Ciao bella! On Sunday, June 26, 2022, Sea Me Events is hosting “A Taste of Italy” at Il Fiore in Collingswood (693 Haddon Ave.) Guests will be greeted with sparkling Italian Prosecco, indulge in a Five-Course meal, and dance The Tarantella!
Taste of Italy ventures away from well-known Italian cuisine and into traditional dishes such as Veal Carciofi, veal medallions with artichokes and tomatoes in a creamy, garlic white wine sauce. Additionally, guests will dine while immersing in traditional Italian dances, fashion, and history. Through Sea Me Events, learning continues outside of school in this energetically educational occasion.
Taste of Italy kicks off at noon on June 26, with a five-course meal including regional pasta dishes. This event is open to the public. Tickets:INFO
Sea Me Events is a women-of-color-owned special events firm founded by Elizabeth Aifantis of Medford and Susan Sorrell of Cherry Hill. Sea Me Events specializes in DEI focused events and cultural driven activations. Both founders Aifantis and Sorrell traveled extensively around the globe. “Rome is a beautiful city and is one of my favorites because of its rich history and architecture,” Sorrell said. Combined with their success in planning over 200 DEI focused events and large-scale entertainment experiences, Sea Me Events will bring regional attendees together to enjoy the richness of Italian culture.
And we’re back to raising money for to empower people’s lives. Women Against Abuse , Inc., Philadelphia’s leading domestic violence agency, hosted Dish It Up on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in the Concourse at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Women Against Abuse is an organization dedicated to providing women with compassionate quality services. Advocacy and community education help to further their goal to ending domestic violence.
The 14th annual Dish It Up, and women chefs will bring their finest culinary skills to compete for best dish of the night, selected by a panel of celebrity judges. This event is Philadelphia’s only women chef competition and attracts close to 500 business and community leaders and food aficionados. Women Against Abuse has served an average of 10,325 people over the past five years through a continuum of trauma-informed care, as well as community education and advocacy. Learn more about the services we offer.
Somer Jordan entertained the crowd during Dish It Up!!
Tommi Vincent, and Troy Vincent, The 2022 Women Against Abuse Advocates of the Year with Joanna Otero-Cruz, Executive Director & President at Women Against Abuse (c)
Troy Vincent and his wife Tommi Vincent will be honored as the 2022 Advocates of the Year. Troy Vincent, Sr., is an NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee and Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame inductee. He played cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1996 to 2003 and is now the Executive Vice President of Football Operations at the National Football League. Troy’s wife, Tommi, is an in-demand chef, Co-Founder and COO of Vincent Country, host ofStay A While PodcastandStay A While Cooking Show, motivational speaker and writer. For more information about the Vincents, visit their website.
This is the 14th annual Dish It Up, and women chefs will bring their finest culinary skills to compete for best dish of the night, selected by a panel of celebrity judges. This year’s judges include: Chef Kiki Aranita of Poi Dog Philly and 2018 Dish It Up Purple Dish Award Winner; Gina Gannon, 6ABC Traffic Reporter and FYI Philly Co-Host; Cherri Gregg, afternoon drive host/news anchor for WHYY Radio; David Spadaro, Host of Eagles Insider;Marilyn Johnson, editor and food critic for Philly Grub; Eddie Keels, publisher, Philly Current Magazine; Chef Barbie Marshall, finalist of Hell’s Kitchen and Hell’s Kitchen All-Stars with Gordon Ramsay; and Kae Lani Palmisano, TV host of Check, Please! Philly on WHYY.
Gina Gannon, 6ABC Traffic Reporter and FYI Philly Co-Host and Eddie Keels,publisher, Philly Current Magazine;
Marilyn Johnson, editor and food critic for Philly Grub and Chef Barbie Marshall, finalist of Hell’s Kitchen and Hell’s Kitchen All-Stars with Gordon
Rebecca Foxman, Anita Hirsch and David Wesolowski of Fox + Son
Women Against Abuse becomes the family who don’t have any. Breaking free from an abusive relationship is scary and difficult. During the process, some survivors begin rebuilding while living at Sojourner House, a transitional housing program; many others receive their community based support paired with housing assistance through their Safe at Home program. WAA supports survivors through their Economic Empowerment program, as they pursue employment, educational and financial goals to remain safe and free over the long haul.
Meredith Maciolek and Heather Derussy
The 2022 Signature Purple Cocktail, originally created especially for this event by the late well-known mixologist Katie Loeb, was featured in her memory with the help of her mixologist colleague Meredith Maciolek, and Heather deRussy,
Cherri Gregg, afternoon drive host/news anchor for WHYY Radio and Kae Lani Palmisano, TV host of Check, Please! Philly on WHYY.
Diana Widjojo of Hardena
Chef D from Sonny’s Cocktail Joint + Wine Dive created a delicious goat cheese pastry puff
Keisha Usher-Martin and Elsa Lara
Tiara Parker and Aikeem Joyner
Walnut Hill College
Nolwenn Laniyan and Nicole Gaskin-Laniyan
Diana Widjojo of Hardena
Adam Geer, Board Member of Women Against Abuse, Sybil Murphy and Kenneth Murphy
Rev. Bonnie Camarda, The Salvation Army, Anastasia Zuccaro, Einstein Healthcare Network and Bill Ryan, Einstein Healthcare
Estelle Richman, Stephen and Sandy Sheller, The Sheller Foundation
Participants in this year’s Purple Dish Award and Purple Dessert Award
Chef D – Sonny’s Cocktail Joint & Wine Dive; Rebecca Foxman – Fox and Son received Honorable Mentions for her Garlic Knot Cheese Curds; Diana Widjojo – Hardena Bar Philly; Julie Kline (r) – La Colombe won with her spicy sweet carrot dish ; Melissa Fernado – Sri’s Company Philly; and Victoria Tyson – Vicki’s Kitchen – Angela Cicala – Cicala at the Divine Lorraine; Justine MacNeill – Fiore who won with her delish purple pop!! Maddie Knowles – Maddie Bakes, Jessica Boese – Nothing Bundt Cake and Marie Stecher – Walnut Hill College.
In 2018, UArts announced Uniquely UArts: The Campaign for Creative Capital to support four initiatives: enhancing the student experience, investing in faculty, re-envisioning campus and developing innovative programming. The goal was to raise $50 million.
Last month UArts President and CEO David Yager announced that the campaign far exceeded its goals and raised $67.2 million in a ceremony at UArts.
Nate Hamilton, who’s grandmother, gave “The single-largest donation to the campaign was $25 million from the estate of Dorrance “Dodo” Hill Hamilton, the late Campbell Soup heiress who served on the school’s board for decades, a number of them as board chair.” and Brian Effron, “I am honored to serve as the chair of this campaign,” said UArts Trustee and campaign Chair Brian Effron.”
Money from the just-completed campaign, dubbed “Uniquely UArts: The Campaign for Creative Capital,” will be spent and saved for a variety of efforts including the biggest chunk, about $24 million, will be kept in perpetuity in endowment.
Jon Lovitz, and Brenton McClosky
About $17 million is being used for capital projects, like a new student center in the former Gershman Y building at Broad and Pine Streets, the Laurie Wagman Recording Studios, and “Living Steps,” a new gathering space for students.
Lynn Sullivan, Marian M and Eleanor Davis
Lawrence Taylor and Ralph Cintino
Restricted funds totaling about $14 million are being used for programs and academic disciplines.
About $5 million is being set aside as discretionary funds — for expenditures like tuition relief, housing costs, food expenses, and art supplies.
$5.5 million will go toward scholarships.
Nate Hamilton, Harriet and Larry Weiss with Councilperson Mark Squilla
Earlier this month I attended the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (DVLF) TOY 2021, it’s an annual holiday fundraising event to benefit DVLF. Guestsbuy tickets to attend, and bring an unwrapped toy for the children who will spend the holidays in the hospital. This years event was hosted by merriest of couples Miguel Martinez-Valle and Raymond Smeriglio with the very entertaining Varla Jean Merman who kept us in stitches for her entire set, including the very brave Ric Harris, President & General Manager, NBC10/Telemundo who didn’t cover his eyes or ears once,
even though I may have with Varla’s real take on LGBTQ life, hook ups and relationships especially in Covid times…. She is a must see in any season.
The event also featured a hearty brunch buffet, open bar and a silent auction to raise additional funds.
TOY is DVLF’s annual fundraising event that edifies the organization’s ability to provide for the emerging needs of the LGBTQ+ community in the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley metropolitan area.At TOY, DVLF will deliver annual grant recipients with grant checks. Additionally, because DVLF was not able to provide an in-person event at the time, they will also honor annual HEROES award recipients who have contributed to activism and growth within the Philadelphia LGBTQ+ community.
More than 130 Philadelphia-area asset management industry professionals gathered to support the Philadelphia Fund Alliance’s Sixth Annual Gala on Nov. 4 at The Logan Philadelphia. The event raised $100,000 for Friends of the Wissahickon, a 2700-member nonprofit formed to conserve and improve the 1800-acre Wissahickon Valley Park. The Philadelphia Fund Alliance is a group of Philadelphia-based asset management industry professionals formed to hold an annual fundraiser to benefit one or more charities in the Greater Philadelphia area. The annual fundraiser not only supports a great cause, but it also highlights Philadelphia’s deep roots and influence in national financial markets and services, including traditional mutual funds and alternative asset vehicles.
Melody Wolske of PwC and Kim Osborne of Glenmede Investment Management.
Lori Wayne and Melinda Battista of SEI Investments Company.
Kevin Boyle, Bruce Leto, Cory Hippler and Gary Bagin of Stradley Ronon
Henry Orvin, Lauren Connor and Ryan Schrader of Mondrian Investment Partners.
Nate Bomberger, Justin Dutka and Reese Blair of Deloitte.
Mike Mabry of Stradley Ronon; and David Connor, Jill Lubold and Brian Murray of Macquarie Asset Management.
Kseniya Suslava, Mary Ellen Mahoney, Jim Mahoney and Len DiPietro of Tait Weller.
Tim Rampe, JP Marquess and Alex Lovell of Lovell Minnick.
T.J. Keefe and Gloria Liu of Faegre Drinker; and Ted Edwards and Raffaele Cicala of Troutman Pepper.
John Braun of BBD; Steve Connors of Embassy Capital; and Jim Kaiser and Ralph Petagna of BBD.
Anna Palutis, Brook Schneck, Ted Sloyer, John Pedorenko and Thomas Melone of PwC.
Michael Amugo, Jeff Lutsky, Mena Larmour and Grace Wydeven of Stradley Ronon.
Mac Humble, Stephanie Little, John Canning, Tom De Cain of Chenery Compliance Group; and Steve Kneeley of Glenmede Investment Management.
Parx Casino Gives Free Thanksgiving Meals At Senior Center
Parx Casino, located in Bucks County, gave out thousands of free meals at the Bristol Township Senior Center earlier this week.
The event started at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, with thousands of pre-prepared meals ready to be given to the senior citizens at the center. Seniors who came were also given a weeks supply of meals and soups.
“The Parx Casino and Caring for Friends partnership is a tremendous opportunity to build a legacy of care in our community,” said Ron Davis (hat), Parx Casino Director of Diversity and Community Development. “We are thankful to our team members who are always willing to help with outreach to those in need. We celebrate making a difference.”
The casino also donated a $15,000 check to Caring for Friends for all their work in the Bucks County area. The event was a collaboration between the casino and the organization in an effort to combat hunger in the Bucks County area.
Last Saturday, Parx Casino executives and team members cooked, packed and prepared Thanksgiving meals for seniors to give away for the holidayCarrie Nork Minelli · Director of Advertising & Public Relations at Parx Casino told me.
“With so many people in our area facing hunger, Parx’ efforts are helping provide a happier and heartier Thanksgiving dinner not just to the Bucks County seniors here today, but to thousands of neighbors in need in the greater Philadelphia region.” said Caring For Friends CEO Vince Schiavone.
ABOUT CARING FOR FRIENDS Founded in 1974 on the belief that no one should be hungry or alone in a world of caring people, Caring for Friends is a volunteer organization and independent food bank serving greater Philadelphia. Through its flagship meal delivery program, CFF provides food and friendship to homebound seniors, veterans and those with disabilities. And thanks to generous donations of time, money and product, CFF also provides meals to people experiencing homelessness, and donates food to more than 250 community partners working in unserved and underserved neighborhoods. So far in 2021, CFF has rescued, sourced and distributed more than a million pounds of food a month to help fight hunger. Anyone can volunteer in their own community on their own time by cooking meals, packing snacks, making deliveries or visiting with clients. Get involved at caringforfriends.org.
CEO Greg Deavens, (on right) Temple president Jason Wingard with IBC Foundation Healthcare Scholars, (l to r) Hannah Mahler Sakeesha Similien, Jamirah Branch, and Justine Jones.
The program will: Provide full 4-year academic scholarships for up to 20 students of color to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Temple Support students through learning communities, tutoring, and additional academic resources Offer mentorship and experiential learning opportunities for high school students to raise awareness of nursing as a career and help them meet Temple admissions criteria Provide job placements within Temple University Health System upon graduation
Gregory E. Deavens,Independence Blue Cross president and CEO. “Independence is a champion of health equity and social change, ta
“A diverse nursing workforce is essential to providing culturally competent care in communities of color, so we must make sure nursing education is an option for all who want to enter the career,” said Gregory E. Deavens,Independence Blue Cross president and CEO. “Independence is a champion of health equity and social change, tackling challenges through partnerships like the Healthcare Scholars Pipeline Program. We are proud to work with Temple University and Philadelphia-area high schools to launch this program and mark another milestone in our twenty-year journey of support for nursing.”
Dr. Jason Wingard, president of Temple University.
“We’re immensely grateful to have the Independence Blue Cross Foundation as a partner in this important endeavor,” said Dr. Jason Wingard, president of Temple University. “Through this collaboration, our College of Public Health will facilitate the development of a pipeline of highly-talented and diverse nurses. The importance of intentionally targeting these frontline practitioners is crucial given the current complexities of the healthcare system. So, we’re excited to collaborate with the Independence Blue Cross Foundation to enhance equity and access of training in support of preparing a best-in-class workforce.”
Steve Fera is executive vice president of public affairs at Independence Blue Cross (Independence).
Senator Christine Tartaglione, Councilperson Shariff Street, Councilperson Cindy Bass, with teachers, mentors, and students from Temple
In addition to full scholarships, students will receive academic support including paid internships, learning communities and mentorships to further support their undergraduate nursing experience and academic achievement. The initial cohort will include five students from north Philadelphia and surrounding neighborhood high schools and will later expand to additional schools and up to 20 students.
