HughE Dillon: Greg Osberg Crowned Mardi Gras King
For the fifth year, the Epilepsy Foundation Eastern Pennsylvania (EFEPA) hosted its Annual Mardi Gras Gala, complete with beads, masks and boas for guests. This year, the popular event was held at the Crystal Tea Room. The Gala honors a Philadelphia leader for his or her commitment to those living with epilepsy/seizure disorder. This year, Gregory J. Osberg (center), publisher and CEO of Philadelphia Media Network, was crowned King of the 5th Annual Mardi Gras Gala. Greg has a son Eric who has suffered from epilepsy since he was a child. Below, from left to right: Kevin Feeley (event vice-chair), Lisa Feeley, Osberg, and Barbara and George Pipia.
Below: Phoebe and Matthew Schuh. Phoebe is wearing a gorgeous Cynthia Rowley dress. This year, the EFEPA is launching a first responders training class on seizure recognition and proper first aid for all seizure types, specifically designed for EMTs and police officers.
Below: Kristin Hoffman and Philadelphia Eagle Moise Fokou.
Below: Julie Ferguson and Bob Falcone, CFO at Philadelphia Media Network. Capping off a week of speculation about two different groups vying to buy a percentage of the Philadelphia Media Network, Falcone only wanted to talk about how great the content of the newspapers looked—after I mentioned how I loved my iPad version of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Below: Event vice-chair Dennis Bianchi, VP and GM at Fox 29, with Susan Buehler, Bellevue Communications Group, and Greg Saul. Bianchi was at NBC 10 for 29 years, and recently moved to Fox 29.
Below: Theresa Iannacone (left) and Bridget McCormack (right) cheer for their dad, Tom McCormick, Jr., who was the 2008 Mardi Gras King. Bridget tells me that she looks forward to wearing this outfit again on St. Patrick’s Day.
Below: Pretty in purple Renee Chenault-Fattah, NBC 10 anchor, served as mistress of ceremonies. The evening debuted an educational and promotional video “Faces of Epilepsy.” After the program and dinner, Tribeca Grand Band played.
Below: Mayor Nutter stopped by to talk about the good works of the Epilepsy Foundation and pay tribute to Osberg. In addition to honoring Osberg, the Foundation also honored Jeanne LeBuhn of Devon, PA, and Barbara Beck, a pediatric nurse practitioner in the neurology department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Below: Greg and Linda Osberg. Not only was Greg honored as Mardi Gras King, but the Osberg family honored their son with an annual award that will be given each year to a medical professional for their dedication. Barbara Beck was this year’s Eric Burton Osberg Award recipient.
Below: Alan Greenberger, deputy mayor for planning and economic Development, Karen Spiro, Karen Spiro Eventures, and Greta Greenberger, director of City Hall tours. The Greenbergers are returning to Australia for the first time in 26 years to visit friends. In the 1980s, when Alan worked for Philadelphia’s Mitchell/Giurgola Architects, the firm built the Australian Parliament House.
Below: Linda Rosend, Stephenie Tellez, Storeroom Solutions, Jennifer Herdler, Square One Organizing, and Linda Addis.
Below: Kevin Callaghan and Lauren Schmidt.
Below: Josh Gordon and Julia Greenberger, development associate at EFEPA. Julia tells me the EFEPA team created the decorative table centerpieces and set up the room. The food was prepared by Finley Catering. There was also a young friends component. For $100 the younger set could join the party and enjoy an open bar, live music, dancing, and small bites.
