THE AMERICAN Cancer Society presented Dinner on Huron Street, an outdoor event attended by young professionals and the young at heart. Held just outside of the Blarney Irish Pub, the five-course feast was prepared by Blarney chefs Joe Beltran and Skylar Stanton, La Scola Italian Grille chef Moussa Salloukh, and M Osteria chef Justin Thomas. Louis Kiel & Sons farm and Fransel Farms provided local produce.
Melon with prosciutto, salmon with cucumber, radish, and dill, short rib, and wild boar ravioli were among the dishes. Focaccia's Delicatessen provided dessert pastries and Maddie and Bella Coffee Roaster provided java.
Bulleit Bourbon and Heidelberg Distributing Co. provided wines to match each course.
Blarney owner Ed Beczynski is credited for bringing the idea for the event to Toledo.
About $20,000 was raised for cancer research and life-saving programs thanks to event chairmen Megan Hunyor and Andrew Schaetzke and their committee, Mr. Beczynski, Andrew Flis, Steph Malone, Megan McNamara, and Nick Rightnowar, and the 150 attendees.
Sponsors included Savage and Associates, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management's Thompson Williams Donahue Group, Hylant, SJS Investments, Buckeye Broadband, Kurt Nielson Photography, Laibe Electric, and others.
■ THE Development of Vietnam Endeavors’ annual Charity Dinner Auction at the Pinnacle raised $100,000 for needy children of Vietnam via clean water, schools, solar lights, medical supplies, and other humanitarian needs. There are many notable board members including John and Julie Abbey, Steve Boice, Fred Grimm, and Do and Theresa Nguyen.
Event chairmen Tim Kearney (also board chairman) and Roland Southard, said Robert Reichert won a raffle that raised enough for 150 new solar lights for needy Vietnamese families. Scholarship funds reaped $30,000.
Violinist Malik Khalfani provided music as cocktails and dinner were served and guests shopped the silent and live auctions of vacations, golf packages, cooking experiences and more.
Featured guest was Chuck Searcy, a U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam who lives in the capital city of Hanoi. Mr. Searcy represents Project RENEW in Quang Tri Province, a group that cleans up unexploded ordnances, provides medical assistance, rehabilitation, and income for unexploded ordnances victims, and helps Agent Orange victims.
Among the 220 supporters were Richard and Melissa Marcus, Richard and Rita Thomas, Chuck and Carol Stocking, and Steve and Lisa Sczesny. For those interested, another Vietnam trip is slated for late December.
■ THE Toledo Animal Shelter Auxiliary’s annual picnic at Belmont Country Club included cocktails on the veranda followed by an indoor buffet of picnic foods. Guests perused the silent auction headed by Linda McBee and bought 50/50 tickets.
Auxiliary board President Nancy Ligibel introduced shelter board President Grace Christopher, a longtime shelter supporter. Ms. Christopher said staffers Janie Perry and Ann Sherburne, new veterinary technician Lauren King, and executive director Helen Bensch are the reason for the shelter’s success. Ms. Christopher is looking forward to continuing the legacy of the late Barney Stickles, past shelter board chairman, while bringing the shelter into the future.
Spotted were auxiliary members, association members, and members of the Glass City Dog Park including Dawn Zavala, Kate Kelley, Jackie Rousseau-Werner, Denise Robedeau, John Donofrio, Paula Tuschman, Barbara Brown, Tom and Marlene Uhler, Joe Jarvis and Mike Craig, Sandy Isenberg, Karen Merrels, Randy Schnee, Carol Arnold, Pam Roberts, Tom Creque, and Betty McKinney.
Barbara Hendel is The Blade's society editor. Contact Barbara at bhendel@theblade.com or 419-724-6124.
First Published August 24, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
