Philadelphia

VARIETY CLUB’S ANNUAL CHARITY EVENT The Children’s Champion Gold Ball

July 19, 2012 by HughE Dillon

Last month Variety – The Children’s Charity Held its annual Children’s Champion Gold Ball at the Sheraton Society Hill

The honorees for the evening were Clear Channel’s Loraine Ballard-Morrill, and Jack Gilliam, who are also both Board Members.  You’ll recall I’ve written before that On Christmas Eve in 1927, a baby was left on the doorstep of a theater company with a note attached reading: “Please
take care of my baby, her name is Catherine. I can no longer take care
of her, I have eight others. My husband is out of work. She was born
on Thanksgiving Day. I have always heard of the goodness of show
business and I pray to God that you will look after her.”
-A Heart-Broken Mother
As a result, Variety Club International (now Variety – The Children’s
Charity) was founded by the eleven entertainers who discovered Baby
Catherine. Its sole purpose was to help the less fortunate and to lend a
hand to various civic and charitable organizations. Variety is a
not-for-profit organization that takes pride in providing programs and
services to special-needs children. Frank Isabella entertains the crowd during the cocktail hour.
Stephania Venaziale, Christian Gregory, Justine Giorgano, Lauren Miller and Meredith Bush
The Children’s Charity Tent 13 also honored Wawa, FirstTrust Bank, and Sesame Place with the Vincent N. Mariniello Award for Unconditional Love for their outstanding contributions to the Charity. Past recipients of this award are Scott Palmer, Guy Giordano, and Origlio Beverages. Dorothy Swartz, Director of Talent Management
at
Wawa, Inc.
and Cathy Pulos, VP & Chief People Officer Wawa

 

The lovely Alicia Vitarelli, Anchor/Reporter for 6abc (WPVI)

 Past president of Variety Vince Mariniello, Dylan Brown and Creative Financial Group’s Russell Ohneck.
 

Fran Naselli, Chairman of the Board of Variety Philadelphia and Vice President at NovaCare

Thanks to all the sponsors that made the night possible.
SNL guest comic Jeff Norris
Alicia Vitarelli and Jeff Norris. Alicia was the emcee of the night.

 Team Skai Blue Media was in attendance; Akari Yanada, Deirdre Donatucci, Rakia Reynolds, Michelle Conron and Jade Barnes. Congrats to Rakia who has been named Style Fashion ICON by the FBH Phila Fashion Week guys. The award will be giving on 9/20 during the Philadelphia Collection and their show.

 Fran Naselli, Vice President at NovaCare poses with Clear Channel’s Loraine Ballard-Morrill holding her 2012 Variety International Award
The Team from Firsttrust bank holding their award.

Frank Naselli of Creative Financial Group, and Variety President with
Jack Gilliam, holding his prestigious 2012 Variety International Award.

Thanks Mike Hirata for shooting this for PhillyChitChat

       On Wednesday July 18th, Venture
Up, a company that specializes in team building exercises for
corporations, and OraPharma will be donating bikes built by OraPharma
employees to local special needs children. Representatives from Venture
Up, and OraPharma, will be presenting the bikes to 16 boys and girls
from Variety – The Children’s Charity of
Philadelphia with varying special needs. Children and their families
will be attending the presentation.