COMMENTARY

On The Town: A toast to good causes

Attending the ProMedica Hospice and Dementia Care were from left, Promedica's wine event honorary chairman Russ Ebeid, VIP guest and pro hockey Hockey Hall of Fame member Gordie Howe, Randy Oostra, ProMedica CEO, and Dr. Murray Howe, son of Gordie Howe.

Vicki Schmucker

Honorary chairman Andrea Price, CEO of Mercy, and event chairman Rob Snoad of Mercy St. Charles welcomed guests.

Fall is filled to the brim with wine tastings and dinners for charity sake. 

The 25th Annual Mobile Meals Wine Gala was Nov. 3 at Stranahan Great Hall. The 330 attendees tasted wine from 16 distributors and hors  d’oeuvres compliments of 11 businesses, including Chef Marcel Catering, Gordon Food Service, Mercy, ProMedica Toledo Hospital, Tiger Bakery, and Tony Packo’s. Many shopped the silent auction before being seated for a tasty beef and chicken dinner accompanied with chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

PHOTOS: On The Town: A toast to good causes

For the “Silver Cellar” in honor of the organization’s silver anniversary, 50 donated bottles of wine valued at $1,200 were divided into two lots and raffled off.

Event chairman Rob Snoad, director of Food and Nutrition at Mercy St. Charles, welcomed everyone and thanked honorary chairman Andrea Price, CEO of Mercy.

Before bidding on items began, special honors went to Ann Kisin (Vintage Wine Distributors) and Rick Kigar (Kigar Auction & Realty) for their 25 years at the Wine Gala. Ward Taylor donated a 1990 Chateau Margaux valued at $1,200. Malcolm Richards bought a number of vintages and Denise  and Tom Colturi bought three cases of Italian wine. A total of $70,000 was raised. 

Among the wine aficionados were Dan and Jasmine Wakeman, Bob and Kathie Maxwell, Marv and Nancy Robon, Bob and Sue Savage, Tom and Corrine Welch, Bob and Kathy Chirdon, Stephen and Rachelle Reed, Charlie and Carol Contrada, Bob and Mary Arquette, and John and Karen Yark.

“The Wine Affair Comes of Age” presented by the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio in honor of its 21st year was Nov. 9 at Parkway Place. Black linen-covered tables decorated with silver and candles set the elegant scene.

Offering their spirits and specialties were nearly 20 wine distributors and restaurants including Bowling Green Beverage, Glazers, Heidelberg Distributing, W. Berman Wine Company, Cutting Edge Distributing, Abuelos, Burger Bar 419, Kotobuki, The Melting Pot, and Glass City Cup Cake.

Attending the ProMedica Hospice and Dementia Care were from left, Promedica's wine event honorary chairman Russ Ebeid, VIP guest and pro hockey Hockey Hall of Fame member Gordie Howe, Randy Oostra, ProMedica CEO, and Dr. Murray Howe, son of Gordie Howe.

A live auction and raffle prizes followed and included a trip to wine country in Sonoma Valley, art, wine, and more.

Honorary medical chairman Allen Flickinger, of Nephrology Consultants of Northwest Ohio, entertained guests as emcee. Honorary chairman Jeannie Hylant of The Hyland Group, who donated a kidney to a fellow worker a year ago, gave a heartfelt plea to consider donating a kidney. Those in support for her were the Hylant clan, including Mike and Tina Hylant, Richard and Clare Hylant, and Sandra Hylant.

Also among the 350 attendees were Dave White, Jr., Labib and Karen Hajjar, and John Hadley. Event chairman Tonya Robinson an attorney at Spengler Nathanson reports an estimated $70,000 netted is expected.

The Toledo Animal Shelter Auxiliary hosted a wine and cheese tasting Oct. 24 at Manhattan’s Restaurant. In addition to the tastings there were raffle baskets, a door prize, and the sale of candy. Thanks to the 50 attendees, the event netted $1,500.

“Celebrating the Love of Life” Wine Event to benefit ProMedica Hospice and Dementia Care took place Oct. 13 in the home of ProMedica president and CEO Randy Oostra and his wife Barbara and raised nearly $150,000. Culinary creations by Evans Street Station with Coppola Wines were featured along with silent and live auctions. 

Honorary chairman was Russ Ebeid, whose family is the namesake for Ebeid Hospice. Special guest was former Detroit Red Wings hockey great Gordie Howe, who attended with his son Dr. Murray Howe and wife Colleen.

Among the 330 notables were Jim Findlay and P.J. Schaefer, Jim and Kay Murray, Frank Dick, Dave and Shelley Hickman, Tony and Mary Lou Falzone, Steve and Penny Staelin, and Jill and Larry Peterson. Event chairman was Kaiko Zureich.

SAL’S Pals sixth annual wine tasting Oct. 12 at the Carranor Hunt & Polo Club netted $8,500 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The organization is named for Sal Pinardo, son of Jenny and Rick Pinardo, who founded the organization that works for a cystic fibrosis cure.

Appetizers, a wine grab, and a silent auction of children’s art were featured for the 200 attendees, thanks to event chairman Nikki Bazzoli and her committee.

Sal's Pals wine tasting volunteers, from left, Vicky Maloy, Felicia Jiannuzzi, Nikki Bazzoli, event chairman, and Erin Dzierwa show the children's art work they purchased.

This event put a close to 10 years of fundraising for Sal’s Pals so the committee, key volunteers, and Sal, now 11, are celebrating. Sal’s Pals has raised $762,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“That goes to show you there is something to say about the generosity of the Toledo community,” said Mrs. Pinardo, who will be board president for the Metro Detroit and Northwest Ohio Cystic Fibrosis Chapter starting in 2013.

March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction: A recipe for healthy babies Oct. 1 at Parkway Place raised nearly $70,000, which is just in time for Prematurity Awareness Month this month.

Emcee Shaun Hegarty of WTVG-TV, Channel 13, who received the services of the March of Dimes when one of his children was born, kept the evening rolling.

Thanked were honorary chairman Jack Randolph, president, ProMedica Insurance Corp., and event chairman Kelsey Surface of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. 

The 2012 Ambassador Family, Nathan and Ashley Egbert, shared their story of hope after losing twins, then having two full-term healthy babies.

Among the 340 attendees were Bob and Kim LaClair, Sharon Speyer and Dean Monske, Mike and Kelly Hart, Garry Roberts, Lisa and John Hawker, Carla and Jeff Nowak, Steve and Mary Malia, John and Linda Meier, and John Christianson.