THE 2009 LEMON BALL was anything but a Lemon

This year’s Lemon Ball, the third annual soiree for Alex’s Lemonade Stand, pulled in $500,000 from 600 or so attendees for childhood cancer research. The event featured food and entertainment, silent and live auctions, raffles and other activities. The foundation carries on the work of Alexandra Scott, who started selling lemonade at the age of 4 to support childhood cancer research and died of the disease at the age of 8 in 2004. (Yellow is also the color of any of the Alex’s Lemonade events) Everytime I attend one of these charity events I am so blown away by the generosity of the sponsors and of the silent auction donors. Thank you, with your contribution it makes the night just that more exciting to see who is going home with their prize and how much more money will go to the cause. (thank god I leave my checkbook at home)
Liz Scott talks with guests. A live auction netted $13,000 for a plate of lemon cookies baked by Liz Scott, mother of charity namesake Alex Scott, who would have turned 13 over the weekend. the cocktail food was delicious and surprisingly yellow in color
The owners and trainer of the thoroughbred race horse Afleet Alex, who dedicated a portion of the horse’s winnings to the foundation, will be honored.
Emcees at the Philadelphia Marriott were former 76ers president Billy King (with his wife Melanie), CBS News’ Tracy Smith and former KYW3 weather guesser Dave Frankel
Keith Joffe, Caroline Kallman, Lauren Botoff and Steve Tutelman, all of Govberg Jewelers (another generous sponsor)
Pat Maguire and Jacqueline Kelly, both on the Committee for the Lemon Ball and looking stunning. I should ask people were they get their clothes for your knowledge. Maybe only the fabulous ones.
Steve Pogue and Anne Bibby. I wonder if he won that sports package?
All the way from Chicago are Selena and Daman Kowalski –
Many wonderful people have come out of Chicago lately including a student from Washburne School, Selena Kowalski, who suggested ALSF for the All-School Project for 2007-2008, and after a vote, the Foundation was selected. The school put on one fundraiser per semester, holding bake sales, pie sales, selling message grams and t-shirts. All told, the fundraising year had raised $10,000 for the battle against childhood cancer! Thank you Washburne, and thank you Selena Kowalski.
Thanks for reading PhillyChitChat friend Keith W. Petrowski with his guest Justine Stahl. When I saw them I knew immediately they had to be included as Justine has this magnificent gown on, and Keith had a complimentary vest and bow tie in the shade of yellow.
Susan and John McCaughey with Steve and Michell Cassel. Busy night for Steve as the Hair of the Dog and Lemon Balls were both black tie events (did I mention that I am creating a conflict calendar, yes that’s right, send me your charity events, your black tie events, your events with 100+ guests and I will put it on the calendar so when your guests decline the invite you might have an idea why and plan accordingly the next time) Steve busy as he owns Iacobuccitux.com Formal Wear of Havertown.
As the guests sat down for dinner it was time for me to go to the out of control, wild Hair of the Dog Ball, which was equally as stunning, but much louder and wilder. For a weekend where more than half of Philly was out of town at Sundance (tomorrow night I will be writing about Philly at Sundance, lots of celeb sightings and Philebrities), The Eagles game in Phoenix or at the Inauguration, both Balls were packed and a ball.
Check out www.alexslemonade.org/ to see how you can help.