Fund-raiser frenzy aids community

WAREHOUSE IS THEIR HOUSE: Janet Albright and Richard Rideout's new residence is plenty spacious, yet warm and cozy.

Hires / Blade

Giving back to the community through one's time and money: Where would we be without the generous support of volunteers and contributors? They give time and time again and volunteer for countless hours. This type of social leadership and business support help shape and develop nonprofit organizations.

The fund-raisers may be glitzy affairs but these philanthropists support them at the sacrifice of their own personal time and money. Still, they seem never to complain.

SURVIVORS: Not only are MaryAnn Kline and Robert Alexander surviving, they appear to be thriving in the tropical atmosphere.

After a holiday break with friends and families, community supporters are gearing up for benefits for their favorite charities.

SURVIVE, a takeoff of the TV show, was the perfect theme for the YMCA and JCC Scholarship Campaign Kick-Off last Monday at Stranahan Great Hall as guests ventured out despite the weather. But the show must go on, and it did amid palms trees, tropical foods, and Tiki statues. Guests in island attire sported their group's tribal scarves.

After a conch horn signal, the 14 tribal leaders carried torches to the stage and provided their groups tally toward the $1.4 million campaign goal. The chairman is Eric Summons and the co-chairman is Mary Ann Kline. Chairman of the board is Mike Anderson.

PSST! The latest buzz is the Crosby Award Luncheon to benefit Toledo Botanical Garden. It's not just any luncheon: It's a hotsy-totsy upscale affair that celebrates beautiful women in the community. And the price says so too: $500 per ticket to admit two guests. The elegant social affair is based on an elite New York event that benefits Central Park gardens.

Ladies dressed to the nines will dine on a delightful gourmet lunch at elegantly set tables amid oodles of fresh-cut flowers under a tent in the Shade Garden. Luncheon chairmen are Paula Fall, Cam Nitschke, Betsy Rumpf, Marcia Silverman, and Barbara Steele. The hostess committee is Kay Foster, Pat Appold, Jan Merrell, Sara Moynihan, and Kathi Souder. Invitations for benefit ambassadors were addressed Jan. 24 in Mrs. Foster's Maumee riverfront home. This inaugural year's honoree is Dorothy MacKenzie Price.

INVITATION ONLY: Cynthia Ford, left, Kathy Holmes, and Candace Morel sign, stamp, and stuff invitations in Mrs. Morel's home for Mom's Nite Out 2004.

WHAT a difference a decade makes. Mom's House will host its 10th anniversary celebration A Decade of Diamonds, Feb. 21, during the annual Mom's Nite Out at The Pinnacle.

The scoop on the party was out during an invitation addressing party Jan. 21 in the Sylvania home of Candy Morel.

This year's celebrity mom is Kathy Holmes. Nashville recording artist Jenna Thomas, 17, will perform.

A MIDWINTER Musical was in the Perrysburg home of Sandy Carman Jan. 21 to support the upcoming Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra Mardi Gras concert and dinner, Feb. 21, at Owens Community College Performing Arts Center. Tickets cost just $35, a suggested minimum donation per person. They will, however, accept more; it's all deductible.

The first donors were Dick Knepper and his wife, Jackie.

Meanwhile, the musical was a welcome respite from the cold weather with delectable delights and various musicians from the PSO. Among the guests were board president Bob Hawker and his wife, Wava, Al Rava, Brian and Andrea Fischer, George Jones, Chris and Judy Finkbeiner, Terry Horrigan, Eric Beale and his wife, Barb Cubbon Beale, Nasr Khan, Patty and Dave Wise, John Ayling, Carty Finkbeiner, and Nancy and John Jack, who recently opened a bed and breakfast in Perrybsurg at the Waterville bridge. Also attending were newly engaged Joe Gorski and Clare Smith. Ms. Carman was assisted by Mrs. Fischer and Paula Baldoni.

GREEN AND BEAR IT: Clockwise from left, Lacey Young, Laura Baird, Becky Hauck, and Lisa Silverman are the co-chairmen of the ticket committee for the Green Bear Ball that will benefit the Ottawa Hills school system.

THE GREEN Bear Ball to benefit the Ottawa Hills school system is slated for April 24 at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library downtown. A ticket sales kick-off party was Jan. 14 in the home of Lisa Silverman, who is ticket co-chairman with Becky Hauck.

The event will include auctions of student art and other gifts, a cash raffle, grazing, a martini bar, and dancing to the KGB band. Chairmen are Laura Baird and Lacey Young.

THE 15th annual Practically a Golf Tournament (PGT) and Grazing on the Greens Fore: The Funky Formal Golf Gala that benefits the Epilepsy Center will be here just in time to chase away the winter blues. The PGT runs Feb. 12-18 and the gala is Feb. 15 at Westfield Shoppingtown Franklin Park.

A tee-off party was Jan. 8 at Hops Restaurant, Bar, and Brewery, where guests feasted on tasty appetizers including fried calamari, Jamaican chicken and sirloin, and more.

Seen were PGT general chairman Matt Zubleski, honorary chairman Michael Bell, and gala chairmen Jim and Marge Sander and Mark and Suzanne Loomus.

THE GARDEN Club Forum's All About Town-themed Scintilla is slated for March 25. Chairmen Jean Smith and Sharon Lynch announced the date at a preview party Jan. 5 at the Toledo Club.

The event, which includes a silent auction, raffle, lunch, fashion preview, and floral competition will be at Stranahan Great Hall. Proceeds will benefit the club's Gateway Project to plant trees at Toledo's major gateways and continued support of the Toledo Botanical Garden and horticulture scholarships.

It was a labor of love for Richard Rideout and Janet Albright as they worked to create their new digs in downtown Toledo. And Saturday night it was time to show their home off with a big open house bash for 500 of their friends plus everyone who helped with the project.

WAREHOUSE IS THEIR HOUSE: Janet Albright and Richard Rideout's new residence is plenty spacious, yet warm and cozy.

The 114-year-old building at the corner of St. Clair and Washington was a warehouse of junk when they bought it nearly three years ago, but it's now an upscale 5,500 square foot, New York-style pad that spans three levels and has a city room and sun deck.

The place is eclectic with a mix of antiques, architecture, and modern art. And all have stories to tell, whether it's his daughter Jenny's painting, Janine Ody's stained glass, or Mike Wallace's glass pieces.

One room is decorated with Mr. Rideout's sailing paraphernalia, while the city room and deck provide a garden and sun area for Ms. Albright. The original hard wood plank floors, brick walls, and open rafter 16 foot ceilings are accented with modern lighting, artsy chandeliers, skylights, and industrial looking aluminum staircases.

“We bought stuff we liked and built around it,” Mr. Rideout says.

Each room has a view of downtown Toledo with lots of windows that were once boarded up. A few columns break up the large spaces, and the fireplaces, antiques, and furniture add warmth and a cozy feeling to the open-air concept.

It took about two and a half years of 24/7 work to complete the place, so Mr. Rideout framed and hung his old work clothes as a reminder

in his multilevel office, which includes a winding staircase. There are other businesses in the building.

The great part, Mr. Rideout claims, is that, “It's so nice not to have to drive a car to work!”

He just treads across a catwalk to his office that adjoins their home. Ms. Albright has to walk across the street to Owens Corning. Meanwhile their cats, Louis and Emma, prowl around or take a snooze by one of the many windows.

The couple hope that their residence will be used as an example to lure other people downtown to live.

So you don't miss a thing, here's a guide to some upcoming events.