24 • Thursday, March 20, 2014
Honoring Harwell
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Red Nose Ball Pays Tribute to Artist
Camp Smile-A-Mile’s 22nd annual Red Nose Ball was dedicated to the memory of Jennifer Harwell, a local artist who lost her battle with cancer last summer. Four of Camp SAM’s young adult survivors and longtime campers were also honored at the Feb. 22 black-tie fundraiser at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center on Grandview Parkway in Birmingham. All 900 guests attending this year’s event jumped to their feet to give the young cancer survivors a standing ovation. Mike Royer of Alabama’s 13 kicked off the evening as master of ceremonies and auctioneer. Ken Jackson auctioned off items ranging from trips abroad to sports From left: Ken Jackson, Amy and Mike Royer. Photos special to the Journal Sam the puppy and Tonya Jones. memorabilia and art. A black Labrador retriever puppy was auctioned off to a wonderful home. A seated dinner was followed by live music by The Expandables and dancing. All funds raised at the 2014 Red Nose Ball will help support Camp SAM’s year-round programs for Alabama children who have cancer or who have overcome the disease. Those attending the event included John Redmond, Mary Lynn and David Warren, Deana and Jeff West, Jameka Brown, Rosilyn Houston, Georgina and Mark Haladwala, Mary Jane and Winston Gillum, Natalie and Zach Turnage, Rachel and Todd Jordan, Sumner and John Rives and Justin Truelove. Also attending the 2014 Red Nose Ball were Emily and Sam Heide, Hillary and Ryan Weiss, Fiona and Dr. Ray Watts, Katie and Wesley Britt, Antonio Langham, D’Ann and Bill Somerall, Nell and Todd Fredella, Ellen and Houston Gillespy, Kellie Reece, Savannah Lanier and Bronwyn Meredith and Justin McLaughlin, Dr. Jack Schaeffer and Cardwell. Brooke and Justin Kaplan. Others spotted at the event included Ann and Ken Horne, Lana more photos at Cowan, Eric Hoffman, Kenneth Nolen Jr., Tonya Jones and Bryan Combs, Emily and Bob Levine, Cristi and David Dixon, Caroline Dixon, Alex Hodges, Ollie Newton, Justin Truelove, Keith Rains, Kristi Arians, Mary Beth and Bruce Hooper and Cliff Long. ❖ Hunter Latham and Michael Milo.
OTMJ.COM
Garden Art Gathering ACA Makes Plans for Fundraiser
Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama hosted a luncheon on Feb. 18 to announce plans for its 18th annual Garden Art Party. The luncheon was at the home of Christy Baynes, vice president and event co-chairman. The Garden Art Party, set for May 10 at Iron City, will be a celebration of Mother’s Day. Two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women, and 70 percent of caregivers are women. This event has raised more than $2 million for services for respite care and continence supplies for Alzheimer’s patients. At the luncheon, Miller Piggott, executive director of Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama, shared Ruby’s story.
Ruby attends daycare on an ACA scholarship. Ruby’s daughter moved in with her more than four years ago when she could no longer live alone. Ruby’s daughter’s journey with Alzheimer’s has been challenging, Piggot said. Baynes discussed plans for the event’s live and silent auctions. Her husband, Allen, will be “auctioned off” as part of the “Dine with the Refs” package. Allen Baynes is a referee with the National Football League, and this popular package offers a pair of tickets to one of his games and includes dinner the night before with the entire officiating crew. A set of dinner plates painted by patients will also be offered in the auction.
From left: Christy Baynes, Nicole Crawford, Lemeshia Chambers and Jennifer Mancuso. Photos special to the Journal
Bob Straka will serve as auctioneer. The Baynes’ newly-renovated home on Cherokee Road was the backdrop for ACA’s luncheon. The neighbor’s free range chickens led to the speculation that the party’s theme might be “Down on The Farm.” Each year artwork created by Alzheimer’s patients from assisted living facilities and adult day care centers is featured at the Garden Art Party. President Nicole Crawford, who is co-chairing the event, announced plans for a contest to encourage more facilities to participate. The facility that creates the winning artwork will receive five sessions of therapeutic arts programming from VSA Alabama. Attending the luncheon were board members Chris Blackerby, Rebecca Hamiter, Julie Bryant and Lanette Cook along with Penny Witcher, Starla Marbury, Cheryl Thrasher, Catherine Cato, Karon BrooksHarris, Jennifer Sinelnikov and Lemeshia Chambers. There are more than 93,000 Alabamians with Alzheimer’s disease. For each patient, an entire family is affected, officials said. ACA assists families looking for answers and trying to provide care. Money raised at the Garden Art Party will fund services, programs and research. ACA is providing respite care, scholarships for patients to attend adult day care centers and scholarships for continence supplies to more than 400 patients and families this year. Tickets for the 2014 Garden Art Party are $95. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.alzca.org or call 871-7970. ❖
Dance and Desserts
Youth Ballet Guild Hosts February Fundraiser
Above: Suzy and Kenny Spencer provide musical entertainment at the event. right: Matthew and Elizabeth Korcz. Photos special to the Journal
Those attending the sixth annual Dessertissements fundraiser in February enjoyed a night of desserts and dancing for a good cause. The Alabama Youth Ballet Guild hosted the event, which featured romantic desserts and wine and performances by the Alabama Youth Ballet Company, on Feb. 16 at Grebel Dance in Pelham. The event was aimed at promoting and bringing awareness of the arts, specifically classical ballet and dance, to the community. Guild officers and members planning and volunteering for the event were Sabrina Murray, president; Paula Macklin, vice president; Eden Roy, treasurer; Lizzie Hudson, secretary; Kenn Davis, Jessica Newman, Mary Frances Vogen, Susan White, Sariah Homan and Felicia Daniels. The theme for this year’s Dessertissements was Keep Calm and Dance Tango. A highlight of the event was the musical entertainment by Ken and Suzy Spencer, whose daughter Anna, a senior at John Carroll Catholic High