Last gatherings of summer, first fund-raisers of fall

While some folks are getting in that last bit of summer fun, others are gearing up for fall fund-raisers.

STEVIN and Leslie Groth hosted their 10th annual Cigar-B-Que at their Sylvania home Saturday. "It's a great end-of-summer party. It's casual and we just have fun," said Mrs. Groth. Guests mingled as the Bob Rex Trio played jazz tunes under the stars.

Leslie and Stevin Groth held their 10th annual Cigar-B-Que at their Sylvania home.

A SUMMER family barbecue presented by Northern Light Masonic Lodge No. 40 was Sunday at the riverfront home of Barney Stickles. The picnic was a benefit for the lodge's Ghana Relief Project for a school for the deaf in Ghana, West Africa. Mari Towslee, daughter of lodge member Doug Towslee, served in the Peace Corps in Ghana and taught at the school. During her service the lodge donated monies to pay for a walker for a physically and mentally handicapped child and a pair of glasses for another child and more. With the funds raised Mari will be returning to Ghana in September to coordinate the purchase and distribution of supplies and equipment. The picnic raised $800, which brings the total so far to $5,000, thanks to the nearly 100 guests.

THE National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) held a team captains luncheon Aug. 26 at Toledo Botanical Garden for its inaugural Walk for the Mind of America slated for Oct. 8 at the Erie Street Market. The walk, which takes place across the United States, is part of an effort to raise awareness of mental health issues. Walks have been held in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus for the past two years.

Honorary chairmen for the walk are Johnny Mickler, CEO of the Greater Toledo Urban League, and Toledo first lady Cynthia Ford, executive director of Mom's House. Working chairmen are Mary Jo Swartzberg of the Medical University of Ohio and Laura Draheim of Lucas County Children Services. NAMI is affiliated with the Lucas County Mental Health Board and United Way of Greater Toledo. The board president is Sharon Green-Gaines and the executive director is Marci Colton Dvorak. At the kick-off, about 100 supporters were present, including a few committee members such as Gayle Campbell, Linda Wininger, Denise Benton, Wes Bullock, and Sue Zake. Guest speaker was Norman Clemens, clinical professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University and a member of the NAMI national advisory board.

HOME Instead of Senior Care hosted a benefit Aug. 26 at the Toledo Club for the Alzheimer's Association.

It was a blast: Live game shows, casino games, and a silent auction ran all evening, and scrumptious hors d'oeuvres were served. The fun was all for $25 per person.

Thanks to the more than 50 in attendance, the estimated net is $2,000. It was such a success that they are already making plans for next year's benefit.

PARTY in the Parking Lot was presented by Community Shares Aug. 25 at the Jack Gallon Building. The inaugural event was a campaign kick-off, and Mr. Gallon was recognized as honorary chairman. The board president is Rhoda Miller of Planned Parenthood. Community Shares is an umbrella organization for 26 member agencies, all of which have a representative on the board. About 200 guests feasted on fantastic foods and danced the night away to the tunes of the KGB Band. The Children's Theater Workshop also provided entertainment. The estimated net is about $2,000 and lots of fun.

THE TOLEDO Animal Shelter Auxiliary was host on Aug. 24 at Belmont Country Club to the Toledo Animal Shelter Picnic, an event where auxiliary members, shelter board members, and friends of the shelter get together. It included a social hour, a picnic food buffet topped with an ice cream sundae bar, music by Kevin Korecki at the keyboards, a silent auction of wine and cheese baskets, floral arrangements and more, and plenty of time for chatting with friends.

Auxiliary president Pat Hunter, there with hubby Stu, welcomed everyone and served as emcee. Shelter board president Jack Fynes, there with his wife, Pam, announced that the shelter is providing space for Team Greyhound and has joined with Hospice to house the pets of residents during their stay. Gayle Bayer announced that the shelter has a Web site which she set up, Toledoanimalshelter.com, where one can purchase pet supplies; a percentage of the sales goes back to the shelter.

Among the nearly 130 guests were Barney Stickles, Jean Smith, Rob and Elaine Ludeman, Bill Coin, Jackie Rousseau Werner and Hank Werner, Jeff Millns, Sue Lovett, Dave Schulz, Bill and Margaret Foster, Nancy Ligibel, Carol Arnold, Edith Rathbun, Lew Heldt, Gloria and Howard Schmelzer, Karen Merrels, Stephanie White and George Van Sickle, Joe and Shirley Gerdenich, Judy O'Brien, Steve Serchuk and Nancy Delikat, Randy Schnee, Jo Ann Abbott, Helen Seiple, Marcia and Tony Helman, Michael Craig, Bonnie and Mike Milano, Linda and Clint McBee, Becky Fuhrman and Don Leary, George Riser, Jr., Ruth Walsh and Jim Van Deilan, and Shirley and Al Churchill of Lambertville, who donated a 1981 photo of the shelter for the lobby.

THE seasoned members of Casa Barron Softball Team gathered for a party at the Perrysburg home of Bill Ahern on Aug. 20. The team has been together for about 18 years, starting in the 35-and-over league and progressing to the 40-and-over league. Scott Cunningham joked, "Unfortunately, we now need to either find a 50-and-over league that will accept us or join a golf league instead!"