Jefferson gala

More than 550 guests attended the Jefferson Awards Gala Oct. 22 at the Philadelphia Downtown Marriott. The evening, which raised $600,000 for Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals, honored Marie and Joseph Field with the Award of Merit and Dr. Herbert E. Cohn with the Achievement Award in Medicine. Proceeds benefit the Joseph and Marie Field Laboratory for Cerebrovascular Research and for education and research in thoracic and endocrine surgery.

The gift of caring

The Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life held its Rainbow Ball Oct. 24 at the Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing. Ann and Murray Spain received the center's Family Award in recognition of their commitment to improving the quality of life of older adults. The gala and its Family Album tribute book raised more than $750,000 for the Horsham center, which provides nursing care, assisted living, hospice, short-term rehabilitation, and other services for seniors.

The art of winning

Jack Wolgin presented Philadelphia artist Ryan Trecartin with the first Jack Wolgin Prize in the Fine Arts at an award ceremony for 200 guests, held Oct. 22 at Temple University's Tyler School of Art. Wolgin, 92, established the Wolgin International Competition in the Fine Arts last December with a $3.7 million gift to Tyler. The award comes with a $150,000 cash prize. Chosen by a jury from a pool of 20 artists nominated from around the world, Trecartin, 28, is a multimedia artist best known for his avant-garde videos. An exhibit of Trecartin's work and the work of the two other finalists will be on view at Tyler's Temple Gallery through Nov. 14.

Outreach for art

Art-Reach held its 18th annual Jazz Brunch and Silent Auction Sunday at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. The event for 230 honored Christine Rouse, founder and executive director of Acting Without Boundries, and the Arden Theatre Company for making the arts more accessible to people with disabilities. The event raised more than $72,000 for Art-Reach, which provides arts and culture experiences for the elderly in need, at-risk youth, people with disabilities, and low-income families.

Guess who's coming to dinner?

Mt. Airy, USA, a nonprofit community development organization, held its sixth annual benefit, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," Oct. 24 at the Commodore Barry Club in Mount Airy. Among the 285 guests were Rhonda and David Cohen, Temple University president Ann Weaver Hart, Joe Banner of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Tamala Edwards of 6ABC. The evening raised $50,000 to help revitalize Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy, which is undergoing a $4 million improvement.