AROUND TOWN

‘Peaces’ of Art benefits Padua Center

The Padua Center’s annual “Peaces” of Art celebration Sunday at Gesu Church in the Sullivan Center raised about $7,500.

Various works of art from the “Peaces” of Art celebration benefiting The Padua Center.

Emcees Imani Hinton, a Padua volunteer, and art student Kathryn Sholl welcomed the nearly 125 attendees. The Straight Up band played as guests shopped the silent auction and dined on chicken and ham. Looking like a piece of art was the dessert cupcake ladder.

From left, Sonny Ariss enjoys a moment with Dennis Jarrett, president of the Padua Center Board, and Laila Ariss, also a board member during the “Peaces” of Art celebration.

Councilman Jack Ford was honored posthumously. Accepting the award was his daughter, Jessica Ford.

Imani Hinton, left, daughter of Norman Hinton, Padua Center board member, was one of the mistresses of ceremony, with Arto Woodley, guest speaker for the “Peaces” of Art celebration.

Last year, volunteers donated 340 hours of service worth about $7,845. Honored this year for their support in procuring and erecting a hoop house, a year-round gardening center, were Wade Smith, Jason Askins, and Kyle Blosser.

From left are Paul Devers, Elise Devers, and Joe Schrader during the 14th annual MS Dinner of Champions.

Featured speaker Arto Woodley, who grew up on the same block as the Padua Center and has since worked more than 16 years with central city youth, drew praise from the audience. Mr. Woodley, a graduate of St. Teresa Grade School, St. John’s Jesuit High School, and Bowling Green State University, stressed the importance of safe neighborhood spaces. For youth to be successful, he said, they need to graduate from high school, refrain from having children until after age 21, and set goals and purpose in life.

Diane Dunbar, left, and Sybil Turin at the Toledo Ski Club Cocktail Party. Sybil is 80 and still sails in the Mills Race. She is an avid sportsman.

He challenged his grade school classmates, who communicate through Facebook, to match his donations to the Padua Center with a total goal of raising $2,500.

Tom and Cristi Gruppi, left, with Dave and Denise Witkowski at the Toledo Ski Club Cocktail Party.

That inspired furious bidding for the live auction of art done by the Padua Center children that included painted furniture, paintings, decorative ceramic tiles, and more. Volunteer art teachers Robin Kendrick and Oreda Bufkin who assisted the children, watched with pride in their hearts.

Left to right Katrina Iott, Kim Kaplan, and Susan Grathwohl Park during the 14th annual MS Dinner of Champions Wednesday, September 30, 2015, at the Inverness Club in Toledo.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society’s 14th annual Dinner of Champions was Sept. 30 at Inverness Club. Emcee Laura Emerson, of WNWO-TV, Channel 24, welcomed everyone. Andrew Trunk, University of Toledo college of medicine, the former Medical College of Ohio, talked about the disease. Kim Burkett, National MS Society volunteer, directed the fund-a-need opportunity to give.

The more than 160 community leaders sipped spirits and shopped a silent auction followed by a delicious dinner at tables covered with pumpkin-colored linen centered with fresh white and orange flowers.

But the real reason they came was to support the MS Society and to honor native Toledo gal, Kim Kaplan, president and COO of K-Limited Carrier Ltd., with the Norman Cohn Hope Award, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s highest honor for leadership, philanthropy, and community service. In 1997, Mrs. Kaplan started the company for chemical hauling with her husband, Dean, as the CEO. Mrs. Kaplan is on the Beach House Family Shelter board of directors, and is a major supporter of the National MS Society Ohio Buckeye Chapter.

Event chairmen Katrina Iott and Susan Grathwohl Park expect to raise $40,000 for programs and services for people with MS and their families, and for research to find the cause and a cure.

On a strictly fun note, the Toledo Ski Club’s annual cocktail party was at Otsego Park in the Thompson Stone Hall overlooking the Maumee River. Hors d'oeuvres and spirits were great, but it was the chatter about the upcoming ski season that excited most guests.

Toledo Ski Club is a club for all seasons, offering numerous activities at the member-owned lodge in Walloon Lake, near Boyne, Mich. Formed in 1947, the club of 400 members focuses on skiing and snowboarding experiences but in the off season, volleyball, canoeing, biking, whitewater rafting, wind surfing, hiking, tennis, and golf. Social activities include parties, volunteer endeavors, trips to Put-in-Bay, and an Ohio State-Michigan tailgate party. Members also gather at local watering holes and festivals.

Cathy Smith, social director, hosted the cocktail party for 40 or so members. Rick Popiolek, past president, is the publications director, webmaster, e-news, and trip chairman.

Barbara Hendel is The Blade’s Society Editor. Contact her at 419-724-6124 or bhendel@theblade.com