Go Red luncheon
"We came to Go Red for those we love," said St. Petersburg deputy mayor Kanika Tomalin, recounting the worst day of her life to a "sea of Wonder Women wearing red" at the 15th annual American Heart Association luncheon. A "widowmaker" heart attack took her husband, Tampa Bay Times outdoor editor Terry Tomalin, last year at age 55, she said, urging guests to know their family history, know their cardiovascular numbers "and tell everyone you love to act heart smart" as 80 percent of heart diseases may be preventable.
Health screenings, self-care advice, Macy's swag bags and a Valentine theme at the Renaissance Hotel International Plaza, emceed Feb. 16 by WTSP-Ch. 10 anchor Allison Kropf, all helped this year's Go Red For Women campaign raise 100,000 challenge match by Go Red chairwoman Linda Simmons in memory of her father to further gender-specific heart research.
Philanthropic Women of St. Joseph's
Teacher, author, president's daughter and NBC Today show correspondent Jenna Bush Hager addressed the Philanthropic Women of St. Joseph luncheon Feb. 8 at the Tampa Yacht-&-Country Club where members celebrated raising more than 240,000 including nine live auction bids for a trip to Belize before the Shawn Brown Band began to play. That will help buy weekly necessities like 50 gallons of milk and soap for 200 loads of laundry and 70 loads of dishes for children, newborns through age 17, who must be removed from their homes.
CAB Cricket Cup
Guests dressed in white from head to toe for the biennial Cricket Cup, a fun afternoon of family activities to support Children Across Borders founded by Vivek and Sharmila Seth. Nearly 150 supporters came to learn how to play the classic English sport or to just watch the cricket matches Jan. 21 at George M. Steinbrenner Field. They enjoyed traditional British pub fare and specialty cocktails, Pimm's Cups and Shandy, followed by High Tea, all to the music of the Thad Wiley Band. A silent auction and 50/50 raffle helped raise $100,000 to help children in need in India, New York and Tampa Bay.
Save the date: Bollywood Nights, the Seth's formal gala returns to the Tampa Museum of Art on Feb. 23, 2019.
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