Social Circuit

Car sales may be on the skids, but more than 3,000 guests attended the Philadelphia International Auto Show's Black Tie Tailgate Preview Gala on Jan. 30 at the Convention Center. Guests checked out more than 700 cars and trucks from 40 manufacturers, including the show's most expensive model, a 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Convertible with a sticker price of $487,000. The Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation presented a check for $333,333 to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation held its third annual Lemon Ball for more than 600 guests Jan. 17 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Liz Scott, whose daughter Alex died of cancer at age 8 in 2004, auctioned off a plate of her lemon cookies for $13,000. Among the award recipients were the owners and trainer of thoroughbred racing champion Afleet Alex, and Gail Apfel, who was the principal of Penn Wynne Elementary School when Alex was a student there. The benefit, sponsored by Volvo, raised $500,000 for childhood cancer research.

Peter's Place held its winter fund-raiser, Twizzle and Swizzle, on Jan. 31 at the Philadelphia Skating Club in Ardmore. The event, attended by more than 170 adults and children, raised $8,000 for the Radnor-based nonprofit. Founded in 2001 in memory of 10-year-old Peter Morsbach, Peter's Place helps families cope with the death of a family member, offering programs that include peer support for grieving children, teens and their caregivers, and outreach services to public schools in underserved communities.

Anne and Matt Hamilton hosted the American Heart Association's preview party Jan. 22 at the Please Touch Museum. Among the 100 guests were PREIT Services president Joseph F. Coradino and University of Pennsylvania Hospital professor of medicine John W. Hirshfeld Jr., who will be honored at the Heart Association's annual Heart Ball, to be held March 14 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.