AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
The Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful evening than June 15 for its Corks for a Cause fundraiser or a lovelier setting than Homestead Gardens Severna Park. For the third year, BWMC Foundation and Homestead Gardens partnered with NextGen and Fishpaws Marketplace to host the well-attended event.
Tucked in amongst the flowers and plants throughout Homestead’s greenhouse and gardens were tables for 15 wineries or distributors with 90+ point wines to sample from around the world. There were also delectable nibbles from 14 of the area’s finest purveyors ranging from Blackwall Barn and Lodge and Carrol’s Creek Cafe to Hellas Restaurant and Lounge and Two Rivers Steak and Fish House. There was also live entertainment from Dan Haas Music.
Even before opening time, Homestead’s parking lot was filled to overflowing and attendees were already at the doors. On entering, guests were greeted by Abby Maloney, Jeannie Robertson and Jennifer Sebor, volunteers from Next Gen, who were handing out gift bags containing a program, a wine tasting glass from Fishpaws Marketplace and swag from various other donors.
The first table encountered by many guests was that of Smashing Grapes Kitchen + Wine Bar of Gambrills and Annapolis where examples of California Coastal Cuisine were being prepared as photographers snapped away.
Minutes away from lighting the flame beneath his chafing dish, Cafe Mezzanotte owner Tommie Koukoulis was in high spirits as he and Michael Regal prepared to treat Corks for a Cause guests to a sampling of one of the rustic Italian dishes they are known for. Koukoulis and the Mezzanotte staff are a familiar sight at Severna Park events and are noted for giving of their time, talent and resources to support community charities. The pair had lots of news about opening the cafe’s covered organic garden patio and about their Jazz at the Mezz dinner concert series.
Flowers were truly everywhere including the buckets of roses Moet-Hennessy’s T. J. Kazak and Justin Cockcroft brought with them to decorate Table 5 and highlight their Whispering Angel Rose (as seen in the opening photograph). Flowers also provided a scenic background for Will Strzegowski from P.N.B. Seafood’s Mother Schuckers to shuck some truly fine raw oysters.
A casual but classy affair with lovely weather, Corks for a Cause was the perfect occasion for Treasury Wine Estates‘ Lisa Kurts to show off her summery dress and hat while serving samples of Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz and four other California wines.
“I work out of Baltimore,” Kurts said. “But we distribute our wines internationally. Our home office is in Australia but we also have offices in Napa, California.”
Kim Lawson, owner of Fishpaws Marketplace who lined up the participating wineries and distributors, explained that none of the 15 tables offering samples were allowed to sell their wines. However, orders could be placed for the wines through the Fishpaws Marketplace table and then picked up directly from the store. They could be ordered by specially priced cases or half-cases.
Representing the fundraiser benefactor, Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation, its Secretary Nick Demyan and volunteer Jimmy Cumming had a great spot from which to chat with attendees while serving some incredible hors d’ oeuvres from La Posta Pizzeria.
According to Demyan, the funds being raised by Corks for a Cause would be used for three specific purposes, the first being to fund BWMC’s Safe Sleep Kit initiative.
“For every baby born at the hospital or coming through the emergency department, we make sure the family has a Safe Sleep Kit – one of the primary ways to avoid sudden infant death syndrome,” he said. “A second need for funding is to upgrade our emergency department by implementing a vertical care model that will speed up wait times and ease the flow in and out – particularly for individuals with minor injuries. Thirdly, funds are needed to redo our Healing Garden that’s located next to BWMC’s Tate Cancer Center.”
One of the things the event sponsors were especially proud of was the Silent Auction Table filled with a dozen impressive donations. They ranged from a shiny Weber grill from Bacchus Importers and Fishpaws Marketplace to gift baskets from wineries like Stags Leap or wholesalers like Republic National Distributing Company.
The third annual Corks for a Cause benefit at Homestead Gardens was a great success raising $15,500 though ticket sales, the silent auction, a raffle, and 10% of sales from each of the participating winery or distributor.
Stay tuned for announcements about another fundraiser benefitting Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation on July 9th – a day of music featuring local bands and Nashville recording artist Chad Bearden at Severna Park Taphouse.
Just In Time App introduced at Prevention Coalition Social Event
At the 30th Anniversary celebration of Karen Renee Interior Design, owner Karen Osborne told friends that, in memory of son Justin, the Osborne family was working with others to create a non-profit called Just In Time Wellness, Inc. committed to supporting families and individuals dealing with mental health issues and substance misuse. In addition, they were developing a “Just In Time App” meant to be a tool in preventing suicides.
She planned to introduce the non-profit and app on June 15th as Keynote Speaker for the Prevention Coalition Social Event at Libations Tavern in Millersville. (The Prevention Coalition focuses on drug abuse prevention.)
Unfortunately, Osborne contracted the COVID virus and was unable to appear at the event in-person. Instead, she’d appear remotely while the team of Jen Coken, Holly Frye and Donna Willis handled the live part of the presentation.
Coken said the idea for Just In Time Wellness, on the Osborne family’s part, came about because they didn’t want another family to have to go through the pain of losing a child or sibling to suicide.
Willis noted that further motivation was a strong urge to support young adults like her – young teens through their twenties – by connecting them with others to unburden themselves.
“A lot of time, all a person in crisis and feeling suicidal really needs is someone to talk to,” Willis said. “They need to know someone is there listening and that people care about their well-being.”
According to Osborne and husband Scott, a whole team of directors worked on raising funds and developing Just In Time, Inc. They said software being designed for the app enables an inner circle of five family members or friends to stay in constant communication with someone in crisis to offer help and support. The software would even incorporate crisis links and a panic button.
“Having lost our son to suicide, it was important to us that no one else has to face such a crisis alone,” Karen said.
For further information, email Karen@justintimwellness.org or visit the website www.justintimewellness.org. You can make a donation at www.donateforwellness.com.
