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Dan Gross: Diddy to attend Joy to the World benefit gala

SEAN "DIDDY" COMBS is expected Saturday night at the Ritz-Carlton to host the black-tie Joy to the World gala to benefit local families in need, organizers say.

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EAN "DIDDY" COMBS

is expected Saturday night at the Ritz-Carlton to host the black-tie Joy to the World gala to benefit local families in need, organizers say.

Music producer Jermaine Dupri, actors Vivica A. Fox, Boris Kodjoe and Lance Gross, and some cast members from Bravo's "Real Housewives of Atlanta" will also attend, according to Nia Ngina Meeks, who is working on the Joy to the World festival weekend of events.

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams and Mayor Nutter will speak at the gala along with Joy to the World festival founder Tyrone L. Gilliams. The gala is part of a weekend of toy drives, bowling, concerts and kids' entertainment all designed to help local children and families in need.

Some highlights include Thursday's bowling event with Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, comedian Kevin Hart, hip-hop star Fabolous and model Melyssa Ford at North Bowl (909 N. 2nd) and a record-release party Friday night with Jamie Foxx at The Vault (470 N. 2nd).

A full schedule of events and ticket information can be found at joytotheworldfest.org, or call 215-238-1765.

Out and about

"Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino stopped at Fuel (1225 Walnut) for a protein shake and a Thai chicken wrap Friday afternoon before hosting a party at the Roxxy (939 N. Delaware) with Q102's Rocco, who owns Fuel. . . . Mayor Nutter, District Attorney Seth Williams and City Council members Blondell Reynolds Brown, Bill Greenlee and Jack Kelly were among guests at Cashman & Associates' 10th-anniversary party Thursday at Tangerine (232 Market). Rapper Schoolly D; CBS 3's Chris May, Susan Barnett, Jim Donovan and Nicole Brewer; 6ABC's Nydia Han and Jeff Skversky; Fox 29's Mike Jerrick; and NBC10's Justin Pizzi, Dave Warren and Dawn Timmeney were a few of the those who joined Nicole Cashman to celebrate 10 years of her PR/special-events firm. . . . Talk host Steve Wilkos, whose show is seen here at 2 p.m. weekdays on myphl17, had lunch at La Collina (37 Ashland) in Belmont Hills and dinner at Amada (217 Chestnut) on Thursday along with myphl17 GM Vince Giannini and Sean O'Boyle, an NBC Universal syndication sales manager. Wilkos, a former Chicago cop and former head of security for the "Jerry Springer Show," was here to speak with students at the Prism Career Institute in Upper Darby. . . . Le Bec-Fin chef Georges Perrier, his brother Bernard and a friend celebrated the famed chef's 67th birthday Thursday night at Saloon (750 S. 7th), where they went for clams pavarotti, grilled langostino and veal chops with peppers. Across the street at the Fitzwater Cafe (728 S. 7th), Jerry Blavat stopped in to greet its new chef, Stacey DiPlacido-Guokas.

'Big Brother' castmate on cable

Kristen Bitting, who was seen on the last season of CBS' "Big Brother," and her former roommates Nicole La Marca and Rachel Day can now be seen on Comcast on Demand in a show called "Hooking Up at the Jersey Shore." Bitting, 24, a Churchville native and Council Rock South graduate, recently moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Jocks help out March of Dimes

Phillies reliever Ryan Madson, Eagles tight end Brent Celek, Flyers wing James van Riemsdyk and Sixers guard Evan Turner will honor four local special-needs children who have been helped by the March of Dimes during Comcast Sports Net's Shining Star Awards on Jan. 21 at the Westin Philadelphia Hotel. For tickets or more info on the event, visit shiningstarawards.com or call Susan Elder at 610-945-6050.

No free lunch - free breakfast

Alex Patel is opening a Manhattan Bagel (524 S. Oxford Valley Road) in Fairless Hills at 6 a.m. Dec. 20 and will give the first 100 people in line - who are at least 18 and have a photo ID - coupons good for one free breakfast sandwich per week for a year.

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.