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Boys & Girls Club Rosecliff 2011 Gala Honors its Original Mission: Helping Children
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.
~ W. B. Yeats
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Cheryl Mrozowski & husband, Barbara Bohan & Debbie Grant
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The Boys and Girls Club of Newport has a history of whimsical, creative costume themes for its annual summer gala, held at Rosecliff mansion. Previous years' themes have included "Heroes & Villains", "Saturday Night Live", and "Las Vegas". Guests arranged themselves by tables, and then each table was a unique expression of the theme, guests arriving in elaborate costumes.
This year, event planners went back to the basic mission of the organization, choosing "A Celebration of Children" as 2011's gala theme. It seems highly apropos; the Club's mission is, after all, "To inspire and enable all young people--especially those who need us most--to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens."
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Barbara Bohan & Kristen Reed putting finishing touches on the party
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Perhaps less flamboyant (read rowdy and hilarious) than in prior years, the sold-out party created an elegant, lovely atmosphere, spilling into a second room for the seated dinner. Co-chairs Diane Beaver, Barbara Bohan, and Kristin Reed were responsible for the event's success. Other attendees included Jay Page, a party from Ruth Buchanan's home that included David Thalmann, Leith Adams, and Jane Smith. Having fun were Debbie and David Grant, Pieter Taselaar, and Bobbi Carpenter, Newport Seen also caught up with the lovely Cerise Jacobs whose opera, "Madame White Snake," won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Music.
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Puppets like Muppets showed the goals
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Clustered dolls, toys, and wagons under decorated trees lent a youthful touch to the night. As guests enjoyed a seated dinner of seared filet mignon, rosemary-skewered vegetables, and potato galette, several speakers addressed the crowd, including Brittany Hullinger and, poignantly, a young gentleman graduate of the program, Tre-quan Baker, who shared his gratitude for the all the assistance that the Boys and Girls Club had provided to him. All three co-chairs were thanked, as were event honorees Ruth Buchanan, Carol and Les Ballard, Robert Grace, and Mr. and Mrs. John Grace.
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Amanda Johnson & Samantha Winter, of Sequin
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Lively dancing to Bob Hardwick's orchestra followed dinner and preceded dessert: we spotted David Ford, Rod O'Hanley and KSN on the dance floor. Rather than a traditional auction, guests could opt to donate to a "Wish List" of items that would go to the various programs and camps run by the organization, providing items such as computers, art supplies, scholarships, and kayaks. Guests were also invited to bid on a live-auction 5-night stay for two at glamorous Half Moon Resort in Rose Hall, Jamaica. Afterwards, the Orchestra kept the dance floor hopping late into the night.
-- Amanda M. Grosvenor
(Editor's note: This event was the most successful ever, raising nearly $150,00 for the work of the Boys & Girls Club.)
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Rosecliff at the ready
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Checking in guests
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Linda Kempenaar, Mary Koziara & Dori Palmer
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Hugh & Annette Raisky with Kristen Reed & husband
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John Rayall & Coco Blaffer
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Annette & Hugh Raisky with Susan Killebrew
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Jason Mills, Stacie Mills, Sharon & Ray Caine
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Brenda Wilson, Richard Bohan & Robin Carreiro
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David & Leslie Reed with Elijah Duckworth-Schachter
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Marilyn Brockway, Wayne Bainton & Ken Brockway
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Nicole Carlin in Pucci
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Scott & Betsy Akers, in from Atlanta
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Hattie Gruber, Mary Steuart, John Higgins MacDonald &
Amanda Grosvenor of Newport Seen
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Harriet Higgins & son Peter MacDonald
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Rick Grosvenor, Elizabeth Clark, Terry Grosvenor & George Clark
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The cocktail party crowd awaiting Jane Smith & Ruth Buchanan
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David Thalmann with Ruth Buchanan, friends & Jane Smith
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The entire entourage from mrs. Buchanan's pre-party
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Bob Hardwick's orchestra delighted guests
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Richard Crisson, lovely couple, and Rod O'Hanley
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Pieter Taselaar, Isabella Walker, Richard Burnham & friend
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Robin Reardon Ronald Lee Fleming & Vicki, the tennis pro from the
Everglades Club, Palm Beach, in discussion at dinner
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Martha Honeywell & Rod O'Hanley cutting a rug
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Young lady with David Ford
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The singer delighted!
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Tyson Reed & Tom Hagerty
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Stacie & Jason Mills
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Mingling guests
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Tom Eberhardt & Cerise Jacobs
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Sydnor & Noelle Settle, friend, and Jane Grace
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Beth Mitchell, Janet & Jim Lanzillo, Kimberly Tegarden
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David & Debbie Grant
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John & Michaela Carlin
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John & Jae French, Ernst & Nancy Rothe, George Clark
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Peggie Richmond, Jay Page, Kim Herrlingher
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Muppet-like display
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Kristin & Tyson Reed, Diane Beaver
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Bill Leatherman, Robert Manice, Bill Wilson
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Brittany Hullinger speaks
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Rosecliff's ballroom
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Tre-quan Baker speaks
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Tre-quan Baker speaks
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Co-Chairs Kristin Reed, Diana Beaver and Barbara Bohan were honored
by Board President Bill O"Hanley and Executive Director Joanne Hoops
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Dancing
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Ken Brockway. Diane Beaver and guest
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Guests had a wonderful time
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Diane Beaver speaks
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Mary Louise Fazzano & Bettie Pardee
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