Big names to gather for The Hamels Foundation event

TICKETS are still available to a star-studded party with some major heavy hitters.

The Hamels Foundation's sixth annual Diamonds and Denim charity event is tomorrow night at Vie (600 N. Broad St.).

Heidi Hamels, once famed for taking her top off for peanut butter and chocolate cookies on season 18 of "Survivor," will be surrounded by many of her reality-TV-star sidekicks.

She and her husband, Cole Hamels, will host more than 500 party people, including fellow Phillies and other professional athletes, celebrities and debutantes. Get ready for some bold-faced names in reality television - Jennifer Sterger, model and former columnist for Sports Illustrated; Playboy model Stephanie Larimore; and several cast members from various seasons of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette."

They'll also be welcoming some familiar faces from their own camp, including Chase Utley and his wife, Jen Utley; Tim Legler, former NBA player and basketball analyst; Michael Barkann, host, anchor and reporter for Comcast SportsNet; and former Eagle Vince Papale.

Partygoers will enjoy an evening of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a three-course dinner, silent auction and live entertainment. Guests will get the chance to win diamonds, designer jeans and vacation packages, among other amenities. All the hoopla starts with a red carpet arrival time of 6:30 p.m.

The Hamels Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that supports quality education in the U.S. and in Malawi, Africa, where the Hamels established a new primary school in 2013.

Word is the after-party is at Zee Bar (100 Spring St.) and it's open to the public.

A local winner of the annual Black Male Engagement Awards missed his induction ceremony Monday night because he was hanging with the president. That's the POTUS, mind you, so we can't really bust on him.

This month, 10 Philadelphians received $100,000 of the more than $400,000 awarded to 43 black fathers, nonprofit leaders and businessmen in Philly, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Baltimore and Akron. The grant is made possible by the BMe Community, a national network of 12,000 black men with the same goal in mind of bettering their communities. The awardees are nominated by their neighbors.

Wayne Rucker, of Philadelphia, is one of those Black Male Empowerment recipients. He works at PowerCorpsPHL, an initiative put forth by Mayor Nutter and former guv Tom Corbett to empower communities through green initiatives, like environmental clean-ups.

But Rucker missed receiving his award Monday because he said yes to an invite from the White House in celebration of iftar, the traditional Muslim meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan. This is the seventh iftar hosted by President Obama.

Former Sixer Allen Iverson was spotted day-drinking yesterday at the Ritz-Carlton (10 Avenue of the Arts) with some guys in suits.

My sources say A.I. was in town late last week celebrating his 40th birthday, stayed for a Sixers uniform unveiling and was spotted palling around with some important-looking people at the swank hotel lobby bar.

We don't have "The Answer" to what he was doing in town, but it may be drumming up old rumors of former coach Larry Brown's suggestion that the Sixers hire Iverson on the coaching staff.

Meanwhile, in Edmonton, Alberta, another former Sixers point guard (and current L.A. Bruin) Jrue Holiday joined Eagles tight end Zach Ertz to support sporty significant others Lauren Holiday and Julie Johnston in their bid to go all the way in the Women's World Cup.

Sending condolences to my buddy and state Rep. Jordan Harris, who lost his mother over the weekend.

Claudette Harris, a/k/a "Claudie," passed away Friday and funeral services for her are Saturday at 10 a.m. at Yesha Ministries Worship Center (2301 Snyder Ave.) in Southwest Philly. A viewing will take place at 9 a.m. Interment is private.

On Twitter: @PhillyGossipDN

Online: ph.ly/DNGossip