Festive fun, fund-raising for holidays
12/15/2013
Hendel.
HOBNOBBING throughout the main floor of The Toledo Club Thursday were many of the who’s who crowd of Toledo. It was the Block Communications, Inc. Holiday Cocktail Reception hosted by Allan Block, chairman, and his wife Susan. John Robinson Block, publisher and editor in chief of The Blade, drove in from his Pittsburgh home.
The stately club was festive with the Parade of Trees that added a warm sparkle. Spirits flowed as tasty edibles tempted the taste buds: lobster mac n’ cheese, tenderloin, prawn shooters, canapes, coconut meringue cookies and more.
Among the nearly 250 movers and shakers were Richard Hylant, Debbie and Tony Knight, Walt and Lois Churchill, Bob and Sue Savage, Tom and Betsy Brady, Dock and Cindy Treece and sons Dock David Treece and Ben Treece, Brian and Mary Kennedy, Mike and Carol Anderson, Tony and Debbie Knight, Mayor Mike Bell and Karen Jarosz, Mary and Bob Arquette, Carol Bentley and daughter Kate MacPherson, Mary Ellen Mazey, Michael and Ditte Galbraith, Jon Orser and Deborah Born, Cindy and Brock Rimmelin, Sara Jane DeHoff, Tom and Paulette Geiger, Jerry Jones, Keith and Susan Burwell, and Jeannie Hylant.
PHOTO GALLERY: Click here to see photos from these events
Many guests sang carols as Jim Gottron tickled the ivories of the grand piano.
THE HOLLY and Ivy Fashion Show presented by ProMedica Flower Hospital Auxiliary Dec. 4 at Inverness Club was a parade of fashions from Ragazza, Lady C, Sophia Lustig, Sophie’s Sister, Kids Klothesline, President Tuxedo, and Toledo Furs.
Chrys Peterson, of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, and Kaiko Zureich of Office Furniture Warehouse added lively commentary.
Celebrity models included Mayor Mike Bell, world boxing champ Bronco McKart, and former Miss America Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson and her daughter Miss Teen Michigan Alana Wilson.
Vendor booths, raffles and a silent auction helped more than 250 guests do their holiday shopping as pianist Diane Shull played holiday songs. Cookie Westmeyer, dressed as the Cookie Elf, handed out red stiletto shaped cookies.
The hospital received a $90,000 check and The Mary Ellen Falzone Diabetes Center received $5,000. The event netted more than $12,000.
Auxiliary Board President Barbara Baumgartner, event chairman, was assisted by co-chairmen Diane Dooley and Brian Hazel-Bahrs and committee members
THE ProMedica St. Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary Fashionation Style Show Lighting the Way for a Brighter Community was Nov. 19 in the hospital’s auditorium with fashions from Dillards at Fallen Timbers. The event was attended by more than 220 people.
Models included staffers such as Dr. Robert Friess, Dr. Lalaine Mattison, and husband Dr. Tim Mattison, and their daughter Mariah; and Dr. Michael Hoeflinger and wife Alie. Cathy Trimble, event chairman with Jean Emery, modeled with four generations of her family: her mother Gloria Mucci, sister Connie Warner, and daughter Katie Yarder and granddaughter Amelia Yarder.
Non-perishable food items and dry goods were collected for Under One Roof Food Pantry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Maumee. The $4,000 raised support the children’s area of the newly renovated hospital Emergency Services lobby.
THE 36th Annual Holiday with Heart Charity Gayla Dec. 8 at The Toledo Club raised $10,000 for the Holiday with Heart Fund at the Toledo Community Foundation and Rainbow Area Youth benefiting local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) causes.
There was a sold out crowd of 300 at $75 each for the night of entertainment, dinner and dancing.
Entertainment included The Toledo Opera, a Latin Dance expo by Michelle Brewer and Tom Nehring, entertainers MaKayla Sinclair Stlyes and Rya Chiffon, Cityboyz Fashion Menswear male models, Jazz vocalist Kelly Broadway, and PhotoBooth Live.
The Founder’s Award was presented to John Widmer for his dedication to the local LGBT community and for publishing TAGALA newsletter for 30 years.
Committee members included Rick Cornett, Andrew Larsen, Billy Mann, Wayne North, Kennyetta White, Rickie Waugh, Steve Maenle, and Ed Hoffman, who founded the event with David Hindall and the late Dick Flock.