Summer is gone, but that didn?t stop the folks at Mercy Medical Center from throwing a beach party.
Even though it was a less-than-balmy 50-something degrees outside, more than 750 “beachgoers” convened at the Hyatt Regency on Light Street Oct. 21 for the Mercy Health Services? 21st annual fundraiser, Mercy Magic: Beach Ball.
Chilly outside, the warmth of summer blanketed the Hyatt inside, as partygoers danced to the red-hot sounds of The Source.
For Mercy, the event helps ensure the viability of its health services by funding such areas as the “cutting-edge” clinical systems in the Emergency Services Department, according to Allyson Yospe from Mercy?s Development Office.
Auction chairs Dr. Pratima Bose and Rosemary C. Wahler outdid themselves with many exceptional silent and live auction items, including a guided tour by Ravens head coach Brian Billick of the team?s impressive training facility in Owings Mills. Also on the auction block was a tour of WJZ-TV ? and lunch ? with Marty Bass. There were even some great day trips and longer get-away vacations.
Congrats to the event?s co-chairs Leslie Y. and Dr. Ira Hantman for helping to raise $325,000 for a most worthwhile cause.
Halloween treats
The annual Goodwill Gridiron Halloween Party, held this year on Oct. 30, had witches, goblins, ghosts and plenty of ravens ? Baltimore Ravens that is, who teamed up with Goodwill Industries for a great fundraiser at Dave & Buster?s in the Arundel Mills Mall.
This year?s hosts ? Ravens Todd Heap, Kyle Boller and Mark Clayton ? welcomed the costumed guests for an evening of Halloween fun.
Heap was a hit as Napoleon Dynamite, and Boller was a motorcycle cop from the 1970s TV show “CHiPs.” Clayton ? always a team player ? made it to the event despite feeling under the weather.
Partygoers were treated to pictures and autographs from their football heroes, as others played games in the massive sports gaming venue.
Spotted ? as the King of Hearts ? was the Ravens? VP of Community Relations Kevin Byrne. Also in attendance were WBAL?s Jayne Miller, Jonathan A. Balog (marketing director for Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake) and Nestor Aparicio (WNST-AM 1570 Sports Radio) and his wife, Jen.
This was the seventh annual Halloween Gridiron party, and it has raised nearly $700,000 for Goodwill Industries, which, according to Balog, has assisted more than 2,100 people in securing employment.
Who? What? Where?
Baltimore?s gentle giant, Ravens offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden, took in the Lionel Richie concert at the Meyerhoff after his team?s big victory over the Bengals Sunday. At 6-feet-9 and 345 pounds he was hard to miss. Brother Marcus Ogden reported “J.O. loved theconcert.”
End of an era
The famed Horse You Came In On saloon in historic Fells Point is being auctioned off. Owner Howard Gerber is hangin? up his saddle and heading ? hopefully ? for greener pastures. The “Horse” has been a Fells Point fixture for more than 35 years and will be greatly missed.
