Around Town

Events support good causes

Carson, Barb and Randy Oostra at the Grand Illusions dinner for Ohio Cancer Research at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Adopt America Network board member Letitia Marth, left, board chair Sharon Gillespie, center left, President of Adopt America Wendy Spoerl, center right, and Jessica Ransom.

The Adopt America Network hosted its 27th annual "Very Special Evening" dinner and auction Friday at the Stranahan Great Hall. Honored guests were Richard and Amy Gill, who have adopted four boys since 2007 and are considering expanding their family with more children. The evening was fast paced, with emcee Tony Geftos of WTVG-TV, Channel 13. Special presentations were from the Ohio Royal Arch Masons, who gave a check for $19,000, and LetitiaMarth and her husband, Paul Bishop, who donated $5,000 in memory of her parents, William and Doris Marth.

Mingling with the crowd were members of the Ransom family, whose father Dick Ransom founded the charity. The event netted $90,000, which will be added to the $2.9 million raised in 27 years to find loving homes for special needs children.

Seen were board chairman Sharon Gillespie, Mike and Kelly Hart, Nick and Bethany Cherry, Bill and Jane McGinnis,Mark and Kim Karchner, Wendy and Rick Sowers, Tim and Joyce Konieczny, Becky and Dave Williams, and Barbara and Peter Machin.

Carson, Barb and Randy Oostra at the Grand Illusions dinner for Ohio Cancer Research at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

Randy Oostra, president and chief executive officer of ProMedica, was honored and "sauteed" at the fourth Grand Illusions Dinner to benefit Ohio Cancer Research Associates. The black tie optional dinner event was Oct. 11 at the Grand Plaza Toledo.

The $85,000 that was raised will be used for basic cancer research projects, information, and awareness in the Toledo area. Individual researchers have been funded at the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, Ohio State University, Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University, University of Cincinnati, Ohio University, and University of Dayton.

Honored was Ivana De La Serna, PhD, assistant professor of biochemistry and cancer biology at UT, with the Discover Award. In 2008 she received a $50,000 grant for innovative work in skin cancer research and since then more than $1.1 million from other sources has supported the work.

Among the 240 guests were the three past honorees, Richard Hylant, Mary Martin, and Toledo Mayor Mike Bell.

Shaylin, Shannyn, and Shanara Jenkins are dressed for the Tea and Hat affair.

All kinds of colorful hats were at the "Tea and Hat Affair" for Cindy's Corner Outreach of St. Lucas Lutheran Church Saturday at the church. Lovely music was played by Emmitt Williams on the keyboard while tea was served from classic teapots and fashions from the St. Lucas Thrift Shop were modeled. The outreach provides a free nutritious lunch each weekday in the church's gym for the old south end neighborhood.