Social Circuit: Philadelphia Charity Ball; Education Fund reception

The 129th Philadelphia Charity Ball, chaired by D. Christopher Le Vine, was held Friday at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. Resplendent in long white dresses and kid gloves, the ball's four debutantes were Katherine Del Raso of Devon; Jessica Hamilton of Wayne and Pagosa Springs, Colo.; Christina Pew of Bryn Mawr; and Kelly Slota of Villanova.

The white-tie evening for 350 guests began with a cocktail reception and continued with dinner, dancing to the Scott Romig Orchestra until 2 a.m., presentation of the debutantes, and a midnight breakfast. Guests dined on roasted chicken breast, filet of lemon sole, and the ball's signature dessert, chocolate bombe with fresh raspberries, which was marched into the ballroom by the waitstaff.

Founded in 1881 to benefit local charities, the ball raised $20,000 for HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy in West Philadelphia.

Sky's the limit

Overbrook High School graduate Guion S. Bluford Jr., the first African American astronaut to fly in space, received an Eddy Award from the Philadelphia Education Fund Nov. 13 at Moore College of Art & Design. Among those also honored at the fund's benefit reception were former School District of Philadelphia superintendent Constance Clayton, the Philadelphia Youth Network, and Songhai Press. The event for 225 raised $90,000 to support the fund's mission to improve the quality of public education for underserved youth in the Philadelphia region.

Craft Show

The Philadelphia Museum of Art's Women's Committee presented its 32d annual Craft Show Nov. 13 through 16 at the Convention Center, featuring 195 craft artists selected from more than 1,400 applicants. For the first time in the show's history, Israeli artists exhibited and sold their work. The show, including the Nov. 12 Preview Party for 1,100, is expected to raise more than $400,000 for the museum.