Board Spotlight: Rose Donna, Chair

Introduction

What is your professional role? 

Sure — I’d simply make it “solving problems,” which sounds more direct and natural.

I’m the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Empty Bottle Fund, a part owner of the Wonderland Ballroom, and the Global Technology and Humanitarian Operations Leader at AIChildSafety.org. I’ve called Washington, DC home for 32 years and have lived in Columbia Heights since 2009.

My professional life has taken a lot of interesting turns, but the common thread has always been bringing together technology, humanitarian work, entrepreneurship, and people. I started my career at the American Red Cross, where I landed what was truly my dream job working on international emergency response and health programs around the world.

That experience eventually led me and my business partner to build a mobile data collection tool designed to help relief teams work more effectively in the field. What started as a practical solution to a problem we were seeing firsthand grew into a technology company and consulting business that I helped run for 23 years, working across global health, international development, and the private sector.

At the same time, my husband and I took a very different entrepreneurial leap and opened the Wonderland Ballroom. About 11 years later, we teamed up with our managers (now Wonderland partners) Matt Szymanski and Nick McFarland to open the Dew Drop Inn.

Whether I’m helping launch a new venture, working through a crisis, or figuring out how to turn an idea into something that actually works, what I enjoy most is building great teams, solving problems, and connecting with people from all walks of life.

What inspired you to join the Board of the Empty Bottle Fund?

I was inspired to get involved with the Empty Bottle Fund by our partner, Matt Szymanski, who was really the driving force behind creating it out of the Sundress Fest. After organizing Sundress Fest for so many years, Matt saw an opportunity to build something more structured and sustainable: an organization that could have an even greater impact in our community.

How does the mission of the Empty Bottle Fund align with your personal values?

The mission really speaks to me. My husband and I started both of our bars (Wonderland Ballroom and Dew Drop Inn) because we wanted to do more than just run a neighborhood business. We wanted to be part of the community, bring people together, and to give back.
to be a part of and support the community we live in.

What was your first experience with the Sundress Festival?

Matthew [McGovern] and I first came up with the idea for the Sundress Festival in 2004. Wonderland had only been open for 6 months, and we were so grateful for all the support from our family, friends, and the Columbia Heights community. We wanted to find a way to say thank you. That first year, we raised $500 for the Harriet Tubman Elementary School Parent Teacher Association. We had about 25 people participate, and we held the very first Sundress competition! I never thought in a million years it would grow into this. 

Can you share a personal story or experience that influenced your decision to get involved?

I’ve spent most of my career in the nonprofit and humanitarian world, so giving back has always been important to me. Our bars may not be nonprofits, but they’ve always been deeply connected to the community – hosting fundraisers, celebrations, awareness campaigns, and community events. The Empty Bottle Fund felt like a natural extension of what we were already doing.

II. Impact and Contributions 

What do you see as the biggest impact the Empty Bottle Fund has on the communities it serves?

It’s not just the money we raise that makes an impact. What I love most is that the festival brings the community together and makes our customers part of helping us support others. They’re not just showing up for a good time. They’re helping us give back to the community we all share.

How do you use your professional background to help manage resources and maximize donations?

Thirty years working across international development, disaster response, and the bar business has given me a pretty unique mix of experience. Along the way, I’ve learned how to organize, stay focused under pressure, and plan for what’s ahead – all skills that I bring to my work with the Empty Bottle Fund.

As a member of the Board, what are you most proud of?

Honestly, one of the things I am most proud of in my life is the fact that we have organized the Sundress Festival for over 22 years. I never expected it to grow the way it has, and the message is so important. We are building community and promoting giving back – things the world needs more of right now. I would also add that we’re very proud that DC Central Kitchen has been our partner for over 10 years.

The Fund works closely with the DC service and hospitality industry. Why do you think this community is so central to the spirit of Washington, DC? 

The service and hospitality industry is one of the places where a city really comes together. It’s where we celebrate, commiserate, make friends, fall in love, share ideas, and meet people we might never cross paths with otherwise. What makes DC’s hospitality community so special is that it brings together people from every walk of life. And that, to me, is a big part of what makes this city feel like a community.

You have a long-standing relationship with DC Central Kitchen. What does their work mean to you personally?

DC Central Kitchen holds a special place in our hearts. Over the past 20 years, we’ve watched them grow while staying deeply committed to DC, providing meals, job training, and real opportunities for people in our community. We’ve participated in their mock interview program and hired several of their graduates at our bars, so we’ve seen their impact firsthand. We’ve also been fortunate to work closely with Alexander Moore, now Chief Development Officer at DCCK, who has been a great partner and friend for many years.

What is a specific goal you have for the Empty Bottle Fund over the next 12 months? 

Over the next 12 months, we’d like to strengthen how we organize and run the festival, while also raising awareness about the Empty Bottle Fund, who we are, and the work we do in the community.

Beyond the Sundress Festival, what are some ways you’d like to support the Columbia Heights community?

The Sundress Festival, for now, is one of our main events, but we’d like to create other events to support those in need in our communities.

III. Just for Fun

The Wonderland Ballroom or Dew Drop Inn: What is your go-to order? 

A foot long and a vodka soda!

If you had to wear a sundress for the festival competition, what would be your “theme” or strategy to win the judges over? 

I would choose a “DC dress and song theme.”

What is your favorite “hidden gem” in DC?

My favorite haunts are the Dew Drop Inn and the Wonderland Ballroom – obviously!

VI. Vision and Future

Final Word: “If someone is looking to get involved with the Empty Bottle Fund but doesn’t know where to start, what’s your best advice?”

It would be essential for any new person to come to at least one Sundress Festival. It would be important to see it live and in action.

Call to Action:

It would be essential for any new person to come to at least one Sundress Festival and experience it for themselves first hand. Also, support our next event or donate directly to our mission at: emptybottlefund.org/donate!