Legally speaking

CBS commentator Nancy Giles served as the jury forewoman at a mock trial held Nov. 5 at the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania's annual fund-raiser at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. With former State Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schultz Newman officiating, lawyers Thomas R. Kline, who represented the plaintiff, and William L. Banton Jr., who represented the defense, argued the case of a prep cook with AIDS who was fired after she cut her hand in the kitchen. By evening's end, the jury had ruled in favor of the plaintiff and $65,000 was raised for the AIDS Law Project, which provides free legal services to people with HIV/AIDS.

Artistic endeavor

The 14th annual Art Ability Exhibition, an international juried show and sale of art and fine crafts by artists with disabilities, opened with a preview reception Nov. 7 at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital. The show, with more than 400 works by 130 artists, is open free to the public through Jan. 17. Funds are raised through the sale of the artwork, with 80 percent going to the artists and 20 percent for the hospital's patient programs and services.

ADL dinner

Nearly $500,000 was raised at the Anti-Defamation League's annual Americanism Award dinner, held Nov. 10 at the Crystal Tea Room. More than 625 guests attended the benefit, which honored the law firm Stradley Ronon and its chairman, William R. Sasso. The event featured students from John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School, Roxborough High School, and Roman Catholic High School in a debate about whether English should be designated the official language of the United States. The student debate program is sponsored by Stradley Ronon.

Hot off the press

The Philadelphia Tribune, the country's oldest continually published newspaper serving the African American community, celebrated its 125th anniversary at a gala Saturday at the Convention Center. Among the 1,200 business, civic, and political leaders who attended the event were Gov. Rendell; Mayor Nutter; honorary event chair David L. Cohen; Robert W. Bogle, president and chief executive officer of the Tribune; Michelle Howard-Vital of Cheyney University; Ivory Nelson of Lincoln University; and J. William Mills III of PNC Bank. Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball gave the keynote address.