Fund-raiser benefits children, families

Charter One volunteers Laura Oros, Michelle Pommeranz, and Julie King load turkeys donated to the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank as part of Charter One's Carving Out Hunger program.

Jill and Nathan Bailey, of Defiance, pose for a photograph with Ronald McDonald during the the 4th Annual Heartwarming Party to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. The event, which drew hundreds of people, was held at the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons in Perrysburg.

The Fourth Annual Heart Warming Nov. 9 to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio at the Hilton Garden Inn in Perrysburg was a smashing success, with an estimated net of $85,000. The organization provides temporary home-like accommodations and a caring environment to families whose children are receiving medical care. It also provides grants and funding to projects and organizations that enrich children's lives.

The "jeans to jewels" attire event with dining stations and music by 56 Daze was a fun night with auctions and mystery boxes. Ronald McDonald House-themed and flower cut-out cookies from a variety of local bakeries created cheery centerpieces that doubled as dessert.

Several folks were table sponsors including Emmett and Pati Boyle, Jill and Mike Ducey, Mike and Kelly Hart, Katie Schueler, and Peggy Youssef.

Sashem Brey of WTVG-TV, Channel 13 was emcee. A heartwarming video by Hart Associates showed a family who benefited from the house, and Jarred Wise, who was a patient at Toledo Children's Hospital, eloquently told his story.

Many supporters shopped the nearly 100 silent auction items. Keys were sold for $20 to Open the Door to the house which had $3,000 worth of prizes including two-round trip tickets anywhere in the continental United States aboard Delta Airlines. Greta Szabo was the winner.

Charter One volunteers Laura Oros, Michelle Pommeranz, and Julie King load turkeys donated to the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank as part of Charter One's Carving Out Hunger program.

Auctioneer Craig Herschel of Signature Associates enticed folks to bid for the cause in the Share a Night auction and raised $45,000. He is a member of the Red Shoe Society that supports the house.

Among the 410 guests at the sold-out event were Darryl Lycourt, Jr., Gary and Trish Yunker, Jane Stutz, Susan Conda, Terry and Denise Benton, MaryAnn and Bob Michel, Jason Chan, John and Andi Monoky, Crawford Strunk, Cathy Nelson, Brad Augustyniak, Mike Wilkins, and board president Dick Fuller, circulation director of The Blade, sporting a bright yellow and red shirt and sweater in honor of McDonald's. The only one who was more colorful was Ronald McDonald himself, who posed with guests for pictures and assisted on stage throughout the night.

Charter One bank volunteers loaded turkeys Nov. 13 donated to the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank as part of Charter One's Carving Out Hunger program, This year, Charter One donated $5,000, which provides for more than 600 turkeys to the Food Bank and an estimated 5,661 meals in eight counties in the Toledo area.

"We want to make the holiday season enjoyable for everyone, especially our neighbors who are working hard to provide for their families, but need a little extra help this time of year," said Ken Marblestone, president of Charter One and RBS Citizens in Ohio

Kiah Barrette was the honored guest at a surprise Welcome to Toledo party Nov. 8 at the Toledo Club. The girlfriend of Dock David Treece, she is originally from Orlando, but comes to Toledo by way of Boulder, Colo., where she's been living for the past year or so. The two met on move-in day freshman year at the University of Miami in Florida. They dated in college but went their separate ways because of timing issues: Mr. Treece, graduating a year early, returned to join his family's firm and Miss Barrette went on to graduate school at the University of Florida. They met again, and sparks flew so she moved to Toledo and was hired by Hull & Associates, a local firm.