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#TBT The American Red Cross – The 14th Annual Red Ball Gala

April 10, 2014 by HughE Dillon

This is like a ThrowBackThursday Post, cause it happened a month ago and it’s Thursday.

The American Red Cross held its 14th annual Gala Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the Please Touch Museum in Fairmount Park. More than 1,000 social, civic and business leaders attended the “red tie” event which featured cuisine from 30 of the finest restaurants in our area.

All proceeds from The Red Ball benefit disaster relief and Red Cross
House – The Center for Disaster Recovery, a one-of-a-kind short-term
housing facility in University City.

Co-hosts for the evening were
Deanna Durante (2nd from left) and Keith Jones (center) from NBC10; Leon LaRosa was the Red Ball
Chair,

Judge Renée Cardwell Hughes, who serves as chief executive
officer was on hand to greet the guests as they arrived.

Frank Sestito and Valerie Knight, WOGL

National MS Deadra Witt with Richard and Karen McRory-Negrin

Cool Whey and Patti Andrews

Jade Starling

Miss New Jersey 2013, Cara McCollum.

All proceeds from The Red Ball benefit disaster relief and Red Cross
House – The Center for Disaster Recovery, a one-of-a-kind short-term
housing facility in University City. Every year, hundreds of local
families find refuge at this facility and begin their recovery from
fires, floods, and other disasters. Red Cross
House is a model for disaster recovery nationwide. It offers families a
stable and supportive environment while they work to rebuild their
lives. Since opening its doors in April 2003, Red Cross House has been called “home” by more than 10,000 people who had no place else to turn in their greatest time of need.

Everett Gillison, Deputy Mayor at City of Philadelphia (he’s one degree separated from the Pope, now) and Elaine Gillison

CTO Tribeca as in the house entertaining the crowd once again this year.

WOW what a dessert spread. This year’s Red Cross theme was Hollywood, so Maryellen made chocolate Oscars.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives;
provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members
and their families. The Red Cross
is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the
generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more
information, please visit redcross.org