2025 Meridian Holiday Party
Meridian’s annual holiday gathering brought Washington’s diplomatic, government, and corporate leaders together for an evening that celebrated not only a successful Meridian Ball, but a pivotal moment in the institution’s history. The event honored the collective leadership that delivered a record-breaking year and paid tribute to Ambassador Stuart Holliday, Meridian’s CEO Emeritus, whose nearly twenty years at the helm transformed Meridian into one of the most trusted conveners in global affairs.
The celebration underscored the scale and strength of the Meridian community. This year’s 57th Meridian Ball leadership team, including Sela Art Collins, Congressional Co-Chairs Senator and Mrs. Mark and Lisa Collis Warner and Senator David McCormick and The Honorable Dina Powell McCormick, together with corporate partners General Motors, Intel, and Cisco, were recognized for driving a milestone amount raised to advance Meridian’s mission of empowering leaders to advance the next era of diplomacy.
The evening also looked forward. Guests welcomed Sarah and Ross Perot as Chairs of the 58th Meridian Ball, signaling continued momentum for one of Washington’s most enduring diplomatic traditions. And with America’s 250th anniversary approaching, attendees celebrated the launch of Meridian’s Diplomacy at 250 Embassy Program Series, led in partnership with BP, which will spotlight the essential role of diplomacy in shaping the nation’s next chapter.
A defining moment of the night was the tribute to Ambassador Holliday. A video featuring national leaders and global partners captured the breadth of his impact: expanding Meridian’s reach across technology, business, culture, and state and local leadership; modernizing its approach to open diplomacy; and cultivating a community that instinctively turns to Meridian as a trusted, neutral platform. The announcement of the Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday Open Diplomacy Innovation Fund cemented his legacy, creating a permanent engine for new diplomacy fellowships, programs, and cross-sector initiatives that reflect the values he embedded in the institution.
The evening concluded with a toast to Ambassador Holliday and to the partners whose belief in Meridian’s mission makes this work possible. It was a celebration not only of a successful year, but of a shared commitment to ensuring American leadership, openness, and diplomacy remain strong for decades to come.
