By Stephanie Creech Hackett
Photos by Philip Groshong
For The Cincinnati Enquirer

Emerald & Diamond Gala

Gala chairs Shelley Jefferson Hamler (left) and Carole Rigaud stand beside the runway for Ebony Fashion Fair's "Color Splash" show.

Music Hall's ballroom was the site of this year's Emerald & Diamond Gala for the Cincinnati Chapter of Links Inc. More than 700 beautifully dressed guests turned out for the annual black-tie bash.

The gala featured cocktails and dinner by Jeff Thomas Catering and Ebony Fashion Fair's "Color Splash," where gorgeous models took to the runway in some of the season's hottest fashions.

Honorees were Marcia and Herbert Brown, Sandra and Spencer Crew and Mary Ellen and Tom Cody.

Guests included Susan Dlott and Stan Chesley, Anissa and Alton Frailey, Valerie Lemmie, Peggy and Marvin Lewis, Diane and Robert Wright, and Dr. Stanley Kaplan.

Chaired by Shelley Jefferson Hamler and Carole Rigaud, this year's gala raised $35,000 to benefit Links, a predominantly African-American women's volunteer service organization.

Sponsors included Federated Department Stores, Cinergy Foundation, KeyBank Foundation, Western Southern Financial Group and Blank Rome Comisky and McMauley.

Art With a View

Contemplating one of the sculptures for sale at Art With a View are (from left) Harry Davidow, Sue Butler and her husband and co-chair Bill Butler and sculptor and event chair April Davidow.

A breathtaking view and spectacular art made for a delightful evening at Domaine de la Rive along Covington's RiverCenter Boulevard.

More than 275 guests took in the drama of the penthouse overlooking the river during Art With a View, a fine art sale to benefit the Wellness Community.

Bill Butler, chairman and CEO of Corporex, served as one of the hosts and donated the spectacular 11,000-square-foot site. Butler's co-host was Virgil Reed, president of Time Warner Cable.

April Davidow not only chaired the event, but was also one of the sculptors represented in the sale.

She and her husband, Harry, are longtime supporters of the Wellness Community, which was founded by April's sister-in-law, Lynn Stern, in 1990.

During the evening, 40 pieces of art were sold, generating $55,000 to benefit the Wellness Center's mission of improving the lives of cancer patients and their loved ones.

Sponsors included Bartlett & Co., Cinergy and U.S. Bank.

Children's Faces Without Places

Tami Aber and Jeff Kellerman inventory auction items at Project Connect's Faces Without Places benefit.

Project Connect Homeless Children's Fund's sixth annual Children's Faces Without Places event raised $35,000 for its commitment to educating homeless children and youth.

At downtown's Verdin Bell Centre, the event included cocktails and a buffet supper. Raffles, silent auction and a live auction gave guests the chance to do some holiday shopping.

Live auction items included an array of vacation packages - at the beaches of the Bahamas to the mountains of Montana. Honorary Chairs were Dr. Jon and Hope Mendelsohn. Sandy Knight was event chairperson.

Committee members included David Berberich, Doug Droege, Karen Fessler, Bryan Foltz, Bill Hutchinson, Jeff Kellerman, Suzanne Kronke, Jean Molony, Debbie Reinhart, Helen Ruff, Shelley Werner and Lori Zwick.

Sponsors included Pachinko, Seasongood & Mayer and Merrill Lynch.