Social Circuit, April 21, 2010
A look at the social events, galas, functions and fund-raisers in the area.
March Madness in April
The seventh annual Coaches vs. Cancer BasketBall Gala, held Saturday at the Hyatt at the Bellevue, grossed $900,000 for both the American Cancer Society and its AstraZeneca Hope Lodge for cancer patients and their families. Among the 700 guests were basketball coaches Phil Martelli of St. Joseph's, Fran Dunphy of Temple, James "Bruiser" Flint of Drexel, John Giannini of La Salle, Jerome Allen of Penn, and Jay Wright of Villanova. The top live-auction item was the chance for 10 people to shoot some hoops with the coaches at the Palestra, which went for $70,000. Also auctioned was the chance to spend a day with the coach of your choice, which includes attending a practice session, touring the locker room and facilities, and lunching with the coach. The winning bid was $25,000. Two tickets to each of the Final Four games next year, including the championship game in Houston, went for $11,000.
String theory
Settlement Music School held its 102d Anniversary Gala April 10 at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. The dinner for 450, featuring the school's Student Scholarship Jazz Ensemble of the Kardon-Northeast Branch and the Gail W. Snitzer Advanced Study String Quartet, was cochaired by Don and Lynn Haskin and Konnie and Paul Stark. The evening raised nearly $300,000 for Settlement, which annually serves more than 15,000 students through outreach programs and in six branch locations in the area.
Dinner and duets
The Curtis Institute of Music
held its fourth annual Cool. Classic. Curtis. benefit
April 10 at the school's Field Concert Hall. The dinner featured a duet performance by Curtis opera students Kirsten MacKinnon and Joshua Stewart, followed by dessert and a recital by Curtis students at one of eight private homes in the Rittenhouse Square area. The live auction, which brought in $20,000, included a week in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France, a chef's table for 10 at Prime Rib, and artwork by Moe Brooker. The benefit for 150 guests raised $70,000 for the Curtis Student Assistance Fund.
Bingo blast
It was an evening of dinner, dancing, and bingo at the
11th annual Black-Tie GayBINGO
April 9 at the Crystal Tea Room. The BVDs (Bingo Verifying Divas) stole the show when they kicked up their heels and danced for the 230 guests. Dorothy Mann of the Family Planning Council received the Favorite Straight Person of the Year award. Also honored were Pierre Robert of WMMR and Michaela Majoun of WXPN, who were given the Founders' Award. The benefit raised $35,000 for the AIDS Fund.
Room with a view
Phillies chairman Bill Giles was honored at Chamounix Mansion International Youth Hostel's 46th annual Benefit Celebration, held April 10 at the historic Fairmount Park house. Nearly 150 guests attended the dinner, which was cochaired by Chamounix board members Sandy McMullin and Dee Welge. The house, built in 1802 as a summer retreat for the George Plumsted family, became the first urban hostel in the United States in 1964. The benefit raised $23,000 for the house, which hosts more than 12,000 international visitors each year.