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Rainbow Gala
Fantasy, as in the dazzlement of the Hilton ballroom that was transformed into five glowing quadrants of color, each representing an unmistakable artist. While playful mobiles floated atop the Alexander Calder tables, huge silk-screen images, panels and Lucite columns signaled the pop artistry of Andy Warhol ("Marilyn"), Keith Haring ("Radiant Baby"), Romero Britto ("Heart Kids") and Roy Lichtenstein ("Girl With Hair Ribbon").
Even the fitted chair and Spandex table coverings that differed for each artist were works of art. As were the stunning pop art centerpieces. And no two were alike! Why, the looks were so dead-on, you half expected the artists to greet you at the door. All designed by Creative Affairs' party wiz, Bonnie Walker Chirigos (with Ed Stein), who donated her all and turned this paint box every which way but loose.
The menu's entree was a tasty herb pepper crusted filet mignon paired with a petrified potato-crusted halibut, but the white chocolate bread pudding at dessert was yummy.
Hold on to your paintbrush, Polly, because the live auction and Fund a Cure bidding raised a double rainbow of $425,000. Because everyone had a connection to a loved one battling the dread disease, they turned their pockets inside out and bid with their hearts. Twelve charger plates, hand-painted by young JDRF artists, brought $21,000; a luxe villa in St. Martin's for one week went for $20,000; and a Greenbrier package for four couples was hammered down at $25,000 ... twice! Amazing.
Fun, as in Gary Racan's Studio E who commanded the bandstand - and they were ssssssmoking. Not only have these sophisticated musicians mastered every irresistible society beat, they had us shaking our spangles off all night long.
Credit the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow to the muscle of honoree Murry Gerber (with Cheri West), Equitable Resources chairman, and corporate chair Greg Jordan (with Eileen and daughters Emma and Audrey), Reed Smith's firmwide managing partner. As well as gala co-chairs Heidi Brandon, Mary Beth Allegretti and Nan DeTurk (with hubbies Darryl, Jon and Steve), who made it an affair to remember.
An idea of the who's who: JDRF chapter prez Mark Gleason and Sue; Maureen and Gary Barunas; the Steelers' Kendall Simmons and Celesta; Barbara and David Burstin; Susan and David Fitzsimmons; Anne and Rob German; Claudia and Lou DiNardo; emcee Sally Wiggin of WTAE; Roseanne and Dr. Mark Wholey with Lois Wholey Sr.; County Council's Jan Rea with Don; Kitty and Dr. Jim Gleason; JDRF chapter director David Donahue with Pauli; Kathy and David Sharick; Dusty Kirk and Bill Caroselli; Julie and Jason Lichtenstein; Beth Evans and Mike Blehar; and George Stewart, who spoke so eloquently about his daughter Carolyn, who is living with juvenile diabetes.
More: Dot and Neal Pollon; JoAnn and Dr. Jack Gruendel; Suzanne and Michael Hupy, in from Milwaukee; Sue and Jim Liken; Laurel and Mike Swartz; Karen and John Whiteford; Tara and John Lewis; Pert Pivirotto and Tom Merriman; Melanie and Jim Crockard; Jo and Steve Brewton; Stephanie and Steve Massaro; Merrily and Bill Schweers; Nancy and Robert Gannon; Carol and John Oxenreiter; Erin Gleason and James Isler; Linda and David Tobin; Jeanne and Mark Baseman; and lucky Don Cook Jr., who won the 32-inch HDTV.
| No. 88 Scores Again |
Steelers Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann was flashing his mega-watt smile and only one of his four Super Bowl rings at the Mel Blount Youth Home Celebrity Roast at the Hilton. His football career was one long string of successes and, on Friday, he scored $300,000-plus as a fundraising magnet for 1,000 fans of the black-and-gold.
Flanked by teammates John Stallworth, Andy Russell, John Banazsak, Indianapolis Super Bowl champion head coach Tony Dungy and emcee Randy Grossman, with gold Steelers logos on his patent pumps, this time No. 88 was on the receiving end of hilarious zings and slings. But Swanee gave as good as he got to those men of steel who made the Steelers team the greatest of all time.
A tip of the Stetson to Mel Blount (with stunning TiAnda) for providing a home in Washington County for boys who are victims of abuse and neglect. In the red zone: new Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin; Joe Greene; Max Starks; Mike Wagner (with Becky); Rocky Bleier; Judge Dwayne Woodruff (with Joy); Ted Petersen; Ralph Berlin; and Donnie Shell. As well as gorgeous Charena Swann with sons Braxton and Shafer; Mel's son Norris Blount; Bob Pompeani; and Judge Kim Clark with hubby Walter Hales.
| Music of the Night |
Franc D'Ambrosio is a cause for jubilation. Wednesday, his voice rang clearer than a silver knife on Steuben crystal at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland in his new act of songs from films called "Franc D'Ambrosio's Hollywood." And it's a marvel.
So successful was his appearance last year on the same stage that Family House, where no one is ever turned away while being treated here for a medical crisis, brought the polished performer back for its spring benefit that raised more than $100,000. And, for one perfect musical hour, we basked in the gorgeous songs from film classics that established an art form.
When the Italian tenor, best known for 2,600 performances as the masked man in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera," closed with a rapturous rendition of "Danny Boy," he had the audience standing, whistling and cheering.
Afterward, over coffee and desserts in the Music Hall foyer as 450 guests were still humming the show, we spotted co-chairs Dr. David Bartlett (with Susan) and Dr. Kenton Zehr (stepping in for Dr. Jim Luketich) of UPMC; Franc's voice teacher, Larry Malfatti, of Pittsburgh who first discovered his talent; U.S. Steel's John Surma and Becky; Chris and Jim Kutka; FH chair Gregg Troian and Judy; Eileen and Tom Solomich; FH director Christie Knott with Ian; Laura Kronk; Sharon and Kevin Fitzgerald; Lynn and Joe Smith; Jeanne and Al Vallano; Nanette and Ira Gordon; Heather Schmidt; Jennifer Fusilli; and Nancy and Bill Rackoff.
| All That Jazz |
Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, whose virtuosity as a tireless pied piper for education reaches beyond his Pulitzer Prize and eight Grammys, filled the east lounge of Heinz Field with his words and amazing riffs. To help poor African-American kids reach for the stars through a solid education.
The most widely acclaimed jazz musician of his generation was honored at Thursday's Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Foundation dinner for 225 guests. For 17 years, the foundation has provided needy students with scholarships to some of the nation's leading Catholic colleges and universities.
Also applauding LaRoche College Dance Theater's inspired ballet with a gospel beat were Duquesne U. chancellor Dr. John Murray with No. 88 Scores Again
Steelers Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann was flashing his mega-watt smile and only one of his four Super Bowl rings at the Mel Blount Youth Home Celebrity Roast at the Hilton. His football career was one long string of successes and, on Friday, he scored $300,000-plus as a fundraising magnet for 1,000 fans of the black-and-gold.
Flanked by teammates John Stallworth, Andy Russell, John Banazsak, Indianapolis Super Bowl champion head coach Tony Dungy and emcee Randy Grossman, with gold Steelers logos on his patent pumps, this time No. 88 was on the receiving end of hilarious zings and slings. But Swanee gave as good as he got to those men of steel who made the Steelers team the greatest of all time.
A tip of the Stetson to Mel Blount (with stunning TiAnda) for providing a home in Washington County for boys who are victims of abuse and neglect. In the red zone: new Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin; Joe Greene; Max Starks; Mike Wagner (with Becky); Rocky Bleier; Judge Dwayne Woodruff (with Joy); Ted Petersen; Ralph Berlin; and Donnie Shell. As well as gorgeous Charena Swann with sons Braxton and Shafer; Mel's son Norris Blount; Bob Pompeani; and Judge Kim Clark with hubby Walter Hales.
| Asian Persuasion |
Japanese lanterns, green tea tasting, haiku poetry, ikebana arrangements, women in kimonos and sumo wrestlers raised more than a few eyebrows that haven't yet been immobilized by Botox on Thursday at Larrimor's. Turns out Lisa and Tom Michael are tippy-top supporters of the Pittsburgh Glass Center and, to beat the drum for PGC's exciting "Allure of Japanese Glass" exhibit that will open on May 4, they immersed their elite Downtown clothing emporium into a bazaar of all things Japanese that attracted a 300-deep artsy crowd.
East met west over saketinis and sushi while shopping Larrimor's classy inventory. Faces in the crowd: PGC prexy Sarah Nichols; Kathleen Mulcahy and Ron Desmett; Pat Siger; Agnes Kinard; Betsy Benson; Esther Schriber; Joe Walton; Laura Gutnick; Wendy and Peter Mars; Tomoko Aoki; Susanne and Jim Wilkinson; Lauren Michael; Tadao Arimoto; Dr. Marsha Stein and daughter Emma; Carol and Carl Schlessinger; and Gerri and Michael Weiss.
| Scouting Party |
Kudos to the Girl Scouts Trillium Council for saluting role models and muses who have raised the bar for leadership in the classroom, community, sports, technology and the arts. Add women’s rights advocate to that list for Point Park University’s Hilda Pang Fu, who was singled out with the Pearl of Excellence Award.
There wasn’t a shrinking violet among the 13 others we applauded as 2007’s Women & Girls of Distinction. Girls: Megan Bone, Lily Morar, Ashlee Philyaw, Jessika Bole, Naomii Collier, Debra King and Shanea Raabe. Women: Ellen Roth, Ph.D., Patricia Moran, Dr. Shelana Gibbs-McElvy, Barbara Smith, Gabrielle Hughes, and Dr. Robin West.
Scout's honor, we spotted honorary chair Elsie Hillman; board chair Diane Blanton and CEO Marcia Barber; Barbara McNes; Jim Roddey; Heather Arnet; Dr. Olivera Finn; emcee Elaine Effort of KQV; and Mary Weibel.
Bottom line: Thursday’s affable affair at the Hilton for 600 guests raised $142,000 for programs that are growing the next generation of leaders.
| Space Mission |
Altar Bar in the Strip District was Friday's launchpad for Space & Beyond, which got its groove on with the Penn Ave band and a carnival leit motif. Houston, if you read me, we're talking the seventh annual shuttle to fund scholarships for our deaf and hard-of-hearing kids at the Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. Where they can earn their wings on jet simulators, shuttle missions and other cool top gun fun.
Amy Newland (she teaches at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf) and Jennifer Miller co-chaired the flight crew that included Sue and Dan Drawbaugh; Marty Smith; Vickie and Craig Spence; Doc Mendelson; Dr. Burkhard Stoffel; Rick Crawford; Kristen Humphrey; Dr. Derek Molliver; Tom Halik; and Dr. Tony Bauer.
