WHYY 15th Annual President’s Dinner was held earlier this month at the Dorrance Hamilton Public Media Commons at WHYY StudiosThe special event honored a very special Philadelphian, former Aramark CEO, Joseph Neubauer. Chairman, Board of Directors Business leader and philanthropist Joe Neubauer served as CEO and  Chairman of Aramark for 30 years. He  retired as Chairman in 2014. Under his  leadership Aramark grew from a $2.5  billion business largely concentrated  in the US to a $13 billion global service  provider. Since retirement, Neubauer  has turned his attention to civic,  educational and philanthropic ventures,  as well as personal investments. He  serves as Chairman of the Board of  both the Barnes Foundation and the  University of Chicago. Neubauer’s personal story is just as  compelling as his business and civic  achievements. He immigrated to  America by himself at the age of 14,  with the support and encouragement  of his Holocaust survivor parents.  He credits his American  education for giving him  the skills that enabled  him to achieve  everything else. 

Phoebe Driscoll, Phoebe Fisher, and Terry Gross.

Fred Sutherland, Kyra McGrath, and Bob Auritt.

Hillary Baker and Lynn Honickman.

Great Q&A at Philly Mag: We Want Answers: Harold Honickman, Soda-Tax Opponent Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/citified/2016/05/22/harold-honickman-soda-tax/#U8UWjqRAzjLHAPsg.99

Drexelbrook catered the wonderful event and worked alongside Evantine Design who provided the beautiful decor for the night. The guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with a wide variety of delicious butlered Hors D’oeuvres.

Mini Lobster “Bon Bons” with Cilantro Cream, Lemon Cumin Chicken Meatballs with Sweet Chili Sauce, and Napa Valley Chicken Salad in mini Tortilla Cups were just some of the options.

Speaker Ira Brown addresses the crowd, and pays tribute to Joseph Neubauer.

People like you contribute more than half of WHYY’s funding, ensuring that we have the support we need to keep the programs you love on television, radio and online. Because we are a non-profit organization, your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you for being a part of a special community that keeps public media in the Philadelphia region strong.

Fred Sutherland, Chair WHYY Board of Directors, Terry Gross, host and co-executive producer of Fresh Air, Bill Marrazzo, CEO WHYY

Randi Marrazzo, Rhett Austell, Barbara Austell, Barbara Sutherland, and Fred Sutherland

Michael Golden, Sue Jacobson, Molly Shepard, and Peter Dean.

Philadelphia School District Superintendent William Hite.

Roberta Coia and  Bruce Keefe.

Troy Fee and Tiffany Fee.

Claire Holland and Jim Cotter.

The Pursuit 50 years in the Fight for LGBT Rights will air on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 9 p.m. on WHYY-TV.  Produced by WHYY, The Pursuit reflects on 50 years of change since protesters gathered in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1965 and publicly called for an end to discrimination against “homosexuals.”

Happening In The WHYY Studios in August

Green Philly Blog is hosting the first ever SustainPHL Awards, a celebration of sustainability visionaries to unsung heroes making a difference in their communities on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at WHYY located at 150 6th Street in Old City from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

SustainPHL will accept nominations for those individuals, businesses, nonprofit, and civic/government organizations on Monday, May 23rd at 10 AM on http://bit.ly/SustainPHL. Nominations will close on June 2, 2016 at 8 PM ET.

Submissions for nominees should exemplify individuals and organizations who are forwarding sustainability in the greater Philadelphia area. Nominees may make an impact through the environment, social impact or civic causes. Nominees are open to organizations and individuals based in the greater Philadelphia area.

Nominations are vetted by a Nomination Advisory Committee which is comprised of local organization leaders in sustainability. Nomination Advisors will assist in creating the nominee qualifications and will vote on the finalists.

‘Twelve Gates Arts held their Third Annual Fundraiser Gala on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at La Peg Brasserie at Fringe Arts. Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception with passed hor d’oeuvres and small plates, with a dessert buffet by La Peg Brasserie at the gothic glamour gala. There was an art auction with a live performance by the Almanac Dance Circus Theatre. Twelve Gates Arts (12G) is a non profit (501(c)(3) organization created with the aim to showcase international arts bound by the sensibilities of a diaspora identity, including the South Asian identity, to create and promote projects crossing cultural and geographical boundaries, and to educate the community about diaspora culture

Van Nguyen and Sham-e-ali Nayeem.

Twelve Gates Arts, established in 2011, is a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The “gates” refer to the fortified gates that walled many ancient cities such as Delhi, Lahore, Jerusalem, and Rhodes – inside which lay the heart of each city’s art and culture, and today this reference offers perspectives on history and possibilities.

Brenda Hui and Joe Aimonetti.

Melissa Kaiser and Ray Kaiser.

Madiha Gilani and Sadia Riaz.

Saima Yousuf, N Erdogan, and Munazzah Malik.

Twelve Gates Arts holds monthly exhibitions of contemporary and modern art by artists from countries in South Asia and the Middle East, as well as by diasporic artists from those regions. The list of artists represented comprises an impressive spectrum of established masters as well as cutting edge and outstanding newcomers. In addition to the exhibition programming, regular Salon events showcase works by artists in film, multi-media, literature and performance.

Award Winner Gayle Isa.

The Current Exhibit Lived Experiences Bolo | Julius John Alam | Vered Snear curated by Atif Sheikh
May 19 – June 15, 2016

Lived Experiences brings together three artists – Bolo (artist duo Saks Afridi and Qinza Najm), Julius John Alam, and Vered Snear whose recent works revolve around performances of lived experiences of ‘other’.

. Kavita Gupta and Ritu Anand.

Amber Abbas, Jamison Warren, Michael Carey, and Fariha Khan

Allie Hallmark, Mekala Krishnan, and Alex Williams.

Natasha Mirza, Farah Kapoor, and Sue Singh

The next exhibit
12 Gates Video Art Fest Hosted by Asian Arts Initiative at Pearl Street Tunnel, under Reading Viaduct  1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107  Experimental Contemporary Video Art
me.na.sa. ( middle east . north africa . south asia )
June 11, 2016
Saturday 7pm – 10pm

The 2nd Annual 12G Contemporary Video Art Festival celebrates contemporary video art – that is, contemporary art using recorded moving images, created by artists from or about the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. This 2nd edition of the juried show will be co-presented by Asian Arts Initiative in a tunnel under Philadelphia’s Reading Viaduct on Pearl Street, carrying over the experimental nature of the works to be screened. Subjects and themes for the exhibit include queer, controversial, poetic, abstract, political, philosophical, uncensored – anything that stretches beyond conventional. We look forward to producing a thought-provoking and inspiring exhibit to follow the well-received inaugural exhibit in 2015, which drew submissions from contemporary artists across the globe.

Mir Elias, Shabnam Kazmi, and Munzy Malik.

Dr. Zubair Baloch, Joe Donato, and Aisha Khan Photo Credit: Mike Hirata

Happy 2 Year Anniversary to this guy

In the evening I headed back to Center City to attend the Preakness on the Piazza. Hands down one of the more fanciful dressed crowds I’ve seen in a long time. The rain didn’t put a damper on the Preakness watch party which raised money for the MS Society.  About 1500 people gathered under the tents at the Piazza to watch the Preakness, to dance, to mingle, to dine and to drink.

A little rain never stopped anyone, and the guests at Preakness on the Piazza are used to that. 3 out of the 4 past years it has rained.

Folks really kicked it up a notch to look their Derby best.

This gal won best hat for her custom designed  here with Bex, 95.7 Who was celebrity  judge. check out the metro link below to see who the other judges were.

Happy 2 Year Anniversary to this guy (after a 20 year engagement)

Here’s a link to both the Preakness on the Piazza (The Philly Metro online) and The Radnor Hunt Photos. (PhillyMag The Scene Online)

Look for additional photos to be published in the future in the hard copies of Philly Mag and Philly Style Mag.

The Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pa, celebrated the the exhibition Philadelphia in Style: A Century of Fashion from the Robert & Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection, Drexel University Saturday night at a special fundraiser gala Fashion Fête. (The exhibit runs through June 26, 2016)

Ralph Rucci, Rosina Rucci (Ralph’s sister) , Lisa Tremper Hanover, director and CEO of the Michener Art Museum and  Emanuel Rucci, (Ralph’s dad)

The exhibit celebrates the sartorial legacy of clothing with a display of dresses, wedding gowns, shoes, hats and other items spanning a century of high fashion highlighting fashion designers and retailers that influenced fashion choices in the mid-Atlantic region as well as Philadelphia retailers Nan Duskin, John Wanamaker’s and Strawbrige and Clothier. At the Fashion Fête, Philadelphia born fashion designer Ralph Rucci was honored for his contributions to the fashion world.

Dennis Helf and Mary Helf, senior counsel at Fox Rothschild, LLP, has been a member of the Corporate Business Partner Program for more than 20 years and served recently as membership chair of the Advisory Board for Michener Museum.

180 guests from the philanthropic, and landscape design, architecture and art worlds attended the event, where they enjoyed an hour long cocktail party on the tented terrace, and enjoyed a fashion show with designs from the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator. Dinner and a short program was held inside the Edgar N. Putman Event Pavilion, which was beautifully decorated by Catering By Design, who also prepared the food. Production of the event and the entertainment, was provided by Mole Street Productions.

Jovan O’Conner, fashion designer, Tara Higgins, fashion designer,  Elissa Bloom, executive director of the Fashion Incubator, and Conrad Booker, fashion designer,

Bette PFundt and Nelson Pfundt

During the cocktail hour there was a fashion show presented from the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator.

Diana Vincent, a renowned Jeweler designer, Vincent Polisano and Dorothy Galanos

Madhavi Parekh, Ryan Putman, Bhara Parekh and Samantha Schoenberg

During dinner guests heard remarks from Gregory Church, President, Board of Trustees James A. Michener Art Museum, Lisa Tremper Hanover, Director & Ceo of the James Michener Art Museum. Kirsten M. Jensen, PH.D. and Chief Curator of the James A. Michener Art Museum, as well as Clare Sauro, curator of the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection, Drexel University.

On the windows are designs by Ralph Rucci’s RR331 Fall/Winter 2016 collection, which really moved Rucci when he walked into the room.

Amy Welch and Maureen Church, co-chairs of Fashion Fête

Bridget Wingert and Joe Wingert

John A. Fry, President of Drexel University, and Cara Fry.

Jack Staub and Renny Reynolds, celebrated floral designer and event planner. Not only is that suit amazing, but he’s created some of the most amazing events New York City has seen.

Dr. Vail P. Garvin,  President & CEO Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce and Ron Unterberger

Anne Callahan and Charles Croce, executive director of the Philadelphia History Museum.

I am in talks with them to donate a few of my Philly artifacts to the museum. Maybe I’ll have a section and it will be titled, HughE the hoarder knew these things would be of value to someone someday – LOL

Philadelphia in Style: A Century of Fashion from the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection, Drexel University Co-curated by Kirsten M. Jensen, Ph.D., Gerry & Marguerite Lenfest Chief Curator, Louise Feder, Assistant Curator, and Clare Sauro, Curator of Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection, Drexel University

The exhibition is co-organized with the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection (FHCC) at Drexel University. Documenting over four centuries of costume history, the FHCC holds more than 14,000 fashionable garments, accessories and other related materials and is a vital part of the design curriculum at the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design.

Philadelphia in Style: A Century of Fashion is generously supported by Visit Bucks County and Gregory and Maureen Church.

PS Sorry I am running so late at publishing these events. The Social Season is just about over and I’ll be back to curating your instagram – LOL.

2016 Mother’s Day @ the Mansion with Ellen Smith and Carolyn Smith, sister and mother of actor Will Smith, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars hosted their 12th annual Mother’s Day at the Mansion at their sprawling estate in Bryn Mawr.

The two ladies greet each other at the 2016 Mother’s Day @ the Mansion

While DJ Lisa Love, and others entertained the crowd. Later in the day the headline was DJ Biz Markie

 Ellen Smith is the youngest of 4 children, a twin, a single mother of 2, a licensed cosmetology instructor and a philanthropist. In 2004, Ellen hosted a small event at her home. Ellen invited “Mother’s in Charge,” an organization of mothers whose children have been killed in violent crimes to benefit from the event. The event response was so good that Ellen wanted to make it bigger & better and created Dining With Divas.

Dining With Divas ie Mother’s Day at the Mansion, believes that every mother should have the opportunity to enjoy the day recognized as a national holiday in her honor. For this reason, our affiliates have selflessly given their time & effort to ass                         ist us in this matter. Dining With Divas does an annual “Adopt A Family.” Between 8-10 families are adopted every year. They receive Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner which is delivered to their homes. For Mother’s Day, mother’s & children in transition from shelters, foster homes etc…. are personally transported to & from event and enjoy the special day with their family.

Jade Okere, Richard and Fatima Farr

The Teehan family: Jeff, Colleen and Siobhan

Aja Graydon, of the Kendrick Family, Malika Hill (Jamal Hill, Writer: Brotherly Love) and Takiyah Wall, Got Laundry
a charitable organization that collects clothes for the homeless.

Kimberly Crawford and Marcus Allen, Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA (BBBS SEPA)
Tuesday night 6 – 9PM BBBS SEPA is hosting Lip Sync Battle Royale at Stratus Rooftop Lounge

Natasha Harris-Foster, Ceo of Broken Wings, Ernie Bristow, District 1199C and Peaches Bristow

Brenda Williams Council and Victoria Nelson

Andrew Paulin, Desnise Samuel and Lyslyn Samuel

Paul Anthony, Full Force (who was honored for his philanthropic work and his brave fight with cancer), Coll V, Ellen Smith, DJ Biz Markie and Bow Legged Lou, Full Force

Cheryl Scheidle and Romont Harris, comedian

Carolyn Jenkins, Meekinz Jewelry with Carolyn Smith

Carbin Haggins, Ayisha Harrison and Kaile Harrison

Vinnie Vegan owns Gangster Vegan a foodery in Norristown. Soon he’ll be opening another one at
46th and Woodlawn in West Philly.

Shaniqua Rudd, Shawhtee Rudd and Kizzy Marshall

Full Force Mom

That’s “pawsome”! Uber & the Pennsylvania SPCA team up to offer Puppy  Playdates to Business Professionals throughout Philadelphia
Businesses in Philadelphia, Conshohocken, King of Prussia and Cherry Hill presented with opportunity to order 15 minutes of playtime with adoptable puppies; 100% of proceeds benefit  $30 for 15 minutes of puppy play
PHILADELPHIA, PA. May 17, 2016 – The Pennsylvania SPCA is once again teaming up with Uber to bring

some pretty adorable stress relief to professionals throughout the Philadelphia area on Thursday, May

19, by bringing puppy playdates back! Offices in Philadelphia, as well as Conshohocken, King of Prussia

and Cherry Hill will have the opportunity to book puppy playdates by using the Uber smartphone app for

15 minutes of pure puppy love.

Beginning at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Uber users in Philadelphia (including Center City, Old City, the Navy

Yard, University City, Conshohocken, King of Prussia and Cherry Hill) can open the Uber app, slide over

to PUPPIES and request 15 minutes of “pawsome” playtime for $30. Every dollar earned from the event

will be directly donated to the Pennsylvania SPCA and their lifesaving mission.

This will mark the second time the PSPCA and Uber have partnered in this unique way to find forever

homes for adoptable puppies and raise funds for the PSPCA, which is 100 percent donor funded. In

August 2015, 11 puppies were adopted and over $1,500 was raised for the PSPCA. The PSPCA and Uber

followed that up with kitten playdates in October 2015, resulting in 21 kitten adoptions and over $4,000

raised.

“At Uber, we love finding ways our technology can delight the public and advance worthy causes like

that of the Pennsylvania SPCA,” said Jon Feldman, General Manager for Uber Pennsylvania. “All you

need to do is open the app, hit request and get ready for a doggone good time. We expect demand to

be high, so if you don't get a pup right away, please sit patiently and keep barking. "

“We have been thrilled with our partnership with Uber, not only in finding homes for adoptable animals,

but for creating awareness for our adopt don’t shop philosophy,” said Jerry Buckley, CEO of the

Pennsylvania SPCA. “The best part of these partnership days is bringing moments of joy to animal lovers

throughout the city, and ultimately finding homes for the puppies. This day often extends into increased

adoptions for all of our animals – kittens, adult cats, puppies, and adult dogs – a wonderful side effect of

Uber’s reach.”

Here’s how it works:

1. Open the app from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 19

the PSPCA

2. Request the PUPPIES option. Please note: Puppies can only be delivered to offices, no private

residences will be accepted

3. Once the puppies arrive, requesters will get to enjoy 15 minutes of puppy love. PRO TIP: Make

sure to have an enclosed space ready for puppy playtime and make sure no other animals are in

the area

4. Found your new furry family member? All puppies are eligible for adoption at the PSPCA Erie

Avenue location, 350 East Erie Avenue, from 3-7 p.m.

Community Partnership School (CPS) honored its partners and supporters at the annual fundraiser, “Celebrate CPS,” on Thursday, April 28, 2016, 6PM at Vie, 600 North Broad Street, Philadelphia.

The event “Celebrate CPS” raises funds that directly benefit the students and families of CPS, an independent elementary school in North Philadelphia dedicated to providing high-quality education to children from low-income backgrounds.

Andy Rooke, Head of School, Eric Jones, Head of Community Partnership, Chairman Jocelyn Hillman, and Margie Rooke.

The evening began with a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by dinner, a performance by the exceptional students of CPS, and a live and speed auction.

Lynne Honickman, Steve Korman, and Linda Richardson.

Action News personalities Rick Williams and Erin O’Hearn.

This year, CPS was proud to have Rick Williams of Channel 6abc to help emcee the event and his co-worker, Erin O’Hearn, Action News reporter as a guest.’

Event Volunteers: Mauricio Novelo, John Gilbride, Josiah Matos, and Antonia Gay.

Arlene Gay and Dwayne Gay.

Gray Gifford and Alisa Gifford.

Lee Warden and Bill Warden.

Meredith McCormick, Wendy Steffens, and Mark Steffens.

Weezie Hastings and Edie Webb.

Troy Thomas, Katie Greenbaum, Amy Ferracci, and Rebecca Cain

Lauren Pilgermayer, Maureen Murphy, and Becca Bernstein

Community Partnership School has pioneered an innovative, independent elementary school model that provides students from under-resourced backgrounds in and around North Central Philadelphia with a top-notch education. From pre-kindergarten through 5th grade, students are prepared to confidently open the doors of opportunity and pave the way for their future success—from admission to high performing middle and high schools, through college and beyond. For more information please visit www.communitypartnershipschool.org or follow Community Partnership School on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Community–Partnership–School/146803214389>.