What do you get when an American fashion designer , the Vice President of the
United States and a bevy of beautiful A-listers come together for an evening?
A perfect trifecta. And so it was at a star-studded event on Tuesday,
April 12, where guests joined V.P. Joseph Biden to honor Michael Kors with
the World Food Program USA’s McGovern-Dole Leadership Award.

With the red carpet unfurled and chandeliers glittering, the elegant Organization of America
States building in Washington, D.C. set the scene for the evening. Luminaries from the
worlds of philanthropy, politics, business, fashion and Hollywood all gathered to celebrate
the renowned designer and the exceptional humanitarian organization that works to feed
people around the world.

Mingling among bountiful clusters of spring cherry blossoms, guests included Congresswoman
and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, God’s Love We Deliver Vice Chair Blaine Trump,
entrepreneur Steve Simon, actress, singer and activist Lynda Carter, Ambassador Mary Ourisman,
the chef Spike Mendelsohn, model and businesswoman Beverly Johnson and White House
Social Secretary Deesha Dyer, models Cameron Russell and Jessica Hart and actress Cody Horn.
Legendary senator Bob Dole, one of the two men for whom the award is named, made an
unexpected and deeply moving appearance, spending a few quiet moments with Michael Kors
at the start of the evening.

Rick Leach, President and CEO of WFP USA, opened the ceremony, thanking the guests for their
important support of the organization. Actress and philanthropist Olivia Wilde then took the
stage to talk about her friend Michael Kors and introduce a short film about his philanthropic
work. She was followed by Hunter Biden, WFP USA’s Chairman, who spoke eloquently about the
work of WFP USA before introducing his father, Vice President Joe Biden.

Clockwise from top: Olivia Wilde; the McGovern-Dole Leadership Award statue; (L-R) Rick Leach, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Kathleen Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, honoree Michael Kors, Olivia Wilde, Lance Le Pere and Hunter Biden.

V.P. Joe Biden’s speech began with a moving tribute to the two men for whom the award is
named, the late Senator George McGovern and the aforementioned Senator Bob Dole, longtime
friends and colleagues and men who worked tirelessly to end world hunger. With his wife,
Dr. Jill Biden, son Hunter and daughter in-law Kathleen Biden looking on, the Vice President
spoke about the work his own family has done and continues to do to help the world’s
most vulnerable people. Then he turned his attention to Michael Kors, saying, “Tonight
we honor another American, an icon who exhibits the same passion for people in need as
[those] two former elected officials did.” In presenting the award to Michael, he added,
“What an incredible phrase, Watch Hunger Stop.”

Amid warm applause, Michael accepted the award, saying: “I’m awestruck to be in
Washington, D.C. accepting this award from the Vice President of the United States. And
humbled to be a part of the incredible work that WFP does day in and day out, all over
the world, to help fight hunger.”

By evening’s end, there was little doubt those who gathered there were indeed committed
to watching hunger stop. PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Morigi for Getty Image.