John Heller, Post-Gazette Chairs Laura and Steve Zylstra Click photo for larger image. Seen Photo Journal

June showers water June flowers, and both were spectacular Thursday evening during the "Party in the Garden" benefit for the Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania. The elegant Shadyside home of Wallis and Marshall Katz was the setting for the event, with funds going toward the reclamation of 452 acres in Settler's Cabin Park. That site will house the Botanic Garden, basically a museum of plants in a practical setting for this region, with plans due for an Entrance Corridor early next year.

Supporters got quick glimpses of the Katz couple's formal walled garden before rain sent them scurrying for the shelter of a tented lawn and covered terrace. Assorted martinis and hors d'oeuvres made way for a hearty buffet of carved roast beef, pasta and wonderful chopped salad prepared by Michael Lench. Board chairman Steve Zylstra, who also chaired the party with his wife, Laura, welcomed guests, as did president Lindsay Bond-Totten. Dennis Yablonsky, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, also said a few words before auctioneer extraordinaire Jim Roddey stepped up to the mike (raising $16,700!).

Singing in the rain were U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, Kathy and Lou Testoni, Bridget Pavlik and Bill Kolano, Nancy and Dick Zappala, Julie and Mike Langley, Paul Spencer, Mary Withrow, Barbara and Dan Eichenlaub, Bill and Karen Frank, Holly Buffinton and Victor Bove, Alex Speyer, Frank Pizzi, Dee Jay Oshry, Walter and Shelly Stoecklein, Jayne Adair and Basil Cox and more.

Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Honorary chair Chris Heinz Click photo for larger image.

Food Bank 25th Anniversary

Chris Heinz, heir to a food fortune, gave back Thursday when he served as honorary chair for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank's 25th Anniversary Dinner. The evening at the Hilton Pittsburgh coincided with National Hunger Awareness Day, perfect timing for an event that honors those who have supported the food bank's efforts to stop hunger in this region.

Elaine Bellin chaired the dinner, and KDKA's Ken Rice acted as emcee, while food bank co-founder and CEO Joyce Rothermel made closing remarks. The 2006 Hunger Awareness Day Award winners were Rich Venezia (administrator of the county's Bureau of Hunger and Housing), Ann Bass Roth, Bruce McDowell, PJ Dick/Trumbull, PPG Industries Foundation and Vann Jennings. Giant Eagle, Mellon Financial and the Pittsburgh Foundation received the 2006 Founders Award.

Applauding their efforts were state Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff, Diane and Jerry Holder, state Rep. Dan Frankel, Cliff Rowe, Pat and Alan Siger, Ray Huber, Dave Redick, Terry Lewis and Lynn Schmidt.

John Heller, Post-Gazette The happy "couple": Lara Hilliard and Jason Planitzer Click photo for larger image.

Non-Profit Nuptials

The marriage between Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts was celebrated with "Non-Profit Nuptials," a wedding-themed benefit bash Thursday. Of course it was held at PCA, one of the most popular wedding spots in town. A buffet dinner, martini bar and wedding cake kept guests busy between performances by Lenora Nemetz, clarinetist Jorge Variego and Celtic Spring. A gift registry encouraged everyone to reverse tradition and take a gift home from the Chinese auction. On hand for the fun were executive director Charlie Humphrey, PCA director Laura Domenic, Filmmakers director Andrew Swensen, Jim and Francine Abrahams, Amy Robeson, Loretta Stanish and Rick Russell, Joy Sato, Karla Boos, Lynn and Chip Desmone, and Mark and Karey Joensen.