Social Circuit

Nearly 1,000 guests attended the Preview Party for the 50th annual Philadelphia Antiques Show, held April 8 at the Navy Yard. The party was chaired by Katharine Booth and Sandy Nesbitt. Since its founding in 1962 by volunteer members of the Board of Women Visitors, the show has raised more than $17 million for the Penn health system, now known as Penn Medicine. This year the proceeds will benefit the Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center. Chaired by Patty Cheek, the 50-dealer show of 18th- and 19th-century American antiques and folk art was held April 9 to 12.

The Support Center for Child Advocates set a fund-raising record at its annual Benefit Reception and Auction, raising more than $500,000 for the nonprofit, which provides free legal and social services for abused and neglected children in Philadelphia. The evening, held April 13 at the Crystal Tea Room, honored University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann. Richard J. Gelles, Ira Harkavy, and Christopher E. Dunne were among nine others who also were honored. The event, attended by 920 guests, featured more than 300 auction items, including a one-week golfing trip for five at Glen Mhor Cottage in Glenelg, Scotland, that went for $7,000, and four VIP tickets to a taping of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart ($3,750).

Opera director Tito Capobianco was honored for his lifetime achievement in the field of opera at the Academy of Vocal Arts annual benefit, held April 3 at the Rittenhouse Hotel. Among the 260 guests at the event, "buenos ARIAS!", were international opera stars Sherrill Milnes and Justino Diaz. The evening showcased the talents of 25 AVA artists including soprano Michelle Johnson, a winner of the 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, who sang an aria from Francesco Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur. The gala raised more than $100,000 for the academy's scholarship program.

Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim was honored at Chamounix Mansion International Youth Hostel's 47th annual Celebration, held April 2 at the historic Fairmount Park house. Nearly 150 guests attended the event, which was chaired by Janet Campbell and cochaired by Christe Terrion. The house, built in 1802 as a summer retreat for the George Plumstead family, became the first urban hostel in the United States in 1964. The benefit raised $23,000 for the house, which hosts more than 12,000 international visitors each year.

It was a winning combination on April 17 when Phillies pitcher Ryan Madson and catcher Carlos Ruiz hit the lanes as cohosts of Philadelphia Futures' Get in the Game benefit, held at North Bowl in Northern Liberties. The winning bowling team was the PhilliesPharm team from Merck. The event for 400 raised $165,000 for the nonprofit, a mentoring and academic enrichment program for high school and college students. The benefit was cochaired by Phillies president David Montgomery, Daniel K. Fitzpatrick of Citizens Bank, and Arn Tellem.

See more photographs at http://philly.com/social. "Social Circuit" appears in Style & Soul on Wednesdays. Contact Caroline Stewart at 215-854-5747 or at socialcircuit@phillynews.com