Social Circuit
A look at the social events, galas, functions and fund-raisers in the area.
25 years and counting
The Friends of Rittenhouse Square celebrated the historic park and past chairs of its largest fund-raiser on June 19 at the silver anniversary of Ball on the Square. Georges Perrier catered the event and made the rounds, greeting some of the 450 guests who turned out for the black-tie gala. Guests promenaded to the dance floor to the sounds of the Eddie Bruce Band. As part of the 25th anniversary celebration, chairs from past balls were invited back and individually recognized, greeted by a standing ovation. More than $400,000 was raised at the ball for the Friends of Rittenhouse Square, a group that works to preserve, protect and beautify the historic park, one of the five original squares laid out in William Penn's plan for the city.
Cars star
Even a rainstorm wouldn't discourage guests from venturing outdoors to see the classic and modern luxury cars on display at UBS Motor Cars Under the Stars, a fund-raiser for United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia & Vicinity. Moet Hennessy provided specialty cocktails and Timmy Kelly, of Huntingdon Valley, a 15-year-old singer with cerebral palsy, performed for the 450 guests in attendance. A raffle of 99 gift certificates of $100 and one certificate of $5,000 to Bernie Robbins Jewelers was held. The evening grossed $240,000 for United Cerebral Palsy, a group that offers programs to more than 7,000 children and adults affected by the disease.
Rustling up some funds
Children's Crisis Treatment Center had 350 partygoers trading gowns and suits for cowboy boots at the Loews Hotel for 2008 Roundup, an annual Western-themed fund-raising party. The evening of drinks, dinner, and country-and-western dancing raised more than $260,000 for the center, which provides comprehensive mental and behavioral services to abused and neglected young children. A weeklong stay at a Tuscan villa was auctioned not once, but twice. When the buy-it-now price of $7,000 was quickly met, another week's stay was put up for bid. The two trips brought in a combined $13,000.
Moonlight in the garden
More than 650 friends of flora spent the evening among glorious blooms at Moonlight & Roses on June 13 in the Morris Arboretum's Rose Garden. Guests who stayed for dinner made their way to one of two tents: the Rose Tent, where they dined in an intimate setting, or the Moonlight Tent, where guests packed the dance floor to the sounds of Jellyroll. The annual fund-raising gala for the 92-acre public garden grossed $200,000 to help support the arboretum's annual operating costs and "Out on a Limb - A Tree Adventure Exhibit," slated for groundbreaking this fall. The exhibit's highlight is a 275-foot canopy walk that takes visitors from the forest floor to the treetops four stories above.
State of the Art
Members of the local arts community were recognized by the Painted Bride Art Center for their contributions to the greater Philadelphia arts community at the inaugural Artists of the City Awards on June 1. The honorees of the evening were Moe Brooker, newly appointed chair of Philadelphia's Art Commission; Jesse Bermudez, founder and president of Artistas y Musicos Latino Americanos; and Germaine Ingram, tap dancer, choreographer, and longtime leader within the Philadelphia Folklore Project. A silent auction included cross-country plane tickets, hotel stays, work from local artists, and more. More than 175 people attended the event, which supports the Bride's artistic and community programming.
"Social Circuit" appears in the daily Magazine on Wednesdays. Contact us at 215-854-5747 or socialcircuit@phillynews.com