice package!  The winner will also receive a case of Lewis Noir – Lewis’s own special blend wine!

Donated by Lewis Black, Benjamin Brewer, Michelle Ashton and Drew McCoy

Wine Lovers Instant Cellar

Wine lovers will be thrilled with this package donated by Gus Kalaris – Kalaris Family Vineyard, a luxury Napa Valley wine brand.  The Kalaris brand evolved from Gus’ love of the great wines of Burgundy and his passion for producing California wines reflective of the uniqueness and beauty of their terroir. The winner of this package will receive 3 Axios 2017, 3 Worthy 2017, 3 Kalaris Merlot 2014, 3 Kalaris Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, 2 Kalaris Pinot Noir 2014, 2 Kalaris Chardonnay 2018 and 2 Philotimo 2015.  Winner will also receive an Instant wine cellar including 18 wine temp-controlled unit.

Donated by Gus Kalaris