Big night of music a big benefit for charities

Local artist Jenni Freytag painted sunflowers and butterflies on the guitar that Crystal Bowersox autographed for The Butterfly House. Enlarge

Top, Rita Mansour, left, Molly Long, center, and Barbara Steele during the ProMedica suite party for the American Idol concert. Below, from left, Gilbert Ramirez, Taylor Ramirez, and Rita Monsour. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Left, Jenna Apthorpe and Janelle Ridens. Right, Jill and Larry Peterson. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

There's still chatter about the American Idol Live! tour that came to Huntington Arena Sunday night, especially because many charities reaped some benefits as a result of the incredible concert.

Toledo Children's Hospital held an online auction for 10 tickets to the event. The winner, Rita Mansour, invited as her guests some children who have spent time in the hospital. They were treated to first-class suite accommodations with an incredible array of food and beverages, thanks to hosts ProMedica CEO Randy Oostra and Acute Care President Barbara Steele. The auction netted $5,000 for the hospital.

Meanwhile, Duke Wheeler was at the concert with his wife, Martha, Chris and Boo Hensien, and Karen Crotte and Steve Weidner. Mrs. Wheeler and Mrs. Hensien, who had backstage passes, met Crystal Bowersox and asked her to autograph a guitar decorated with sunflowers and butterflies by local artist Jenni Freytag.

Mr. Wheeler, owner of the Butterfly House in Whitehouse, said the guitar will be used to raise money for Lake High School. He's still working out the hows and wheres, and he invited people to contact him with ideas.Mr. Wheeler said Ms. Bowersox is excited about helping the community, and he hopes to have her visit the Butterfly House's corn maze once she has had a chance to rest.

“She has been an inspiration for people and has been a great example of how important it is to follow their dreams and to stay true to themselves,” he said.

By the way, Ms. Bowersox is the theme of this year's corn maze, which opens Sept. 11.

Earlier on Sunday, Michael Marsh hosted an open house in his new digs at Stone Oak Country Club. In lieu of housewarming gifts, he invited folks to donate to charities including the Beach House Family Shelter, Cedar Creek Church, the Fair Housing Center, or the Northwest Ohio Development Agency, where Mr. Marsh works as the big marketing honcho.

Saturday night was a gathering of people who give back to the community too. A patio party with UT's Women & Philanthropy was at the lovely Swanton home of Jane and Dick McQuade.

The weather was perfect and the food was delicious. There was a big variety of salads and desserts, plus roast turkey and tenderloin, grilled brats and vegetable skewers, cheeses, fruits, shrimp, meatballs, and more, including a cake brought by Dee Talmage, there with hubby Lance.

Special guest was UT Women's Head Basketball Coach Tricia Cullop, who shared the design plans for the new locker room. With her were two senior players, Jessica Williams and Melissa Goodall. Nancy Lapp and Karen DeNune assisted with the evening, and their husbands, Jim Lapp and Ralph DeNune, pitched in, too.

Guests left after dark, but there were few worries as local Swanton High School students assisted everyone to their cars with flashlights.

Among the members and guests were Gayle Austin, Marianne Ballas and Jim Maciejko, Ellie Brunner, Judie and Larry Burns, Linda French, Betsy Gouvernayre, Marianne Gramza, Posy Huebner, Phyllis Ide, Linda and Bill Jennings, Elaine Johnson, Marcy and Brian McMahon, Helen McMaster, Rosalyn Pizza, Penny Poplin Gosetti and Ron Opp, Sue and Bob Savage, Tammy and Scott Scarborough, Susie Shew and Kathy Shew, Chris Spengler, Jackie and Chuck Sullivan, and Marie Vogt.

Wow, it's nearly Labor Day and time to get in that last summer fling.