WHCD 2011: Rupert Murdoch, Shaun White, Buzz Aldrin, David Axelrod, Matthew Morrison & Mark Ein ‘Man-Up’ For Mothers @ Tammy Haddad’s Brunch!

GEORGETOWN -- It was probably just about as close to an official state dinner as any civilian could host in Washington and veteran network TV producer Tammy Haddad’s annual White House Correspondents Garden Brunch, on Saturday morning, attracted a commensurate ‘A-list’ guest list.

The Palin family.
Co-hosted by Wendi Murdoch and Susan Axelrod and organized by Ted Greenberg, Kevin Sheekey, Hilary Rosen, Alex Castellanos, Anita Dunn, Bill Knapp, Jim Courtovich, David Adler, Steve McMahon, and Franco Nuschese, yesterday’s three-hour affair attracted everyone from titans of industry to astronauts to Medal of Honor recipients to Hollywood stars and, naturally, plenty of political heavyweights.

David Axelrod.

Chace Crawford.

Morgan Fairchild.
Among the faces in the crowd: potential presidential contender Sarah Palin, with her family (husband Todd and daughters Bristol and Molly), billionaire Rupert Murdoch, Senior Political Advisor to the President David Axelrod, Washington Kastles coach Murphy Jensen, Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, “Flying Tomato” Shaun White, Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford, iconic actress Morgan Fairchild, Huffington Post Media Group Editor-in-Chief Arianna Huffington, Entourage’s Jeremy Piven, and comedian Joan Rivers.

Coach Murphy Jensen.

Arianna Huffington.
Held at Venturehouse Group founder Mark Ein’s historic Beall-Washington House in Georgetown (Katherine Graham’s former residence) for the first time, this year’s ‘Haddad Brunch’ was deemed an overwhelming success, thanks in no small part to the perfect spring weather and more spacious digs.

The tented backyard to Beall-Washington House.
One well-known television journalist remarked to REVAMP.com, “The change in venue really made a difference. Last year it was painfully humid outside and the close quarters made things a bit uncomfortable. But Mark’s backyard really opened things up today.”

And the front...
It’s important to note that the annual brunch isn’t all about schmoozing and cocktails (and cupcakes). This year’s celebration specifically honored two worthy nonprofits: The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (a cause of specific interest to the Axelrod family given daughter Lauren’s battle with the disease).

Inviting some of the starpower in attendance on-stage for a “global cascading tweet” photo op, Haddad commented: “We need men. We need more men. We need all the men. We need you to man-up for mothers.”

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin surrounded by wife Lois, Kyle Rouse, and D.C. artist Don Patron.

Bighearted brunch!