Cincinnati Flower Show preview

Flower show gala co-chair Amy DeBrunner greets Rodger Davis (left) and Bob Maddux, president of Delhi Landscape Service & Flower and Garden Center.

The preview gala for the 15th anniversary Cincinnati Flower Show presented by Provident Bank at historic Coney Island was a benefit for the Wellness Community. The show opened Wednesday and closes 6 p.m. today.

The 700 guests at the Tuesday gala, co-chaired by Susan Robinson and Amy DeBrunner, enjoyed an evening of Flower Show exhibits and a progressive dinner-by-the-bite from Chef's Choice. Tickets were $150 per person. Highlights of the evening were the exhibits "An Artist's Home," featuring a breathtaking interpretation of Claude Monet's home and gardens in Giverny, France, and "A Wizard's Garden," an incredible train garden taking the viewer back to childhood.

Proceeds will benefit the Wellness Community, which provides support and education for those stricken with cancer, as well as their loved ones.

"We're honored the Cincinnati Horticultural Society would choose the Wellness Community as the beneficiary of one of the premier social events of the year," said Rick Bryan, Wellness Community executive director. "It will help us in our continuing efforts to help all those who are affected by cancer."

Beacon of Light Humanitarian Awards

Lighthouse Youth Services presented its annual Beacon of Light Humanitarian Awards at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, downtown. More than 575 guests enjoyed the evening of dinner and silent auction, chaired by Elie Chalfie.

This year's honorees, selected for their leadership and community service, included the Levin Family Foundation of Dayton; federal Judge S. Arthur Spiegel and his wife, Louise; Jeri Tolliver; and Stanford Williams.

Committee members included Dr. Sarah Hale, Aline Simon, Joyce Dill, Betsy Shapiro, Joe Mendelsohn and Dawn Green.

Through fund-raising events such as the Beacon of Light Award Dinner and efforts of the Beacon of Light Committee and Foundation Board, Lighthouse Youth Services has raised $825,000 this fiscal year.

Aubrey Rose Foundation

Moms and their daughters enjoyed a series of tea parties and fashion shows featuring American Girl outfits and accessories for children and dolls at Jillian's in Covington.

The series, enjoyed by 2,000 guests, raised about $50,000 for the Aubrey Rose Foundation, named for Aubrey Rose Hollenkamp, a Cincinnati girl who was born with a rare condition called Scimitar Syndrome, which affects the liver and lungs.

Despite a heart and double lung transplant, Aubrey Rose died two days shy of her third birthday.

The foundation awards educational scholarships, helps families with extraordinary medical expenses, buys toys and organizes holiday parties to brighten the lives of ill children at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Bigg's was a major sponsor of the event.