Over 200 joined us last night for schmoozing and re-using (well, it rhymes), and honoring 25 top green-minded firms of the region, at 2000 Tower Oaks in Rockville, hosted by the Lerner and Abramson families, which appropriately showcased their brand new HQ that some say goes "beyond platinum." (Vedic, but that's another story.) Part-time philosopher Jeffrey Abramson said it best in his remarks: "Tomorrow, your pictures will be all over the Internet." In keeping with the spirit of the evening, please remember, no matter how good you look in these photos, don't print them!

We removed ourselves from judging and asked the real experts to identify great examples of firms promoting green consciousness and programs. Our judges and partners in the awards included the US Green Building Council NCR; the George Washington University; the Sustainable Business Network of Washington; and the Tower Companies (winner of every environmental award this year, it seems). Five awardees were chosen in each of the five different industries where we publish our daily newsletters: Real Estate, Legal, Tech, Trade Association, and Medical. Above, reps you'll probably recognize from winners in the real estate category: Akridge, CBRE, Transwestern, Leo A Daly, and Clark Construction. Those certificates, by the way, are made from 150% recycled paper. (We know our math is fuzzy, but as an all-electronic enterprise, we're feeling guilty about using paper.)

Law firm winners: Weil Gotshal & Manges, Finnegan, Arnold & Porter, Beveridge & Diamond, and Bailey Law Group.

Association winners: American Chemical Society, Building Owners and Management Association, Consumer Electronics Association, Water Environment Federation, and Mechanical Contractors Association.

Medical winners: Providence Hospital, Inova Health System, GW Faculty Medical Associates, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, and Sibley Memorial Hospital.

Tech winners: Noblis, SRA International, Lore Systems, Vista, and Tandberg.

Ted and Mark Lerner, above, hosted, along with all their other family members: wives Annette and Judy, Ed and Debra Cohen,  Bob and Marla Tanenbaum and cousin Alan Gottlieb. After the event, Mark gave us a tour of their remarkable new offices: Stay tuned for pictures.

Looks like one of those photos from an Obama rally. The crowd in front of Jeffrey Abramson was estimated by police at 150,000 people.

The Abramson Family: Jeffrey, Pennie, Brian, Gary, Marnie, and Eric Posner; also on hand was Jeffrey and Gary's brother Ronnie. Folks, this family was green before it meant anything or anyone even cared about it. Talk about being vindicated. We not only thank them, but truly wish them the best in their single-minded mission to use real estate to better the environment. Finally, thanks to the individuals who helped guide us in our first annual exercise to recognize exemplary green works: GW's Mark Starik (head of its presidential commission on the environment), SB Now executive director Pam Skarda and colleagues Lee Boyle of Cardinal Bank and Marc Nichols of Green Advantage; and US Green Building Council directors Brian Gault of the Peterson Companies,Shannon Sentman of Holland + Knight, Olivia Millar of Studley. 

The one and only Fight Night rolls around again next Thursday November 6; above are founder Joe Robert and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Peter Pace at last year's. Despite a rocky economy, the Washington Hilton will again be flooded with more than 2000 fanatical business leaders having a good time for a great cause; they've already raised $2 million and sponsor income is up 10%. Last week, our friend Michela English, head of parent organization Fight for Children, announced $1.1 million in education and healthcare grants for low-income children in DC, all of which comes from Fight Night proceeds. www.fightforchildren.org.