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Horton’s Kids to Transport Fans to 1980s for Fundraiser

Horton’s Kids, a kid-friendly nonprofit founded a quarter-century ago by former Hill staffer Karin Walser, is celebrating its latest anniversary by hosting an ’80s-themed party Wednesday at the House of Sweden.

The “Give Thanks and Give Back” party is scheduled to take place 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the House of Sweden (2900 K St. NW). Individual tickets — named after ’80s anthems ($5,000 donation snags the top-tier title, the “Eye of the Tiger” sponsorship) — start at $150 a pop.

An event aide told HOH that no members of Congress are officially on the hook this time around, but held out hope that lawmakers would participate in a 25th anniversary party scheduled for February.

Attendees at the Georgetown soiree will have to make do with former Roll Call cartoonist (long live “Capitol Hell!”)-turned-CNN anchor Jake Tapper, local cover band, Dr. FU and an open bar.

Main Event Caterers will provide heavy hors d’oeuvres, including: five-spice duck moo shoo wraps, smoked salmon barquettes, mustard-crusted chicken, gourmet sliders (“two bite” Angus burgers), grilled vegetable quesadillas and port-poached pears with brie.

Tapper is but one of many people in and around Capitol Hill who’ve contributed to the success of the youth enrichment programs conducted by Horton’s Kids. The group continues to bring disadvantaged children from Ward 8 to Congress — “The tutoring program takes places in a few committee rooms in Rayburn,” a program aide said — throughout the school year, a community-building campaign that’s been in place for at least a decade.

And volunteers show no signs of wavering.

“Currently, about 80 Hill staff are involved with Horton’s Kids, either as supporters/donors or as tutors,” a spokeswoman told HOH.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., is so proud of the program, he took to the House floor in 2010 to congratulate his former co-worker for making an actual difference.

“The children of Horton’s Kids are overcoming obstacles and succeeding: graduating high school, finding internships, and applying to colleges,” McGovern said. “Their growth is a testament to the dedicated efforts of Karin Walser.”

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