SOCIAL CIRCUIT
A look at the social events, galas, functions and fund-raisers in the area.
Chemical reaction
The Chemical Heritage Foundation
celebrated the opening of its new $20 million museum in the former 1865 First National Bank Building at Third and Chestnut Streets at its
Grand Gala
Nov. 7. The museum, renovated by SaylorGregg Architects, features the history of chemistry in its collection of scientific instruments, rare books, fine art, and the personal papers of prominent scientists. Among the 175 guests were 1981 Nobel laureate in chemistry Roald Hoffmann, former Rohm & Haas chairman John Haas, and former Arco president and chief executive Hal Sorgenti.
Parkinson Council award
The Parkinson Council of the Greater Delaware Valley
honored Comcast founders Julian Brodsky and Ralph Roberts at its inaugural
Danny Award
luncheon Nov. 19 at the Union League. Comcast chairman and chief executive officer Brian Roberts accepted the award on behalf of his father, who was not able to attend. The award was created in memory of Daniel Aaron, Comcast's first chief operating officer, who died of Parkinson's in 2003. The benefit for nearly 200 raised $340,000.
Helping seniors
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
held its
M. Powell Lawton Quality of Life Award benefit
Nov. 6 at the Union League. The luncheon honored pioneering African American journalists Claude A. Lewis, former Inquirer columnist, and Acel Moore, Inquirer associate editor emeritus and winner of a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in 1977. The event, attended by more than 130 guests, raised $32,000 for the Emergency Fund for Older Philadelphians.
Spread the music
In celebration of the
Academy of Community Music
's 25th anniversary, pianist Andre Watts performed a recital of works by Scarlatti, Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy and Ravel Nov. 15 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. The evening for 180 guests honored the memory of longtime supporter Dick Doran. The benefit raised $60,000 to support the academy's Crescendo music therapy program.
Talent show
Poet Maya Angelou and TV producer Norman Lear received the
Marian Anderson Award
Nov. 17 at the Kimmel Center. A reception and gala dinner for 500, chaired by David Cohen, preceded the awards ceremony and star-studded program, which featured the Philadelphia Orchestra, dancer Ben Vereen, filmmaker Jonathan Demme, singer Harry Belafonte, actress CCH Pounder, and a piano performance by 11-year-old Aiyana Tedi Braun of Wayne. The evening, chaired by Pamela A. Crawley, raised $155,000 to support the event.