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Amy Scherzer's Diary: Weekly Wrap-Up of the Tampa social scene

 
Top fundraisers Gayle Sapp, from left, Ed Ham, Erica Mandelbaum and Jan Wuliger celebrate raising $160,000 for the National Parkinson’s Foundation at Tampa Bay’s first Moving Day. 
Top fundraisers Gayle Sapp, from left, Ed Ham, Erica Mandelbaum and Jan Wuliger celebrate raising $160,000 for the National Parkinson’s Foundation at Tampa Bay’s first Moving Day.
Published June 18, 2015

Red Cross Tampa Bay

"Miracle on the Hudson" survivor Dave Sanderson gave American Red Cross supporters a lively recounting of what it was like to be the last person off US Airways Flight 1549 when a bird strike damaged the engine and forced a landing on the Hudson River in New York in January 2009. The Red Cross played a crucial role, he said at the June 5 annual meeting in the University of Tampa's Vaughn Center. All 155 people on board were rescued.

Outgoing president Greg Morgan asked for "votes between bites" to elect Karen Pappas and re-elect Judy Genshaft, Dr. R. Vijay and Nancy Watkins to the board. He thanked Leroy Sullivan for his nine years on the board, CEO Linda Jorge Carbone "for loving her job so much," and Circle K for donating $2 million, "largely from change at the register."

Also during lunch: Steve Dickey was named president and Lorraine Dutkowsky vice president; Beverly Austin was surprised with a lifetime board membership, and Patte Ayala received a Red Cross pin for 60 years of volunteering.

Brighter Tomorrows

"One in four women suffer domestic violence," said Kathy Pegram, chairwoman of Brighter Tomorrows annual luncheon to help families in crisis. Hearing Michelle Colado's gut-wrenching experiences silenced the 160 chattering guests as she described terrifying physical and emotional abuse. Mary Lee's House, the Spring of Tampa Bay, Guardian ad Litem, Voices for Children, Mary & Martha House, Are You Safe and Champions for Children are among the agencies receiving grants from the $30,000 raised May 30.

WFTS-Ch.28's Ashley Glass and John Thomas emceed at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, sharing the mic with Karen Ward and Linda Zipkin, who described the potpourri of Deborah Kent's fashions, accessories and shoes styled by owner Deborah Skyrms and modeled by members, including Cheryl Isele, Shirley Gorgei-Wood, Joan Weaving and Pat Cuervo.

Philanthropic Women of St. Joseph's Project Selection Luncheon

And the winner is: a new bus for St. Joseph's Mobile Medical Center. A replacement for the 28-year-old vehicle that delivers free services (serving 1,300 kids at 20 sites last year) was one of three requests heard by Philanthropic Women of St. Joseph at their annual project selection luncheon May 28.

The group has grown to 140 women with each annually giving at least $1,000. Several benefactors donate more, including co-founders Elaine Shimberg and Donna Jordan, Anne Nelson, Brenda Sproat, Susan Sheppard and Cherie Schonbrun. On May 28, more than 50 philanthropists voted where to allocate $150,000 while enjoying lunch at Lyda and Carl Lindell's art-filled home in Culbreath Isles.

"We've raised $675,000 in seven years, and never held a fundraiser to get there," Jordan said. "We've done it our way, with the generosity of our members."

Moving Day Parkinson's Foundation

Chairman Bob Sheehan and the committee set out to raise $100,000 at the first Moving Day walk — plus yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi and other mobility activities — sponsored by the National Parkinson Foundation on the University of South Florida campus.

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To their amazement, donations hit $160,000 on April 11 with the support of 750 participants, including Rasheda Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali, who has lived with the neurodegenerative brain disorder for 30 years.

Leaders of the top teams celebrated with sangria and lemonade and steak and shrimp bites on June 3 at Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant. Team Jan Wuliger led with $15,885; Gayle Sapp collected just under $6,000; Erica Mandelbaum and Ed Ham raised nearly $4,000 each. Team Bill Beck won for recruiting the largest team of 31 friends.

USF Health Byrd Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center director Robert Hauser reported tremendous progress in potential treatments to slow or stop progression from foundation funding.