Monday, September 22, 2003

Viva Argentina!

The Jewish humanitarian organization Bnai Zion celebrated Argentinian culture as it focused on the economic problems in that country during its annual Viva Argentina! event last Sunday at Bossa Nova. With help from Bnai Brith and Brother's Brother Foundation, the evening featured Argentinian food, music and of course the tango, along with Argentinian Embassy Deputy Chief Daniel Chuburu. Guests included Burton and Ruth Hirsch, Stan Cohen and Sherry Adams, Becky and Adolfo Cheistwer, Liliana Petruy, Ellen Weiss Kander, Dr. Martin and Sue Fenster and Pamela Love.

Charity Shopping Spree

Demi Moore was kicking off Saks Fifth Avenue's Key to the Cure event at its flagship store in New York, Wednesday evening, while the Pittsburgh outpost settled for posters of Nicole Kidman sporting the sold-out Stella McCartney designed T-shirt for the cause. (Just one of the imbalances new GM Larry Bruce will be working to correct). The evening was a jump-start for the charity shopping weekend. Two percent of total sales went to benefit women's cancer research at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

-- Patricia Sheridan

Vision of Hope

Like Barbara Walters, St. Lucy's Auxiliary to the Blind's Vision of Hope luncheon never fails to elicit a few tears. It's because the guest speaker is always a person who sees through their own blindness to the joys of living. Thursday Joan Ulicny's tale of horror and triumph after being hit by a truck and left legally blind inspired more than 200 women at the Fox Chapel Golf Club. Her recovery revealed a strong faith and personal fortitude, which left the audience less likely to moan about life's minor inconveniences. Among the inspired were luncheon chair Elizabeth McCarthy and president Pat Dolan.

-- P.S.

Vintage Anniversary

	Vintage founder Donna Holland and others were honored. (John Heller, Post-Gazette)

They were "Honoring the Past & Uncorking the Future" as Vintage (a comprehensive service facility for seniors in East Liberty) celebrated its 30th anniversary. Thursday evening's party honored founders Donna Holland, Melinda Beard and Mimi Bitzer and featured the unveiling of artist Vincent Beatty's mural for the outside wall of the building. The mural depicts the history of East Liberty from the 18th century to the present. Supporting the Vintage mission to positively influence the experience of aging in the community were event chair Marie Coleman, board president Charles Gross and executive director Linda Doman.

-- P.S.

Carnegie on Tap

The 20th annual Carnegie On Tap drew a crowd of nearly 1,000 people Friday night to the Carnegie Museums of Art and History. Professionals, young and old, joined to guzzle Budweiser, snack on egg rolls and swing to the music of Phat Man Dee, 3 Apples High and DJ Brad Richards. Black was the reigning color for men, and women chose a sleek look, though skin was still a girl's best accessory. In the crowd were committee members Tey Stiteler, Dan Lagiovane, Amy Shannon, Wendy Pekich, Jackie Leviseur, Jessica Neiss, Cassandra Bioni, John Zylkajs, and Lisa Schrack, Hollie Bevyak, Nicole Gern, Lonnie Park and Bill Reese.

-- Emily Craig

4 Kids turns 5

In a struggling town like Braddock, where 23 percent of elementary school children are held back, 4 Kids Early Learning Centers have made an extraordinary difference. Fewer than 2 percent of 4 Kids graduates are held back each year, thanks to the efforts of the Heritage Health Foundation in the region's poorest communities. On Friday, 4 Kids celebrated its fifth birthday by presenting the first Frieda Shapira Award to Equitable CEO Murry Gerber at its Braddock center. Listening to the sounds of Joe Negri's Trio were Dr. Edith Shapira, David Mosey, Mimi Priselac and Robert Grom, CEO of Heritage Health Foundation.

Conservation Consultants FUNraiser

Celebrating 25 years as an energy and environmental education non-profit, Conservation Consultants Inc. threw a FUNraiser Friday evening on the Keystone Belle. Guests boarded at Station Square and set sail on a dinner cruise with executive director Ann Jones Gerace pointing out the revitalized sites. Onboard for the festivities were event chair Tingle Barnes, John and Ann Buckman, Ellis and Christina Schmidlapp, Rebecca Flora, Eliza Scott Nevin, Steve and India Loevner, Rose Carberry, Jolie Schroeder, Katie Anderson and Wilburn Hayden.

Polo for the Cure

The divots flew from the get-go (blame it on Hurricane Isabel), but the sidelines were mud-free at Polo for the Cure, Saturday's 10th annual match-up between teams from Dusseldorf, Germany, and Ligonier at Stom Hollow Farm, near Ligonier. Reveling in both the game and the stellar weather were such enthusiasts as Dorothy and Dr. Richard Raizman and his folks, Al and Adele Raizman, Fritz and Ulla Teroerde, cheering on their sons Patrick and Mark, Kristine Samloff, Robert and Miryam Knutson, Jim and Susie Parker, Don and Mary Lou Rossi, Hans and Jane Sack, Vic Bove and Holly Buffinton, Dave and Nancy Klasnick and Sharon and Dr. Kenneth Lee. The win went to Dusseldorf; the proceeds to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Pittsburgh.

-- Phyllis Pack

Casino Royale

Gambling may be a regional political football, but for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation it's been a high scoring fundraiser. Saturday's Casino Royale 2003 had the Omni William Penn's William Penn Ballroom ringed with blackjack tables, roulette wheels and slot machines. WTAE-TV's Shannon Perrine encouraged rolling the dice or shopping the silent auction, while dealers including Doug Austin, Karl Jackson, Neil Rosen and Wayne Thompson did their best Vegas shuffles. Happy with what looked like a full house were event chair Becky Gomes and co-chair Larry Williams and executive director Pat Joseph (with Ray).

-- P.S.

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