Patti LaBelle rings in Temple University Hospital’s 125th Anniversary
A record-breaking 1,100 people partied with Patti at Acres of Diamonds gala, raising $1.3 million for critical, life-saving care at Temple Hospital. When LaBelle asked for volunteers to join her onstage, good-sport surgeon Thom Santora of Bryn Mawr (pictured above) sang “Lady Marmalade” to the soul sista.
A sparkling night at the Please Touch Museum: Guests took a spin on the carousel and bid on silent auction items, then sashayed down a red carpet to dinner under a huge custom tent.
Main Line star power: Flyers’ anthem singer Lauren Hart emceed and Patti LaBelle brought down the house in sparkling Eagles’ green.
Other luminaries: Dr. Larry Kaiser, president and CEO of Temple Health System, and Board Chair Patrick O’Connor presented the Diamond Award to Richard Englert, Temple University’s president, who’s held 16 leadership roles at Temple. The gala was co-chaired by Dr. Amy Goldberg, Betty Craig, and Lon and Bonnie Greenberg.
In the spotlight: Guests raised their paddles to donate a whopping $300K to the hospital’s Women and Infants Division. Temple was the first local health system to give free Baby Boxes, aka safe sleeping places for newborns, to low-income new mothers.
Did you know? LaBelle, 72, received an honorary Temple degree in 2010. “Temple means a lot to me,” she told partygoers. “It’s where my son was born more than 30 years ago.”
Dr. John Daly of Gladwyne, dean emeritus of TUHS, and his wife, Palma, and Marie O’Connor of Villanova and her husband, Patrick, chairman the the board of TUHS.
Dr. Larry Kaiser, president and CEO of Temple University Health System, and his wife, Lindy Snider, of Bryn Mawr.
Ken Lee, TUH Dept. of Surgery senior administrator, and his wife, Sherry, Adam Messer, associate hospital director for Perioperative Services, and Gala Co-Chair Dr. Amy Goldberg, chair of the Department of Surgery.
Dr. Vincent Cowell, president of the TUH Medical Staff, presenting sponsor of the gala, and his wife, Nora (left) and Denise Dennison of East Falls meet up by the carousel in the Please Touch Museum.
Dr. Verdi DiSesa of Wynnewood, president and CEO of Temple University Hospital, and Acres of Diamonds Gala Co-Chair Betty Craig of Havertown, a chief nursing officer.
Dr. Thomas Santora of Bryn Mawr, vice chair of the Department of Surgery, and his wife, Joyce, editor of Savvy Main Line Social edition, with Mary Ann Oaks, and Kathleen Fox, and her husband, Dr. James Fox, chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery, all of Gladwyne.
Legendary singer Patti LaBelle of Wynnewood gave an hour-long concert.
TUH CFO Jerry Oetzel of Wallingford and his wife, Colleen, and Dr. Generosa Grana of Penn Valley and her husband, Dr. Bill Van Decker, director of Echocardiography.
Dr. Abhi Pathak of King of Prussia, TUH director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and his wife, Anna.
St. Francis’ La Belle Nuit as lovely as its honoree, Tricia Bell Cuddy
Friends wiped away tears and rose to their feet in a standing O for Beneficial Bank President Gerry Cuddy as he accepted the St. Francis Award on behalf of his late wife, Tricia Bell Cuddy.
La Belle: Family and friends toasted the too-short life and lasting legacy of Tricia Bell Cuddy at Merion Cricket Club April 28. The epitome grace, beauty and culture, she tragically lost her two-year battle with cancer two years ago. The Board of St. Francis chose to honor her posthumously for her tireless volunteer work and ministry to the elderly poor at the board’s chosen charity, Holy Family Home in Philly, one of 180 nursing homes in 31 countries run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Les Amis: Tricia’s family and friends included, among others, her sister docents at the Barnes Foundation, fellow board members at Minding Your Mind, and friends from her sons’ schools, Shipley, Haverford School and the French International School of Phila. in Bala Cynwyd.
Son Mari: In his speech, Gerry Cuddy likened La Belle Nuit to a “big family dinner where everyone was related by love or marriage. “Three came here (referring to his two sons) but four of us are present,” he said. He called Tricia’s absence “breathtaking” and spoke of her grace, courage and how she “knew her path” was to share her gifts with others.
Les Bénéfices: La Belle Nuit raised $145,000 to help endow a fund for Holy Family Home in Tricia’s honor.
Gerry Cuddy of Rosemont with sons Payton (left) and Graham. Each wore pocket squares made from one of Tricia Cuddy's scarves and chose floral ties “because Mom would have liked them.”
Event co-chair Kelly Tague (left) and Eileen Myers of Wayne (center) with their husbands, Vince and Scott, and Jane McNeil of Villanova. Eileen is wearing a double cross diamond necklace, a 50th birthday gift from honoree Tricia Cuddy.
Rob Langer and Nicole Robinson of Penn Valley and Debra and Steven Copit of Wynnewood.
Susan Lipson of Bryn Mawr, Ann Robinson of Ardmore, and Amy Erlbaum and Nancy Shein, both of Bryn Mawr.
Committee member Beth Coyne of Gladwyne, Colleen Sullivan of Malvern, Haverford Trust President Binney Wietlisbach and St. Francis Board President Peg Heldring, both of Wayne.
Kristen and Scott Sheffer of Newtown Square.
St. Francis Board VP Karen Duffy of Devon and her husband, Pat, with Little Sisters of the Poor Mother Superior Catherine and “chief beggar” Sister Veronica.
David and Barbara Seegul and Haverford and Joan and Dr. Alfred Lucier of Bryn Mawr.
Rachel Kurtyka of Berwyn, Jo Ann Massengill of Bryn Mawr and Chris and Wade Berrettini of Wynnewood.
St. Francis Board Treasurer Maureen Rennie of Upper Providence and her daughter, Melanie, with St. Francis Board Secretary Geri Heldring of Wayne.
Larry and Dori Dugan of Newtown and St. Francis board member Franca Wilson of Berwyn and her husband, Gary.
Bill and Ann Marie Brennan of Valley Forge and St. Francis board member Meme Wiber of Villanova and husband Greg.
James Curran of Bala Cynwyd and his wife, Annabelle, at St. Francis board member and a docent at the Barnes Museum.
Bryn Mawr Film Institute gala bids adieu to a ‘Goodfriend’
More than 200 local movie buffs gathered at Bryn Mawr College for BMFI’s “Leading Ladies Gala.”
The curtain call: After 15 years at the helm (and taking no salary), Bryn Mawr Film Institute founder and exec. director, Juliet Goodfriend, took a final bow. Playing musical chairs, BMFI’s Board Chair Sam Scott will swap jobs with Juliet in mid-June. Torch passed.
The box office: Boffo. More than $220K will kickstart a new, $3 million campaign to ensure BMFI’s future. Its three funds will include outreach to a younger, more diverse audience, tech updates/maintenance, and the Juliet J. Goodfriend Leadership Fund.
The credits: Gala emcee Dave Roberts, Gala co-chairs Alice Bullitt and Vivian Piasecki, Cocktails in the Cloister sponsor Frank Leto of Bryn Mawr Trust, Keynote speaker Ira Deutchman, a film producer/distributor.
The trailer: BMFI’s 9,000 members enjoy discounted movies in four new or renovated theaters, film classes and special events.
Honoree Juliet Goodfriend (center, front), Doris Greenblatt of Haverford, Juliet’s husband Marc Moreau of Narberth, and Christine Lucas and John Hersker, both of Bryn Mawr.
BMFI Board Chair and incoming Executive Director, Samuel Scott of Bryn Mawr and his wife, Lynn, Patti Roberts of Haverford and her husband, retired 6ABC meteorologist Dave Roberts, the gala emcee, and Martin Phillips of Bryn Mawr and his wife, Anmiryam Budner, also a board member.
Anita Leto and her husband, Frank Leto of Bryn Mawr Trust, sponsor of the pre-gala, “Cocktails in the Cloister” at Bryn Mawr College. Photo La’Perria Haven.
Rosemont College President Sharon Hirsh of Gulph Mills, former PA Sen. Connie Williams of Haverford, and Liz Zelov of Haverford and her husband, Lower Merion Township Commissioner Scott Zelov.
Suzanne and Ron Naples of Wynnewood and Barrett and Barbara Noone of Haverford.
Leslie and Matt Lorei of Wynnewood and jewelry designer Lisi Lerch and her husband, Jonesy, of W. Conshohocken.
Leading Lady Gala Co-Chairs Alice Bullitt and Vivian Piasecki, both of Haverford.
Grand Prix Gala revs fundraising engines for Main Line Art Center
The Main Line met Monte Carlo April 29 when more than 225 came out for a Riviera-chic soirée at Main Line Art Center in Haverford.
The swells: Dressed in their Grace Kelly, Zelda or Bond best, guests sipped, supped and mingled amid autos and art.
The eye candy: Gorgeous vintage and new Porsches, Maseratis and McLarens from the gala’s lead partner, RDS Automotive Group.
Also worth ogling: The smashing paintings in the center’s juried Spring Gala Exhibition, sold via “red dot reserve.”
Who wins: The 21, 000 folks served by the Center, including kids and adults with disabilities enrolled in Accessible Art programs.
Joy Keiser of Bryn Mawr, MLAC Board president Wendy Branzburg of Bala Cynwyd, Susan Shapiro of Bala Cynwyd, Ann Witkes of Gladwyne and Leslie Melman.
Walter and Jennifer Robinson of Bala Cywnyd and event co-chair and local cable TV host Pat Nogar of Trooper and her husband, David.
Peter Curtis and MLAC teacher and volunteer Andrea Snyder of Bryn Mawr and Barry and Leslie Melman of Bala Cynwyd.
A meeting of millinery and networking minds: Zoya Egan of Wayne, event co-chair Li Halpern of Merion, Karen Toole-Ebbert of Belmont Hills and Chesco’s Brigid McGrath Stasen and Tiffany Arey.
Tina Albero, Paul Sohmer and Laughlin Rice, all of Bryn Mawr.
MLAC Board member Mara Schiffman of Bryn Mawr and Jill and Sid Sternberg of Wynnewood.
Standing before one of their company’s vintage cars (a ’96 Porsche 911-993 in Riviera Blue) are Eric Silver, Ali Scott and Evan Wawrzyniak of RDS, the gala’s lead sponsor.
Heather Ott of Bryn Mawr, Meghan O’Neil of Philly and Kimberly Neff of Narberth.
Starry night for Surrey Services
A sellout crowd of 250 local movers and shakers gathered at Aronimink April 29 for Surrey‘s “Night of the Stars” gala and auction.
A star: Longtime Tredyffrin pol and Surrey friend Paul Olson was given the Sondra Speer Scott Inspiration Award.
The fringe on top: $100K for Surrey’s work to help older adults live independent, fit and fulfilling lives.
Rolling right along: Surrey is bursting with new programs. Not only does it provide transport, home care services and meals to seniors, the nonprofit recently started a speaker series, expanded its fitness and arts classes, and began offering free dental exams on Thursdays and Fridays at its Devon center (in partnership with the good folks at Community Volunteers in Medicine).
Surrey Business Development manager Steve Trubey of Malvern, event chair Maureen McTamney of Berwyn, committee member Lois Kistler of Devon, Surrey Board Chair Bruce Hopper of Devon and wife Dorrie.
David Miller and Surrey board members Maureen Brennan-Miller and Carole Rubley, with Andrea Olson and her husband, honoree Paul Olson.
Brett and Lisa Furman of Re/Max Classic, gala sponsors.
Former and current Tredyffrin politicos, Heather Greenberg of Paoli and Judy DiFilippo of Devon, with Kristin Robie of Paoli, daughter of honoree Paul Olson.
Nancy and Taylor Caldwell of Chesterbrook.
Penn Med exec Kevin Mahoney with wife Pam (left) of Malvern and Wayne attorney Jenifer Donahue.
Funeral home owner Robert D’Anjolell of Newtown Square and wife Maryann, event sponsors.
Carol and Joe Balsan of Paoli and Bill and Cissy Claypool of Newtown Square.
Mystery novelist John Dobbyn of Valley Forge and his wife, Lois.
Deb and Bob Madonna of West Chester, Surrey president and CEO, and attorney Robin Bond of Chesterbrook.
St. Joe’s Kinney Center raises autism awareness at luncheon fashion show
An inspiring talk about hiring people on the spectrum gave way to an inspired runway show at the annual Autism Awareness luncheon at Aronimink April 21.
The Who: 160 Main Line women shopped, bid, and lunched, then heard about the cool Autism to Work Initiative at Computer Aid Inc. The Allentown-based global IT company has connected more than 50 associates with autism to meaningful IT careers.
The What: Pop-up shopping, silent auction and sprightly spring styles from Louella, a boutique in Wayne, Malvern and (coming next week) Bryn Mawr. Also on the runway: Classic kiddie styles from Sail to Sable.
The Why: The annual luncheon raised more than $25K for the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support at SJU. The Center provides social skills, recreational, day camp and respite programs to children, teens and adults with autism and their families. It also trains students for careers serving people on the spectrum. Villanova residents Paul and Margaret Hondros founded the Center in 2009 and co-chair its board. About 850 area families use Kinney programs.
Kinney Center founder and board co-chair Margaret Hondros of Villanova, Louella owner Maria Delany of Wayne, and SAVVY Main Line’s Caroline O’Halloran, who emceed the runway fashion show.
Ryan Hammond, executive director of SJU’s Kinney Center, welcomes guest speakers Michael Hussey and Tom Salvaggio, division manager and president, respectively, of Computer Aid Inc.’s Autism to Work Initiative.
Beth Missett (center) of Broomall, director of Parent Programs at St. Joe's, explored the shopping options with Kinney Center parent supporters Jean Chey (left) of Bryn Mawr and Karen Gorman (right) of Vienna, VA.
Donna Higgins of Haverford, Mary Battle of Wynnewood, Anna McGinn of Bedminster, NJ, and Joann Krause of Broomall.
Sisters Sheila Grubb of Villanova and Judy Martelli of Media watch the runway fashion show.
Hilltop Preparatory School parents and friends Lisa Morris of Radnor, Meg Young of Bryn Mawr, Rena Ferris of Devon and Aralisha Newbold of Berwyn.
Kori Snyder of Berwyn, Kim Harrar of Devon, Ashley Fox of Bryn Mawr, and Paige Turner of West Chester.
Kinney Center supporters Jean Leatherwood of Ft. Washington, Wendy Brooks of Devon, Lia Gorman of Malvern and Lynne Boro of Exton.
Bag Bingo brings bucks & good times for Ryan’s Case for Smiles
A sell-out crowd of 329 turned out for Bag Bingo, a benefit for the Wayne-based charity, Ryan’s Case for Smiles (formerly ConKerr Cancer), at St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church in Broomall.
Calling the numbers: Mr. Entertainment Scott Crothamel, husband of Valley Forge Middle School teacher Jennifer Crothamel, once the homebound teacher for Ryan Kerr, the charity’s inspiration. Ryan lost his long fight with bone cancer in high school but never lost his pluck (or his smile).
The winnings: BINGO = a designer handbag. Or one of a dozen gift baskets and trips.
What’s remarkable: A small-potatoes charity started ten years ago by Ryan’s mom, home sewer Cindy Kerr, has blossomed into a nonprofit with 120 chapters and thousands of volunteers. Cindy and her merry band have stitched 1.5 million pillowcases (!) to cheer up kids in some 342 hospitals around the globe.
Another reason to smile: Ryan’s Case for Smiles has expanded its mission to help hospitalized children and their families who might be experiencing PTSD. Nice going.
Gavin Kerr of Wayne, CEO of Inglis House and a board member for Case for Smiles, and his wife, Cindy Kerr.
Front row: Sandi Gorman, Barbara Vanett and Jennifer Vastardis, all of Wayne. Back row: Wendy DiRico of Wayne, Kerry Burke of Newtown Square, Chip Packer, Carol Tompkins, Erin Shine and Pat Grimes, also of Wayne.
Jamie Lynch of Wayne, Sarah Culbert of Phoenixville, Beth Stanfield, Phyllis Reid and Stephanie Crean, all of Wayne.
Karen Pozefsky of Valley Forge, Ryan's Case for Smiles Coordinator Sharon Caldwell of Cape May, NJ, and founder Cindy Kerr.
Front row: Claudia Genuardi of Malvern, Linda Augustine and Marie Ciancuilli of Jeffersonville. Back row: Irene Lastra of Springfield, Susie Curry of Chesterbrook, Sue Flynn of Chester Springs and Michelle Oreski of Chesterbrook.
Operations Manager Missy Lusk of King Of Prussia and Ryan’s Case for Smiles founder Cindy Kerr of Wayne.
Valley Forge Middle School teachers and staff Allie Brazunas, Jenn Crothamel, Lisa Dirado, Cynthia Johnson and Jenn Pettia.
Tours of Wynnewood design home to benefit MANNA
More than 200 people enjoyed drinks, bites, and a first peek at a swanky Wynnewood estate, Philadelphia Magazine’s 15th Anniversary Design Home April 27.
Not too shabby: Professionally designed from top to tail, this 6,500 sq. ft. looker has an outdoor living room, a massage room in the master suite, a piano room and a 4-bay garage with flex space above. Goes without saying there’s an “ultimate chef’s kitchen.”
Listed at: A cool $4.15 million by Berkshire-Hathaway.
See for yourself: $25 gets you a walk-through 424 N. Sydbury Lane, with 100% of proceeds benefiting MANNA’s meals programs. Open M, Th, Sat & Sun. 11 to 4 through May 21. Ladies night is May 10, 6 to 8.
Design House builder Mark Weiss of Weiss and Associates, of Wayne, Philly Mag's Director of Home and Real Estate Sherry Litwer of Bala Cynwyd, MANNA Director of External Affairs Rob Saxton, Barbara Kaplan of Wynnewood, chair of MANNA’s Advisory Board, and Ashley Patterson of Berwyn, publisher of Philly Mag.
Amy Holtman of Narberth, and Nick Pendergast, Urszula Pollard and Jeff Pendergast, a broker with Berkshire Hathaway, the agency listing the 2017 Design Home, all of Ardmore.
Design Home interior designers Polly Carlton of Phoenixville, with Winslow Interiors, and Kathy Moore of Wayne, with KAM Interiors, and Design Home Architects Murray Spencer of Philadelphia and Matt Long of Berwyn, both with McIntyre Capon and Associates.
In the Design Home’s piano room, Tim Oliver of Fairmount, co-owner of Cunningham Piano, sang a song from the musical, “Hamilton,” accompanied by pianist Jay Royal. Tickets to “Hamilton” were raffled off that evening.
Builder Don Kotchick of Media and his wife, Kathy, and Tom Weston of Philadelphia, with McIntrye Capon and Associates, near the Dekton waterfall countertop on the island of the chef's kitchen.
From West Laurel Hill Cemetery are Priyanka Setty and Michele Meckler of Philadelphia and Deborah Cassidy of Havertown.
Stephanie Viggiano of Bryn Mawr inspects the boutique-style ladies’ dressing area, with a shoe and handbag feature wall.
All hands on deck for Corinthian Yacht Club’s 125th anniversary
One of the oldest continuously operating yacht clubs in the U.S. celebrated its grand history April 22 with fireworks and a waterside dinner and dancing along the Delaware.
The crew: Michael Bacon (half of the Bacon Brothers band) added some sizzle to the soirée. For the record, Bacon’s not the first illustrious Philly family to grace the yacht club’s doors in Essington. Past commodores include Kents, Wanamakers, Scotts and Dorrances.
Making waves: The five-years-young Main Line Scholastic Sailing Association, founded by current Commodore Art Bell of Paoli. The association now has 25 schools vying for the Bell Cup each spring and fall. College teams from Drexel, Villanova and Penn sail out of the Corinthian, too.
Jeff and Kathy McCarron of Wayne and David Breimhurst, formerly of Wayne.
Fran Hoekstra of Malvern and her husband, Vice Commodore Djoerd Hoekstra.
Commodore Art Bell and Ann Renee Bell of Paoli, and Barbara Ragan of Gladwyne.
Bacon Brother Michael Bacon with wife, Betsy (center) of Phoenixville and NYC, with Mary Rapoport, also of NYC.
Normally I love reading this everyweek but this week felt like the “society section” in the Mainline newspaper. I missed the tid bits you usually write about, either news worthy or restaurant and shop information.
Yes, this was our bi-monthly “social” edition, highlighting charity events. Our “original” edition SAVVY will come your way in a few days – lots of newsy tidbits en route!