State of the art
The Fleisher Art Memorial held its 22d annual Founder's Award benefit June 9 at Fleisher. The evening honored contemporary art collectors Al West, SEI chairman, and his daughter, Paige West, curator of the West Collection, which is housed at SEI's headquarters in Oaks. The evening for more than 100 raised nearly $60,000. Proceeds will benefit Fleisher's art-education programs, which annually serve more than 15,000 adults and children through exhibitions, art classes, and artist residencies at local public schools.
Fashion forward
Fashion designer Tory Burch was honored at the Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia's 13th annual Evening in the Yard, held May 20 at Urban Outfitters' headquarters at the Navy Yard. Also honored were founding board member Charlie Rose; Greg Young, and posthumously, his wife, Kathie; Gilda's Club Delaware Valley; Anthropologie; and cancer survivors Mary Lou Vitale and Ilana Wolfson. The gala's 320 guests raised $250,000 for the organization, formerly known as the Wellness Community of Philadelphia, which provides free educational programs and support for people with cancer and their families.
Keeping their promise
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter raised $1.25 million at its annual Promise Ball, held May 21 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. The black-tie gala for 600, cochaired by Terri Malenfant and Eileen Bookbinder, honored Howard Stoeckel, chief executive officer and president of Wawa Inc. Guests enjoyed dinner, dancing to the Melanie Rice Orchestra, and a live auction, which included a poker lesson for eight with world champion Annie Duke that went for $8,500.
Building blocks
BLOCS (Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools), which provides scholarships to students at local Catholic schools, raised $500,000 at its annual Scholarship Dinner, held May 19 at the Crystal Tea Room. For the 2010-11 school year, BLOCS has raised more than $8 million for Catholic school endowments and scholarships and distributed 3,625 scholarships. Among the 500 guests were Cardinal Justin Rigali, honoree Brian Tierney, BLOCS chairman Michael G. O'Neill of Preferred Unlimited, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, and City Councilman Bill Green.
