SOCIETY

On the Town: A Gala Evening at the Valentine

Hendel.

Hendel.

MUSIC from an ABBA tribute band filled the Valentine Theatre with disco tunes on Oct. 19 for the 15th annual Valentine Gala presented by Medical Mutual. The event reached its fund-raising goal of $110,000.

The band members, dressed in bell bottoms, short skirts, and boots, played favorite songs that enticed many folks to dance in the aisles and in their seats: "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "Take A Chance On Me," "Waterloo," and "Dancing Queen."

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here from more photos from these events

Before the concert, about 400 supporters attended the annual gala. Another 200 came for the show followed by dessert and dancing.

Greeting everyone were Tedd Long, board chairman, and the gala committee: Carolyn Fox, Clare Gorski, Deb Grenlund, Wilma Kline, and Andrea Monoky.

Disco balls were everywhere and Georgio's Cafe International provided the tasty buffet.

Rick Heine, Laurie Mix, and Elizabeth Cottle during cocktail hour at the Valentine Theatre on Saturday, October 19, 2013.

A party for the top 14 sponsors was in the Overlook Lounge, which was decorated like a night club with lots of lights and strands of beads hanging from doorways. Sponsors included the Gorski family, Key Private Bank, PNC, The Blade, WTVG-TV, Channel 13, Spartan Chemical, Tolson Enterprises, and White Family of Dealerships.

Among those attending the events were Hunt and Cherie Sears, Brian Brown, Dan and Teresa McHugh, Tom and Nancy Kabat, Mark and Sandy Luetke, Naran Burchinow and Eileen Conlon, Mark and Beth Tooman, Jane and Howard Bruss, Barb and Dale Tolson, Ron and Diane Belle, Barbara and Bob Bettinger, and Al Klosek, who wore a shirt from a Santana concert in the 1970s. He was with Nga Tran, who was celebrating her birthday.

Before the concert, the Kervin/Gorski matching grant of $150,000 was announced. It is to illuminate the building inside and out with energy-efficient LED bulbs. The theater needs $150,000 in donations by May 14 and $40,000 has been raised. Anyone who donates $50 or more will have their name on a plaque that will hang in the Grand Lobby.

The Orchestra Pit Enhancement Project also was announced. Rudolph/Libbe Companies, Owens Corning, and Dorothy Price are sponsors of the renovation for acoustic and sight-line enhancement.

THE VICTORY Center Cancer Survivor Art Show was Oct. 18 and 20 at the center.

Individuals expressed their journey with cancer through art. The collection ranged from origami to sculptures and paintings. Works titles were inspiring and included: Color Me a Survivor, Sunshine on My Shoulders, Peace on the Evening, Survivors in Bloom, and Weaving My Life Back Together.

The art was created through the Healthy Spirit Art Therapy program, with the support of KeyBank and the Toledo Community Foundation, or as part of the Art and Soul Retreat by local artist, Karen O'Brien, or as an individual artistic expression from home.

Survivor artists included Betty Jean Jacobson, Laurel Becker, Joyce Clark, Cindy Cline, Dave Dipofi, Amy Gilles, Mariam Gonzalez, Lynn Harman, Collen Kim, Carolyn Kinnee, Mary Leugers, Nancy May, Dorothy McDougal, Mary Norton, Jeannette Fremont, Bev Vasko, Sandy Wasserman, and Marcia Zarecki.

TOLEDO Northwestern Ohio Food Bank's Harvest of Thanks Dinner, Dance & Auction raised about $80,000 thanks to the more than 200 attendees and sponsors.

The 15th annual event was Oct. 19 at Sylvania Country Club. Festivities included auctions, PhotoBooth Live, and a reverse raffle won by Rob Krieger, who generously donated his winnings back to the Food Bank.

The Donor the Year Award went to Dave White Chevrolet and the Volunteer of the Year Award went to Hope Finch.

Honored with the J. Michael Hill Leadership Award were Norman Bell, Sr., Michael Collins, Tim Mathews, and Marcia Siemens.

Volunteer service awards went to Paige O'Loughlin, Joe Ridgway, and Joe Zika.

Event chairmen Debbie Deiger and Hope Finch were assisted by Scotty Blanchard, Jan Colville, Sherrie Deiger, Shannon Gallup, Melani Heisler, Chris Kieffer, Wendy Kramer, Elaine LaValley Lewandowski, Trina Meadows, Paige O'Loughlin, and Terri Shafer.