Past Rum & Rosé Events
2022
1st Annual Rum & Rosé.
The RalRosa Foundation (TRF) hosted the inaugural Rum & Rosé Charitable Fundraiser in June 2022, on the beautiful grounds of the famous Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, a decorative arts museum in Washington, DC and former residence of Marjorie Merriweather Post, businesswoman, art collector and philanthropist.
The altruism displayed by guests, in just four short weeks, led to a total of USD$25K being donated to worthy charities in Jamaica and Washington, DC, and ultimately served as a strong wind force steering the fledgling TRF forward to continue their journey.
2023
2nd Annual Rum & Rosé.
The 2nd annual Rum & Rosé held in June 2023, proved to be another successful event. As a result, The RalRosa Foundation (TRF) formally entered into a partnership with the Ministry of Health & Wellness, Jamaica, W.I. (www.moh.gov.jm) to join their adopt-a-clinic program, a public-private partnership initiative of the Ministry, established to support the delivery of primary healthcare services in underserved communities in Jamaica.
TRF committed to support The Golden Spring Health Centre in Stony Hill, St. Andrew, Jamaica, for three years, for a total of USD$20K (JMD$3.5M) through 2026, and the Holy Cross Health Foundation in Silver Spring, Maryland, for a total of USD$20K through 2025.
2024
3rd Annual Rum & Rosé.
The 3rd annual Rum & Rosé fundraiser was held on June 22, 2024, in the beautiful Visitor’s Center Conservatory of the cultural treasure of Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. Guests gathered for the good cause, enjoyed tropical mocktails, rum cocktails, and tasty Caribbean bites, and explored the special exhibition on view, Fragile Beauty: Art of the Ocean. The mood was festive, spirits were high, and in honor of June being Caribbean-American History month, guests were lured to a rum tasting corner, compliments of Maison Ferrand/Planetary Rums, local partners of National Rums of Jamaica, to responsibly sip and savor a range of flavors of Caribbean rums.
The Holy Cross Health Foundation, recipients of donations from The RalRosa Foundation (TRF) since inception, joined hands with TRF this year as a VIP sponsor of the event.
Proceeds from the event will again go to support Holy Cross Health and their community clinics in Maryland, and The Golden Spring Health Centre, St. Andrew, Jamaica, bringing TRF overall total giving since inception to USD$60K in three short years.
Thank you to our 2024 VIP Sponsors:
- Holy Cross Health Foundation
- Kerry S. Pearson
- Scott Orthodontics
- The Davis – McAlpin Family
2025
4th Annual Rum & Rosé.
The 4th annual Rum & Rosé fundraiser was held on June 21, 2025. The chicly styled philanthropic guests were lured to the mansion courtyard by steel drum music to enjoy a tropical cocktail reception, where they nibbled on tasty bites, sipped on signature PhilB and Frank rum infused cocktails, and enjoyed rum tastings, compliments of Maison Ferrand/Planetary Rums, local partners of National Rums of Jamaica. Guests also explored the special exhibit, From Exile to Avant Garde: The Life of Princess Natalie Paley, before retreating to the Visitor’s Center Conservatory for a delectable meal, silent auction shopping, and a brief program.
2026
5th Annual Rum & Rosé.
The RalRosa Foundation (TRF) hosted its 5th Annual Rum and Rosé charitable fundraiser and silent auction on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at The Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, Washington, DC, – former home of iconic businesswoman and philanthropist, Marjorie Merriweather Post. The 5th was a special milestone event, held during Caribbean-American Heritage month, under the theme “Five Years of Doing Good Together,” and brought together healthcare leaders, business executives, philanthropists and community advocates, who all share the common purpose of advancing access to quality primary health care in underserved communities in the DMV and the island of Jamaica. The event was highly successful bringing the total dollars raised by the organization since its inception to over USD$150,000.00.
Guests felt the good vibes in the air as they enjoyed an inspiring evening that began with an elevated VIP reception that featured a spirited Rum and Rosé mini masterclass sponsored by VOGA Wines and Planteray Rum and curated island nibbles, courtesy of RAMMY New Restaurant of the Year finalist, ISLA Restaurant. Guests then transitioned to the Courtyard tent for live Caribbean Jazz from the Blue Mountain Jazz Band, dinner, tropical cocktails and a short awards program.
Program highlights included the presentation of the inaugural Healthy Spirit Award to distinguished healthcare leaders, Ms. Karen Dale, RN, MSN, CEO AmeriHealth Caritas DC, and Dr. Heather Lawson-Myers, DDS, Owner of Liguanea Family Dental, Kingston, Jamaica, recognizing them for their vision, generosity, and commitment to improving health outcomes, advancing equity and making a lasting impact in their respective communities.
“This award is not a destination; it’s a divine confirmation that a life lived on purpose sends ripples far beyond what we can see,” said Dr. Lawson-Myers. The Healthy Spirit Award feels so deeply personal. It’s not just about me; it’s about standing in the current of a legacy that says your life must count for others.”
The Foundation also presented the inaugural Small Gift, Big Impact (SGBI) micro-grant award to The New Freedmen’s Clinic, a medical student-run free clinic at Howard University. The grant will be used to help kickstart their mobile clinic initiative.
The evening highlighted another first, the President’s Rising Star award, established to recognize young leaders with extraordinary character, passion and promise of making a transformative impact in their community. The award was presented to RalRosa board member Ms. Courtni Foster, a rising 4th year Georgetown University medical student from Montego Bay, Jamaica. The program also included a solo musical interlude performance from classical pianist, Obataiye Lyles, recent graduate of Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts who will be heading to Jamaica to intern at the iconic GeeJam Studios in Port Antonio.
Holy Cross Health Community Clinics, RalRosa adopted clinic, Golden Spring Health Centre in Kingston, and a new baby clinic in Montego Bay – still to be named – that suffered from the devastating winds from Hurricane Melissa will benefit from this year’s fundraising efforts.
The RalRosa Foundation board thanks all of our R&R Stars and SuperStars; corporate sponsors, auction donors, guests and volunteers for joining hands with us to make this very special milestone event a resounding success.
Big Ups to our 2026 Sponsors: NEGRIL Eatery; Scott Orthodontics; Tortuga Rum; Genesis Holistic Medspa and Clinic; ISLA Restaurant; VOGA, Italia; Planteray Rum; Kerry S Pearson, LLC; Holy Cross Health; Charmaine Stewart, MD; Venice Mundle-Harvey; different Realtors & REIT, Jamaica Tourist Board; Gee Jam Resort, Jamaica.
