BETHEL
JOURNAL THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
LIFE
Open Your Heart for Stepping Stones dinner and fundraiser co-chairs Lisa Diedrichs of Columbia Tusculum and Anne Gilday of Clifton enjoy the result of their work. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
DINNER RAISES RECORD $70K FOR STEPPING STONES
A
February snowstorm made the fireside seem even brighter inside Eddie Merlot’s restaurant for the sixth annual Open Your Heart for Stepping Stones dinner and raffle on Feb. 4. The 200 guests were greeted with wine, hors d’oeuvres and three fireplaces blazing cheerfully. Guests conjured thoughts of spring as they purchased hand-painted birdhouses created by children and adults in Stepping Stones’ programs for people with disabilities. The sit-down dinner was a Valentine feast with grilled salmon, filet mignon, roasted asparagus, risotto and Red Velvet cake with raspberry drizzle. The sixth annual Open Your Heart dinner raised a record of more than $70,000 for Stepping Stones’ programs for children, teens and adults with disabilities. Co-chairs were Lisa Diedrichs of Columbia Tusculum and Anne Gilday of Clifton. This year the Valentine event celebrated a special couple – United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cincinnati and Stepping Stones. UCP recently merged into Stepping Stones, combining programs, staff and boards. The merger created Stepping Stones’ third program site, the UCP campus in Norwood.
Jeff Chapman, Cheryl Rose and John McIlwraith, all of Indian Hill, attend the Open Your Heart fundraiser for Stepping Stones. Chapman is on Stepping Stones’ board and McIlwraith is board president. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
PEOPLE | IDEAS | RECIPES
John and Kerry Mongelluzzo head home in the snow after the Open Your Heart for Stepping Stones fundraiser dinner at Eddie Merlot's. John is Stepping Stones’ Board Secretary. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Kerry and Jay Vollmer of Indian Hill and Jim Shanahan of Indian Hill attend the Open Your Heart for Stepping Stones dinner at Eddie Merlot's. Jay Vollmer and Shanahan are on Stepping Stones’ board THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Kerry Byrnne of Hyde Park, Mark Berry of Indian Hill, John Gibson of Indian Hill and John Mongelluzzo of Indian Hill, share a laugh at Open Your Heart, a dinner fundraiser for Stepping Stones. Berry and Mongellluzzo are board members. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Other program sites are Stepping Stones Given, on Given Road in Indian Hill and Stepping Stones Allyn at Camp Allyn in Batavia. Stepping Stones serves more than 1,000 children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities. Programs include summer day and overnight camps, Saturday clubs for children and young adults, year-round adult day programs, year-round alternative education for students with severe autism, weekend respite programs and adventure trips. Auction prizes had a ro-
mance theme. Mike and Mary McGraw of Indian Hill won the home entertainment package including Samsung 46” LED TV, Blu-Ray player and installation donated by Perfect Solutions AV. The prize included a selection of romantic movies. Tom and Tori Williams of Anderson Township won the His and Her bicycles donated by Montgomery Cyclery. Chris and Denise Adams of Terrace park won the Downtown Date Night donated by the Cincinnatian Hotel, Phoenix Restaurant, Jaguar Land Rover of Cincinnati and Rogers Jewelers.
Tori and Tom Williams of Anderson Township try out one of the His and Her’s bike they won at the Open Your Heart for Stepping Stones dinner. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Tatiana Weedman and dad, Jeff Weedman of Indian Hill, attend the Open Your Heart for Stepping Stones dinner. Jeff is on Stepping Stones’ board THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN