Starry, starry night

Entertainer and entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs was in town to attend the inaugural Joy to the World Fest Black-Tie Gala, held Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton. Among the 400 guests were actress Sheree Whitfield of Bravo's The Real Housewives of Atlanta, actor Lance Gross of TBS's Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and music producer Jermaine Dupri, who spun records while Combs rapped for a set. Proceeds from the gala will support the mission of the Joy to the World Foundation, founded this fall by Tyrone L. Gilliams Jr. to focus on issues around hunger, homelessness, and youth development in urban America, beginning in Philadelphia.

Making tracks

The Main Line Antiques Show opened with a Preview Party for more than 300 guests Nov. 19 at the Radnor Valley Country Club in Villanova. The show, held Nov. 20 to 21, featured a loan exhibit and lecture program, "Visiting the Main Line - Railroad Ties." With Anne Hamilton and Betty Moran as honorary chairs and Nick Vandekar as chair of the show, the benefit raised $115,000 for Surrey Services for Seniors.

The young and charitable

Fuel the Cure, a nonprofit organization run by volunteering young professionals to raise money for a local charity, held its third annual gala Nov. 20 at Trust in Old City. The nonprofit was founded in 2008 by Dickinson College grad Mirza Cavalic, 29, to encourage charitable giving among young professionals. Each year Fuel the Cure designates a different charity as recipient of the funds raised from the annual benefit. This year's gala, attended by 450 guests, raised $68,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The write stuff

The Center for Literacy honored its Literacy Champions at its Reading Writers fund-raiser, held Nov. 22 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. The honorees were Deidre Farmbry, Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, William T. Saunders, the Phillies, and PNC. The evening, cochaired by Carol Saline and Alexis Moore Bruton, featured dramatic readings by actors Tom McCarthy and Melanye Finister. The event for 200 raised $52,000 for the center, which provides literacy education and diploma programs through its 81 learning centers in the Philadelphia area.

Power lunch

The Urban League of Philadelphia held its eighth annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Community Empowerment Awards Luncheon Dec. 3 at the Hyatt Regency Penn's Landing. The event honored Ahmeenah Young of the Convention Center, Melvina Cannon of Sunoco, Mellanie K. Lassiter of Peco, Philadanco, and Temple University. Among the luncheon's 375 guests were Mayor Nutter, Councilman Bill Green, State Rep. Dwight Evans, State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, and Charisse Lillie of Comcast.

Contact Caroline Stewart at 215-854-5747 or at socialcircuit@phillynews.com