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Social Circuit

Dec. 16, 2009

Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria, decked out for the Pennsylvania Society dinner.
Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria, decked out for the Pennsylvania Society dinner.Read moreCLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer

Big Apple soiree

Philanthropist H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest received the Pennsylvania Society's Gold Medal Award at its 111th annual dinner Saturday at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York. Among the 1,600 movers and shakers attending were Gov. and Midge Rendell; Mayor Nutter and his wife, Lisa; Sen. Bob Casey; Sen. Arlen Specter and his wife, Joan; Pennsylvania Society president Roy Zimmerman; David F. Girard-diCarlo; and Albert Boscov. The program included a speech by Lenfest, a video of his life, and performances by tenor Michael Amante and students from the Curtis Institute of Music, who sang a patriotic medley.

Early birds

Nearly 700 guests celebrated the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition's 40th anniversary at its Annual Breakfast, held Nov. 20 at the Crystal Tea Room. The benefit, chaired by Lorina Marshall-Blake and Bernard Smalley, raised $307,000, setting a new fund-raising record for the event. The breakfast honored Lisa Nutter, president of Philadelphia Academies; City Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco; James Brown, chairman of Alpha Office Supplies; and Nicholas Torres, president of Congreso.

Boys' night out

The Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson held its first Men's Event Nov. 17 at the Prime Rib restaurant. The evening for 140 guests featured comedian Joe Conklin as the emcee, a silent and live auction, a casino, and Neiman Marcus models wearing the latest fashions. Among the event's cochairs were Thomas Jefferson University trustee Kenneth Boone, Mark Nicoletti, and Thomas Jefferson University urology chair Dr. Lenny Gomella. The Men's Event raised $150,000 to benefit prostate cancer research and awareness at the Kimmel Cancer Center.

East meets west

The Philadelphia Museum of Art's Women's Committee presented its 33d annual Craft Show Nov. 12 through 15 at the Convention Center, featuring 195 craft artists selected from more than 1,300 applicants. For the first time in the show's history, Korean artists exhibited and sold their work. The show, including the Nov. 11 Preview Party for 1,000, raised $330,000 for the museum.