The grand tradition of the “Heart’s Delight” Vintners Dinner was lifted to another level Friday evening as guests raised their glasses to honor dinner Chairman Constance Milstein.

Milstein and her husband, Jehan-Christophe de La Haye Saint Hilaire, are long-time benefactors of the American Heart Association.

David Markiewicz, the Executive Vice President of the AHA, praised Milstein’s dedication and generous support of heart research, and highlighted the pivotal role she played in gathering the supporters at the annual event.

Milstein friend and President Obama’s HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Ambassador Capricia Marshall joined her at the table, as well as Ambassador of Monaco Gilles Norghes and his wife Ellen, and the new deficit czar Bruce Reed and his wife, Bonnie LePard.

CBS News White House Correspondent Bill Plante emceed the evening. The sparkly crowd included Betsey Apple, Dee Dee Myers and Todd Purdum, John Coale, the Washington Post’s new Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Kathleen Parker, ABC News’ reporter Jonathan Karl.

FOX News’ Bret Baier recounted his infant son’s multiple heart surgeries to the spellbound crowd (including his wife, Amy). The Baier’s family story inspired the wine auction that followed, raising some $50,000 for research.

The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium was aglow as some 400 guests dined on a six-course meal accompanied by distinguished wines from Château Margaux.

WHC Insider Awards American Heart Association, Betsy Apple, Bill Plante, Bret Baier, Bruce Reed, Capricia Marshall, Constance Milstein, Dee Dee Myers, Gilles Norghes, Heart's Delight, John Coale, Jonathan Karl, Kathleen Parker, Kathleen Sebelius, Todd Purdum

2010 WHC Garden Brunch: Story Landis, Susan Axelrod, David Axelrod

While at the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch, guests were asked to share the best advice from their mother in honor of Mothers Day Every Day and CURE Epilepsy.

Some of the answers from the media, business, and political elite who stepped across the lawn at the 18th annual brunch are posted below – and be sure to WATCH the video of the tribute to two important causes which affects the lives and health of families all across the globe: maternal mortality and epilepsy.

Susan Axelrod, Founder & Chair of CURE Epilepsy spoke from the heart about the disease and the desperate need to support research and find a cure. Axelrod, the honorary co-chair of the brunch, was joined on stage by “Glee” star Matthew Morrison, People’s cover boy Chace Crawford, and HBO’s “The Pacific” star Joe Mazzello, as well as the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, who showed their support for CURE Epilepsy and MDED by signing a giant Mother’s Day card.

CHERYL HINES: My mom taught me to have fun in life. That’s what it’s about!

RUPERT MURDOCH: My mother told me to look after my sisters!

DANA DELANEY: Tell the truth – it’s easier to remember

STEVE WEBER: Swallow your spit

SUSAN SHER, First Lady’s Chief of Staff: 1. Always wear lipstick 2.
It’s just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor man. (I followed neither.)

WOLF BLITZER: Do the best you can!

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: Be fearless!

NICK JONAS: Treat women with respect!

JOE JONAS: Coins are not edible!

DEMI LOVATO: Pack clean underwear!

JOE MAZZELLO, HBO’s “The Pacific”: Make it real

DAVID GREGORY: Always wear socks!

KIM KARDASHIAN: My favorite thing my mother taught me is…. To be myself

CHEVY CHASE: Make sure you shake few hands. You can get hurt.

JAYNI CHASE: Wear comfortable shoes.

PATRICIA ARQUETTE: Get quiet and ask God to let you feel who you are …your true self.

BRET BAIER: Always open a door and pull out a chair for a lady!

ANDREA MITCHELL: Watch out when you cross the street

2010 WHC Garden Brunch for MDED and CURE Epilepsy from whcinsider on Vimeo.

WHC Insider Washington Andrea Mitchell, Arianna Huffington, Bret Baier, Chace Crawford, Cheryl Hines, Chevy Chase, CURE Epilepsy, Dana Delaney, David Axelrod, David Gregory, Demi Lovato, Jayni Chase, Joe Jonas, Joe Mazzello, Jonas Brothers, Kim Kardashian, Matthew Morrison, MDED, Nick Jonas, Patricia Arquette, Rupert Murdoch, Steven Weber, Story Landis, Susan Axelrod, Susan Sher, WHC Garden Brunch, Wolf Blitzer

Washington types have started warming up their party chops for the whirlwind weekend surrounding the WHCA Dinner. Quinn Gillespie & Associates and FD hosted a cocktail party Tuesday night at Public Bar. For more photos, check out The Washington Scene from The Hill.

Jack and Susanna Quinn
Photo: Neshan H. Naltchayan

CNN's Ed Henry
Photo: Neshan H. Naltchayan

Jack Quinn and FOX News' Bret Baier
Photo: Neshan H. Naltchayan

jdonofrio DC, Event Coverage, Washington Events Bret Baier, Ed Henry, FD, Jack Quinn, Quinn & Gillespie, Susanna Quinn, WHCA Dinner

Alan Krueger and Billie Jean King

The Washington Kastles held their first annual celebrity tennis match to benefit the American Red Cross on the final night of the Washington Kastles season … and crowned Obama’s Assistant Treasury Secretary MVP. Alan Krueger joined media and political celebrities — Sen. Evan Bayh, Fox’s Bret Baier, CNN’s Ed Henry and ABC’s Jonathan Karl — coaching on the sidelines: Billie Jean King and the GEICO Caveman.

Bloomberg’s Al Hunt and Margaret Carlson called the game in a Washington version of the Wimbledon voice over. Celebrity ball kids included Patrick Henry (8), David (8) and Rachel (10) Greenberg, Betsy Fischer’s daughter Ella (8), and Jonathan Karl’s girls Anna (9) and Emily (12).

Celebrity Tennis in Washington from whcinsider on Vimeo.

lrozett Event Coverage, Washington Events Al Hunt, Alan Krueger, Billie Jean King, Bret Baier, Ed Henry, Evan Bayh, GEICO Caveman, Jonathan Karl, Margaret Carlson, Washington Kastles

Us magazine reports “Gossip Girl” star Chace Crawford will be at Fox News Channel’s table for the White House Correspondents Dinner. Other Fox News guests include Sarah and Todd Palin, actor Matthew Modine, and anchors Greta Van Sustern, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Bret Baier and Chris Wallace.

lrozett WHCD 2009 Guests Bill O'Reilly, Bret Baier, Chace Crawford, Chris Wallace, Fox News, Glenn Beck, Greta Van Sustern, Matthew Modine, Sarah Palin, Todd Palin, White House Correspondents Dinner