PHOTOS: Alex Lemonade Stand’s Lemon Ball

On Saturday, January 12, 2013,Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation hosted the Seventh Annual Lemon Ball at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The event was presented by Volvo and the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund with support from CIGNA. This year’s benefit set a record by raising more than $825,000. The Lemon Ball, an evening of cocktails, dinner, raffles, silent and live auctions and entertainment, also set an attendance record, bringing together more than 900 supporters of the Foundation’s mission–a cure for all kids with cancer.

Jay Scott (left) and Liz Scott (center), the parents of the late Alex Scott, co-chaired the gala with Peter Austen and Mary Stengel Austen, who is a longtime friend and supporter of Alex, serves on the Board of Directors for the Foundation and is President/CEO of Tierney. The evening featured the presentation of the Alex Scott Crystal Cup to Jeff Benjamin; (second from left) Jeff Michaud (second from right); and Marc Vetri (r), the men behind the Foundation’s first and largest culinary fundraiser, The Great Chefs Event. (Vetri said it was an honor to be recognized by Alex’s Lemonade and a little shoulder surgery two days before the event was not going to stop him from attending the event.)

Liz and Jay Scott presented awards to Paige and Mark Walsh (left) of Leawood, Kansas, who are pictured here with their kids Lily, Donovan, Mac, and Charlie. They were named Foundation Volunteers of the Year. The Smith family of Spring Lake, New Jersey, was named Stand Hosts of the Year. Both the Walsh and Smith families have personal connections to childhood cancer. Charlie Walsh was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer just prior to his third birthday; Charlie is now a typical 8-year-old boy! Bridget Smith was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in April of 2007; today Bridget has grown into a beautiful 8-year-old who continues to raise funds for childhood cancer.

Jennifer Green and Brett Rosenbloom (Director of Business Development at Multiflow) are proud supporters of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Meghan and Ed Wright were perusing the vast silent auction table with more than 800 items to choose from. They were looking to win the six hillies tickets with the pre-game dinner at Osteria.

Aralisha Newbold, Emily Reiner and Dr. Mara Kaplan-Kaliner were happy to support Alex’s Lemonade in honor of Mara’s husband, Jeff Kaliner, co-founder and chief executive officer of Power and a board member of Alex’s Lemonade.

Larry Walker, Lori Frio, Carmelina Staino, and Stephen Soibal are looking forward to the Philadelphia International Auto Show, which begins next Saturday.

Dr. Greg Persichetti is pictured here with his wife, CBS3 anchor Susan Barnett. Barnett is from Levittown, Pennsylvania. She competed at Miss Teen USA 1990 and Miss USA 1996.

6ABC’s Amy Buckman, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Terry Buckman are pictured below. Perhaps the most poignant moments of the evening came during the live auction when members of the audience came together to purchase the first official Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Pennsylvania License Plate for $15,000, donating it back to Alex’s parents Liz and Jay Scott.

Maria VanNocker and Lauren Kremper are very thankful for the Alex’s Lemonade Foundation as the fund was instrumental in the care of their children who suffered from cancer.

Executive Chairman of Rita’s Italian Ice Tom Christopoul; Avi Loren Fox, CEO of Rita’s Jonathan Fornaci, Senior VP of Franchising for Rita’s Scott Schubiger represented the company.  This year Rita’s Italian Ice donated $388,237 to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for childhood cancer.

Sarah Burke bought her beautiful gown at David’s Bridal. Last year she participated in the Lemonade Run and raised her team raised the most money for the event, which she participated in in honor of her son Austin who died of cancer. With her are her husband Chad Burke, and friends Mike and Michelle Lowe who were also part of the team.

CBS 3 anchor Chris May poses with his wife, Lea May. Next week Chris travels to Washington, D.C. to cover President Obama’s inauguration. Last year, May was one of a handful of local market news reporters to do a one-on-one with President Obama.

Natalie Bickhart, Steve Rockman, Blair Ago and Sonya Bright. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation grew from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). At the age of 4, Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, raising more than $55 million and funding over 250 research projects.

Alex’s Lemonade Ambassador family: The Hammonds. Pictured below are Jack, Jody, Dan and Cassie. During dinner, guests participated in Fund A Cure, where guests collectively raised more than $100,000 in a matter of minutes for a research grant The entire roomw as engaged! Cocktails, dessert and dancing to the sounds of Brandywine Valley Talent’s Back2Life rounded out the evening.