White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

High School Author Brings Hope With Her Words

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The works of Alexis Doyle, a senior at St. Andrew's Episcopal School

The works of Alexis Doyle, a senior at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland

Alexis Doyle hasn’t graduated from St. Andrew’s Episcopol School, yet she’s already able to confidentanly state she’s a published author. A three-time published author and her latest with a forward from the internationally acclaimed neurosurgeon, Dr. Benjamin Carson,Jr. who performed surgery on her when she was just 3 months old.

That’s no small feat for any author, especially one that’s still handling school work and grades. As The Sentinel reported Alexis wrote her first book at the age of 13.

Alexis’ books are inspired by her own struggles, having been born with craniosynostosis, a condition that fuses cranial bones together at birth, and with differences in her hands and feet. Spanning five major surgeries over the next 17 years, Alexis has certainly experienced the challenge of overcoming major adversity.

“I have found that one of the best ways I have been able to overcome my challenges is to help others overcome theirs,” she said. “That is why I decided at a very young age to author books for kids to help them deal with their own challenges and to let them know they are not alone. I have published my third book in the series that I hope to continue throughout my life.”

Author Alexis Doyle

photo: Alexis Doyle.

The books (“Jesse and His New Baby Sister,” “Ethan the Big Brother” and the most recent, “Alexis And Her Hospital Friends”) illustrate the challenges dealt with by, not only Alexis’ family, but also the families of 2 close friends. They show in a very simple format, easily understood by young children, how the families overcame their challenges and, further, they provide reassurance for other children who struggle with any condition or difficult life situation. In the forward to her newest book, her neurosurgeon, Dr. Benjamin Carson, Sr. provided:

“In this book, Alexis Doyle who has had many experiences as a patient during her early years of life, uses those experiences to help children see that the people working at the hospital are their friends and are there to make their lives better. She also helps children use their imagination. I hope this book finds its way into the children’s library of every hospital and into the offices of many pediatricians.”

Alexis Doyle’s books can be purchased at Lexy’s Books on Facebook.

Blue Star Families Awards Their "Angel" Constance Milstein

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On Monday, Blue Star Families awarded their long-time board member Connie Milstein with their prestigious “Angel Award.”

As a Who’s Who of philanthropists, veterans and civil-minded Washington leaders gathered at The Army Navy Club Ballroom, Milstein was surrounded by longtime friends and colleagues like Heather Podesta, Greta Van Susteren and John P. Coale, Doug Wilson, Kathy Roth-Douquet, other members of the Blue Star Families and Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces team of Tina Tchen, Col. Rich Morales and Tanya Bradshear were there. The “Angel” program also featured a special video tribute, featuring Father Richard J. Curry thanking her for all the work and effort she put into his program at Dog Tag Bakery, scheduled to open next spring.

Photos of the event are below:

Washington Humanitarians Gather to Honor Caryl Stern and to Believe in Zero

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Last Tuesday was an unintentionally powerful day for those that stand with humanity and empowering the children who rarely get a voice. While most of the country watched a shocked Jon Stewart on the Daily Show as he spoke with Malala Yousafzai, earlier that night Washington gathered around the Jefferson hotel to hear from UNICEF President Caryl Stern about her latest book, “I Believe in Zero*.”

Featuring Melanne Verveer, the nation’s first global ambassador for women, and with former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher, a leader in the global effort to prevent deaths in garment factories as Independent Board Chairman of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, Stern focused on a key point behind the philosophy of UNICEF and her book: zero preventative child deaths.

“As a society, we can’t say that every child has value if we’re not willing to act accordingly ,” Stern wrote on Huffington Post back in September. “Over the last year, 176 governments, including the United States, have pledged to accelerate our progress on child survival. These countries have recognized that an investment in children is at the heart of every nation’s prosperity and sustainable development. Healthy children are more likely to live longer, stay in school and be productive members of their society, creating benefits that reverberate through future generations.”

Stern’s latest book is filled with stories from her travels around the world, especially as she looks at the struggles within third-world counries and how communities must pull themselves together along with their government to redefine and develop a global consciousness.

Miss America Heads to Clinton Global Initiative

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The 2014 Miss America is heading into her first global initiative today, even if she is a New York native.

As she continues her ongoing reign, Nina Davuluri is handling the previous social media issues with her #circlesofunity campaign. She even had a brief moment to talk to her hometown paper when it came to which medical school where she’d apply. Even after a brief stop in the District, it seems like Miss America can’t stop being whisked from one event to the next when it comes to educating the public on her platform for diversity.

Which is exactly what the Clinton Global Initiative embodies, even if it has lighthearted moments where Bono impersonates Bill Clinton and vice versa.

Global Virus Network Party Hosted by Cafe Milano’s Franco Nuschese

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Only Franco Nuschese could bring together such an esteemed crowd to talk about global health concerns. At his fabulous home in Northwest Washington he brought together top scientists and advocates at a reception for the Global Virus Network. Dr. Robert Gallo, who co-discovered the AIDS virus and is also the co-founder and scientific director of the GVN, gave remarks to help the crowd understand the importance of the GVN and its funding.

In welcoming the group, Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, President of GVN, noted that “the toll of viral diseases goes beyond human health, making enormous impacts on economies, as in the case of SARS and HIV/AIDS as only two examples, and in national security, when put in terms of military preparedness. We cannot think of viral disease only with respect to the health sector.”

Surrounded by GVN Board Chairman Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and new board members including Dr. William Haseltine, Dr. Zaid Al Siksek and Gina Adams among other members of the board. Dr. Gallo warned the crowd of the importantance of having a non-governmental private network of scientist who can coordinate a Response to viruses as they come up.

Recommending “centers of excellence” with top virologists to immediately respond and coordinate information for viral threats. Kennedy Townsend related the importance of giving to a group like the GVN. “It is a global network,” she told the crowd. “These scientists talk to one another and learn form one another.” She recalled at a GVN event when scientists from Michigan met a group from Japan and learned of the similarities between two viruses each team thought were one-of-a-kind.

Guests included Ambassador Louis Moreno, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, Daryl Edwards on behalf of the Australian Ambassador along with Washington media types like Steve Clemons, Jim Pinkerton, Janet Donovan and Tammy Haddad enjoying a reception buffet with Mary Katherine Steel, Ellie Schafer, Heather Rothenberg and Heather Baker.

You can watch select parts of the program below:

You can learn more about GVN here.

Miss America Announces STEM Scholarship at Capitol Hill Briefing

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Miss America on Capitol Hill

Sam Haskell, Chairman and CEO of the Miss America Organization, annnounced that on September 15th the 93rd Annual Miss America pageant on ABC-TV would present a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Scholarship to one of the 53 contestants. As the historic event returns to Atlantic City, New Jersey in three months, Haskell spoke along with the current Miss America–and Miss New York–Mallory Hagan about the importance of education and funding for those that need it.

In a packed room at the Capitol Building, Miss America Mallory Hagan, applauded the decision telling her story of a lack of resources and emphasis on STEM when she was growing up.

Tammy Haddad, White House Correspondents Insider founder and editor-in-chief, was named President of the Miss America Foundation Development to engage a larger audience in the scholarship opportunities with the Miss America programs.

Senator Roger Wicker and Rep. Alan Nunnelee shook hands with guests and took pictures with Miss America. Former Miss America Judge Greta Van Susteren and husband John Coale, joined House top aides Doug Heye and Michael Steel, DCI Group’s Tom Synhorst and Dan Meyers, AHA’s Robyn Bash, and Miss America board member Regina Hopper. Longtime women’s advocate Anita McBride and Josh Randle from the Duke of Edinburgh Award as well as Third Way educational staff also were in attendance.

[PHOTOS] The 2013 Preview of the Kennedy Center Opera Ball

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Washington National Opera Board Chairman Connie Milstein gathered opera for the kickoff of the 2013 Opera Ball held Sunday night at The Jefferson Hotel. The “Music of the Night” Party, which was providing a preview for the Kennedy Center and Washington National Opera’s 2013 Opera Ball, focused on the food and entertainment for this season’s performances.

Woven throughout the program were selections of “Phantom Of the Opera” from barritone Norm Lewis,star of “Scandal” and Broadway star of Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” performed three selections from “Phantom of the Opera” to a packed room of diners and Washington cultural society. Other performances included selections by Soprano Shantelle Przybylo from “La Bohéme,” “Rigoletto” from Yuri Gorodetski, “Edgar” from Javier Arrey and ending on “Music of the Night” with Norm Lewis reprising “The Phantom.” The guests for the affair ranged from ambassador to Washingtonian essentials like Jeremy Bernard, Kathleen Seibelius, Chairman of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees David Rubenstein, Ellen Tauscher, Grace Bender, Melissa Moss, Jonathan Silver and Bob and Ellen Bennett.

This year’s ball is a partnership between the Italian consulate, thanks to Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and Mrs. Bisogniero, featuring a black-tie and commemorate the 200th birthday of opera composer Giuseppe Verdi and “The Year of Italian Culture.” The Opera Ball will end with a special performance from the Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program when it occurs on April 6th.

Kid President Announces This Year's White House Easter Egg Roll

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If the Obama administration ever had a clear challenge, it may be overcoming the charm and charisma of Kid President. A part of the Soul Pancake Channel, this time Kid President is bringing word of the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll to us through a somewhat more official channel:

The lottery to get a ticket for the annual roll, being held on April 1, starts today and closes on Monday, February 25. The theme this year, chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama, is “Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You!”

This year’s souvenir eggs come in four bold colors – purple, blue, yellow, pink – and include the stamped signatures of the President and First Lady. A commemorative teal “Bo” egg featuring the First Dog’s paw print is included only in the 2013 5-pack Collector’s Egg Set.

The White House also invites all elementary and middle school students to submit poster designs for the 2013 Easter Egg Roll. Designs should reflect this year’s theme, “Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You!” The First Lady will select the winning design, which will be used as part of the White House 2013 Easter Egg Roll program. Submissions are due by March 5 and can be sent here.

We have to admit, even Robert Frost would probably be allowed to think this is cool.

Interview with Mallory Hagen, Miss America 2013

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Mallory Hagen spoke this morning on Fox News with Gretchen Carlson, but she began her interview reign with WHC Insider’s Tammy Haddad last Saturday. Hagen was named Miss America in Las Vegas and we spoke with the Brooklyn, New York resident who tap-danced and talked about toughening gun laws during the 92nd annual Miss America Pageant on the ABC Network.

She began her college education in her birthplace Auburn but moved to New York four years ago to find herself and restarted college. Mallory previously competed in the Miss America Outstanding Teen program three times and the Miss New York competition twice before calling herself “a bit of a bridesmaid until now.” Her stunning white dress that wowed the studio audience cost $400, less than her prom dress. Mallory’s mother, a dance instructor, told the WHC Insider she knew when she was pregnant with her that one day her daughter would be Miss America.

Chelsea Clinton Named Honorary Chair for Day of Service

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The Presidential inaugural Committee announced that Chelsea Clinton will act as an Honorary Chair for the 2013 Day of Service.

“We are thrilled that Chelsea Clinton will play such a critical role in mobilizing Americans across the country to take part in the National Day of Service,” said PIC President and CEO Steve Kerrigan. “Through her work with the Clinton Foundation and her recent efforts to help communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Chelsea sets a remarkable example for serving and strengthening our country. As Honorary Chair, she will be instrumental in helping lead the President’s call to service and growing this important tradition.”

Politico rounds up Clinton’s quotes from earlier today on CNN:

“I’m proud to be the honorary chair of the National Day of Service happening this Saturday, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. It’s the perfect way to kick off the inauguration weekend because anyone can participate, and we know that when we work together, we will achieve more than one person could on his or her own.

President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of Congress and their families will be rolling up their sleeves at service projects in our nation’s capital. But you don’t have to be in Washington to get involved. From repairing fire-damaged homes in Colorado and cleaning sidewalks in Detroit to spending time with children with disabilities in New Orleans, every state will offer opportunities to volunteer.”

“There is no more fitting way to mark a presidential inauguration than a day of service,” said Chelsea Clinton. “Coming together as a country to strengthen our communities has always been part of the American spirit. I am deeply grateful that President Obama and his administration have put service at the center of the Inauguration weekend and I am proud to be part of a nation-wide service effort, honoring the service and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and building a brighter future for all of us.”