Cause & Celebration: Kidney Ball

The National Kidney Foundation hosted its 31st annual black-tie Kidney Ball fund-raising gala March 14 at Vie in Philadelphia. This year's NKF honorees were Arthur Pasquarella, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Equus Capital Partners; nephrologist Jeffrey Berns of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; and volunteer honoree Bobby Rydell. Each year, the NKF selects a volunteer, physician, and/or corporation as honorees who have exemplified the NKF mission of helping those with kidney disease.

The evening included live and silent auctions. Auction items included a ceremonial first pitch at a Phillies game and an exclusive dinner for eight at the Union League. More than 400 guests were entertained by the Ken Silver Orchestra, as well as Mummers from the Aqua String Band. The Kidney Ball is one of the organization's largest annual fund-raisers and exceeded its goal, raising $435,000 to be used toward the organization's mission of awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease.