Annual Afghan Women's Benefit Dinner 2017

On Saturday evening, November 11, 2017, Kabultec held its 15th annual benefit dinner at the Elmer Timberman Masonic Lodge in Annandale, Virginia. Highlights of the evening were a tasty and beautifully presented Afghan buffet dinner and silent auction of Afghan handicrafts and art objects. Michael Albin, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Afghanistan during the 1960s who in January 2017 had revisited Kabul as a guest of Kabultec President, Nasrine Gross, gave an illustrated talk comparing then and now in Afghanistan (see his article about his trip in the Kabultec Blog). Nasrine Gross completed the evening by giving a report on Kabultec activities during the past year and her plans for the upcoming year. It being Veterans’ Day, LTC Steven Wasko, US Army (ret.) who had served in Afghanistan, served as master of ceremonies for the evening. As usual a good time was had by all and funds were raised for Kabultec.

At this year’s Benefit Dinner were two separate Dari-language film crews–Voice of America Dari and independent Afghan journalist Nazira Karimi–to document the event and Kabultec’s recent work in Afghanistan. Please see their videos below

Many thanks to Dave Borowski for taking wonderful photos of the event.

If you would like more information about upcoming benefit dinners, please email info@kabultec.org or telephone 703-536-6471. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit our donate page.

American and Afghan flags at the Kabultec Benefit Dinner 2017.

The 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner was held November 11, 2017.

Nasrine Gross at Kabultec's 2017 Benefit Dinner.

Nasrine Gross in-preparation for the event.

LTC Steven Wasko, US Army (ret.) serving as master of ceremonies for the evening.

LTC Steven Wasko, US Army (ret.) as master of ceremonies for the evening.

Mike Albin giving his talk at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Mike Albin speaking at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Raffle winner displays her prize kilim at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Our raffle winner displays her prize kilim.

Afghan dish from the event: chicken kebab.

Afghan dish served at the event: chicken kebab.

Afghan dishes from the event: sabzi and boulanee.

Afghan dishes served at the event: sabzi (left) and boulanee (right).

Afghan dish from the event: Qabelli palau.

Afghan dish served at the event: Qabelli palau.

Afghan dish from the event: kofta kebab.

Afghan dish served at the event: kofta kebab.

Afghan dish from the event: boranee kadu.

Afghan dish served at the event: boranee kadu.

Kabultec supporters sample the buffet items at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Kabultec supporters sampling the Afghan buffet at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Kabultec supporters at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Attendees at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Kabultec supporters at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Afghan handicrafts for auction at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Afghan handicrafts up for auction at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Host Steven Wasko is interviewed by Voice of America at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Voice of America was on-hand to cover the event.

Max and Nasrine Gross at the 2017 Kabultec Benefit Dinner.

Voice of America (VOA) was present at this year’s Benefit filming a report on Kabultec and our program for women and orphans in Afghanistan. You can see their completed report below. I thank the VOA reporter Najiba Khalil–who generally pays particular attention to women’s events and conditions–for showing our organization so beautifully! I hope one day we can show her the condition of Afghan women from up close. If you have suggestions, ideas, or criticism about our work, please do not hesitate to share it with us so that we may all improve the situation in that land we love and cherish!