Hexagon is a non-profit organization billing itself as "Washington's only original political, satirical, musical, comedy revue." Since 1955, it has produced an annual show that parodies local, national and international political and social issues. Performances were previously held at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington and are currently located at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring. Beginning in 2015, the show will return to Washington at Woodrow Wilson High School. [1]
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington or D.C., is the capital of the United States. Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country, Washington was named after George Washington, first President of the United States and Founding Father. As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations, Washington is an important world political capital. The city is also one of the most visited cities in the world, with more than 20 million tourists annually.
The Duke Ellington School of the Arts,, is a high school located at 35th Street and R Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., and dedicated to arts education. One of the high schools of the District of Columbia Public School system, it is named for the American jazz bandleader and composer Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899–1974), himself a native of Washington, D.C. The building formerly housed Western High School. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Montgomery College (MC) is a public community college in Montgomery County, Maryland. The college has three campuses, the largest of which is in Rockville. Its other campuses are in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Germantown. Its off-campus sites include the Business Training Center in Gaithersburg and Westfield South in Wheaton, which are operated by the college's Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division.
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All Hexagon performers and staff are volunteers, including local celebrities who make cameo appearances. Ticket sales are donated to a charity selected each year. Recent recipients have included Sarah's Circle, the ALS Association, Hospice Caring, and the Wounded Warrior Project. [2] Hexagon is supported by the affiliated Friends of Hexagon. As of 2014, Hexagon had raised over $3.5 million for charity. [3]
The ALS Association is an American nonprofit organization that raises money for research and patient services, promotes awareness about and advocates in state and federal government on issues related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The ALS Association is broken up into distinct chapters each servicing a particular geographic area of the United States all working under the umbrella of a national charter and administrator.
Hospice care is a type of care and philosophy of care that focuses on the palliation of a chronically ill, terminally ill or seriously ill patient's pain and symptoms, and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs. In Western society, the concept of hospice has been evolving in Europe since the 11th century. Then, and for centuries thereafter in Roman Catholic tradition, hospices were places of hospitality for the sick, wounded, or dying, as well as those for travelers and pilgrims. The modern concept of hospice includes palliative care for the incurably ill given in such institutions as hospitals or nursing homes, but also care provided to those who would rather spend their last months and days of life in their own homes. The first modern hospice care was created by Cicely Saunders in 1967.
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a charity and veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans of the military actions following September 11, 2001. It operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Hexagon has received recognition for its work in the Washington community. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan presented Hexagon with the President's Volunteer Action Award for service. In 1993, Washingtonian magazine selected Hexagon as "Washingtonian of the Year," the first time an organization was named as the award's recipient. [4] In 1994, the Greater Washington Area Chapter of Hadassah honored Hexagon with its Myrtle Wreath Award. [5] The 2007 show "Strike While The Irony's Hot" was featured in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call . [6] The 2010 show "Dancing with the Czars" was featured in the Maryland Gazette newspapers. [7]
Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Prior to his presidency, he was a Hollywood actor and union leader before serving as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975.
The President's Volunteer Service Award is a civil award bestowed by the President of the United States. Established by executive order by George W. Bush, the award was established to honor volunteers that give hundreds of hours per year helping others through the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. The award can be granted to individuals, families and organizations located throughout the United States. Depending on the amount of service hours completed, individuals can receive the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and/or the President's Call to Service Award. The Call to Service Award is the most prestigious, and it has been awarded to few Americans to recognize over 4,000 hours of extraordinary service including notable honorees such as S. Truett Cathy, Mark Carman, Zach Bonner. Awardees may receive a personalized certificate, an official pin, medallion, and/or a congratulatory letter from the President depending on the award earned.
Washingtonian is a monthly magazine distributed in the Washington, D.C. area. It was founded in 1965 by Laughlin Phillips and Robert J. Myers. The magazine describes itself as "The Magazine Washington Lives By". The magazine's core focuses are local feature journalism, guide book–style articles, real estate, and politics.
