An example of a gingerbread house (left) donated for the silent auction.

Guests mingle (right) in one of the rooms of the American News Women's Club, where the gala was held.

Capital Women Build of DCHFH member Shannon Babe (left) celebrating the holidays with friends.

The winning gingerbread house as judged by the attendees (right) depicts a scene of DC row houses from the 1920s.

On December 12th, 2004 guests gathered for the 2nd Annual Gingerbread Gala to celebrate the holidays and raise money towards the groundbreaking of a new house on the NE Parcel in Washington DC. The event was hosted by the Capital Women Build of DC Habitat for Humanity and raised close to $10,000.

Each room of the gala exhibited one or more gingerbread houses which were created and donated by restaurants as well as individuals. While all contained the base ingredient of gingerbread, the houses boasted widely different characteristics: one had a roof made with Frosted Wheat, another with sticks of gum. One had a “rock garden,” while several others had small sugar-people standing in the yards. The favorite gingerbread house, as determined by the attendees, depicted DC row houses from the 1920s complete with street lamps made out of ice cream cones.

A silent auction for the gingerbread houses remained open for most of the evening. In addition to the gingerbread houses, the auction included items donated by both individuals and businesses. Items ranged from dinners at various DC restaurants to a four-night stay at the Parrot Cay Resort in the Caribbean.

While checking on the status of their silent bids throughout the evening, guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and fellowship with people who support Capital Women Build and their current effort. Thanks to all those who helped make the evening a success!