Local belles make their debut at the Philadelphia Charity Ball
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<p>Debutante Lacey Deaver Swift-Farley (left), her mother Nina E. Swift, debutantes Courtney Jennifer and Laura Katerina McCauley and their mother Colleen Holt-McCauley and Peter F. Cooke, greet guests in the receiving line. (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>Henry Philip Coote (left), Douglas Kingsley Pratt, Emily Hefford Claytor, David J. Richards II, Fitz Daniel Tabas Tepper, Camille Perry Flint, George Blackmore Lemmon, Mackenzie Scharf Lucas, Courtney Elizabeth McGill, Sarah Newhall Neilson, and Benjamin Ellis Claytor (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>Young Ladies’ Committee member Alexandra Caroline Leto is presented to the audience with her escort John H. Durovsik. Pictured at left are members of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Committee.(Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>Debutante Courtney Jennifer McCauley is presented by her father, Sean N. McCauley to members of the Board of Directors. Directors (from left): R. Carter Caldwell, Gary A. Cox, Warren I. Claytor and John P. Devine (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>Alexander Thompson Farley (left) and his daughter, Lacey Deaver Swift-Farley, Laura Katerina McCauley and her cousin, Kevin McCauley, Courtney Jennifer McCauley and her father, Sean N. McCauley. (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce) </p>
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<p>Michael Mathew Maggio (left), Young Ladies’ Committee member Courtney Elizabeth McGill, Mr. Benjamin Magaziner Sheppard, and debutante Laura Katerina McCauley perform a formal cotillion during their presentation (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)<br /><br /></p>
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<p>Bryan Carter (left), President and CEO of Gesu School, 7th grader and recipient of the Bryn Mawr Trust Philadelphia Charity Ball Scholarship Kharon Randolph, and Charity Ball board member Andrew Camerota from Bryn Mawr Trust (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>Members of the Young Ladies’ Committee and their escorts: Marian Suzanne Prim (left), John H. Durovsik, Alexandra Caroline Leto, William John Kacergis, Chandler Whitney Burke and Casey Michaelis (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)<br /><br /></p>
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<p>Brian Crochiere (left), Elizabeth Cooke, Peter F. Cooke, Executive Vice President and former President of the Board of Directors, and Cindy Crochiere. (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>John Fetter (left), Erin Gray, former debutante Alexandra Noll, Eric W. Noll, former debutante Meredith P. Noll, and Charity Ball board member Georgiana W. Noll (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>Michael J. Tierney, president of the Charity Ball board, and his wife Margaret (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>Lydia D. Butcher, vice president of the board of directors, chats with friends. (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>Young Ladies’ and Young Men’s Commitee members Jordan Elizabeth Marinchak (left), Emily Claytor, Fitz Daniel Tabas Tepper, William Scott Warren, Catherine Elizabeth Miller, Benjamin Ellis Claytor and Sarah Newhall Neilson (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
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<p>John P. Devine, Charity Ball board vice president, and his wife, Bridget Devine enjoy a dance at the 133rd Philadelphia Charity Ball (Photo courtesy of Sabina Louise Pierce)</p>
Brought to you by Freemans Auctioneers, The Circuit, with Caroline Stewart, takes you to the Hyatt at the Bellevue for the 133rd Philadelphia Charity Ball. Become a regular of our new blog to keep up with the hottest philanthropic events.
In a city steeped in tradition, the Philadelphia Charity Ball has a place of honor in the pantheon of tried and true, old and established. It’s been around since 1881 when young ladies made their debut and were introduced to society as eligible young women. Today the spotlight is on philanthropy and future philanthropic leaders, but many of the traditions remain steadfast.
The 133rd Philadelphia Charity Ball, chaired by the ball’s board president, Michael J. Tierney, was held Nov. 24 at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. Wearing long white gloves and yards of silk and satin, the ball’s three debutantes this year were Lacey Swift-Farley of Chestnut Hill and sisters Courtney and Laura McCauley of Wayne.
The white-tie evening for nearly 400 guests began with a cocktail reception in the Red and Clover Room and continued with dinner in the Grand Ballroom. Following the presentation of the debutantes and 25 members of the Young Ladies’ and Young Men’s Committees, there was dancing in the ballroom to the Renaissance Orchestra. The evening, which included breakfast at 11 pm, ended at 1:30 am.
Proceeds from the ball will benefit Gesu School in North Philadelphia, an independent Catholic elementary school of 450 students in grades pre-K through eighth.
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