Social Seens... Photography by Gram
Supporting the Classics
Ruth Eckerd Hall’s recently formed Nuevo Arts Group has expanded The Stradivarius Society’s tradition by supporting additional
classics, such as ballet, opera and American jazz. Its first dinner party, chaired by Vilma Buffman and held in The Hall’s newly
reconfigured Murray Theater, featured the saxophone sounds of Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts’ student Kyle Schroeder
and a pre-concert visit from the entertaining 2 Cellos, who later mesmerized a sold-out audience with their passionate versions
of the classics.
J. Harrison (Jim) and Elisabeth (Liz) Smith
were sponsors of the Nuevo Arts Group’s
annual dinner and concert, which
featured the 2 Cellos.
Marcus Greene Sr., Ruth Eckerd Hall’s board
chair, thanked Betty Jo Andrews for sponsoring
the glamorous and entertaining evening.
Vilma Buffman, who chaired the Nuevo Arts
Group’s exclusive annual dinner, and her
husband Zev, Ruth Eckerd Hall’s president and
CEO, were thrilled with the event’s success.
Photography by Gram
Five Fabulous Females Awards
The Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg’s Ninth Annual Five Fabulous Females luncheon and awards presentation, which
recognizes local women for their outstanding community service, was chaired by retired social worker Chris Duerson. The event
at the TradeWinds on St. Pete Beach honored Nikki Gaskin Capehart, the City of St. Petersburg’s director of Urban Affairs; Dr.
Pallavi Patel, who works on and supports ill and special needs children throughout the world; Sherry Wheatley Sacino, who has
aided young people through her Youth Outloud and national anti-drug media campaign; Betty Sembler, who has been fighting
the war on drugs for over 30 years; plus medical researcher, environmentalist and philanthropist Anne Von Rosenstiel.
Ambassador Mel Sembler and his wife Betty,
who received an award for her extensive
community leadership, presented a
scholarship to Academy Prep’s Joslyn Eliga
during the benefit.
Sherry Wheatley Sacino, chief
innovation officer of the nonprofit
Youth Empowerment Alliance that
she founded, and her husband Ron
were honored that she received an award.
Awardee and child health advocate Dr. Pallavi Patel
was congratulated by her husband Dr. Kiran Patel and
friend Cathy Unruh, whose husband Tom Sansone
is an Academy trustee.
156 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL 2016