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.”
[masterslider id=”29″]
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.
[masterslider id=”26″]
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.
[masterslider id=”23″]
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.
[masterslider id=”28″]
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).
[masterslider id=”31″]
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.
[masterslider id=”25″]
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.
[masterslider id=”30″]
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.
[masterslider id=”32″]
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.
[masterslider id=”27″]
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!