Awards gala
THE NATIONAL MEDICAL Fellowships' organization that supplies scholarships to minorities hosted its annual awards gala last week at the Mid-America Club.
The awardees included Aetna exec Marty Castro, who was introduced by Desiree Rogers, Dr. Eric Whitaker, Dr. Billy Wright-Adams and Dr. James E. Bowman. Bowman's award was accepted by his daughter, Valerie Jarrett, a new White House senior adviser to President-elect Barack Obama, and TV's Dr. Ian Smith made the presentation. Whitaker, a close friend of Obama's, mentioned in his speech that "I am not going to Washington," which gave the audience a chuckle.
(Sun-Times files/Courtesy)
(Courtesy)
Aetna donated $50,000 to the NMF for next year. How nice.
GOOD SCHOOL NEWS: Kudos to the Chicago Bulls for donating $2 million to launch the Chicago Bulls College Prep High School, which will be a part of the Noble Street Charter School campus. The cash will enable the new campus to open next August and the school will be part of the Chicago Public Schools system. . . . Some more good news: Tim King, the founder & CEO of Urban Prep Academies, is happily announcing that his Urban Prep proposal to open a third school for young inner-city boys has been approved by the Board of Education. So, the new Urban Prep Academy for Young Men--South Shore opens in 2010. There is already an Urban Prep in Englewood and the new Urban Prep in the East Garfield Park area opens in 2009. These young men are all destined for greatness.
CHICAGO'S BRITISH CONSUL General James Clark and his longtime partner Anthony Stewart are hosting a private Holiday party Dec. 8. In March of 2004, Clark and Stewart made history by becoming the first officially recognized gay couple to have an audience with Queen Elizabeth II. (And they're still very happy!)
HOLIDAY HAPS: THE Senaca Hotel & Suites and the Belden-Stratford Hotel are hosting their 9th annual International Holiday reception Dec. 4 at the Belden. By the way, the hotels' popular senior sales exec, Michael Foster a k a Mr. International, is recuperating from surgery and is halfway back on the job. . . . The new Michigan Avenue mag hosting a private reception to hype Chicago's Sherrill Bodine's new juicy novel The Talk of the Town on Dec. 1 at Martini Park.
HANGING OUT: Actor William ("CSI") Petersen, who is wowing audiences with his performance in "Dublin Carol" at the Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre, dined with pals at LaScarola. And on a separate evening, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown was in. . . . Pop artist Estelle recently performed her hit "American Boy" at Enclave. Other celebs seen partying at the club: Brody ("The Hills") Jenner and Michael Jordan. . . . Mayor Daley, sports mogul Jerry Reinsdorf and restaurateur Steve Lombardo dined at Rosebud Prime. . . . The Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger at Rockit Bar & Grill . . . Broadcasters Sylvia Perez, Linda Yu, Cheryl Burton and Nancy Loo attended the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce dinner.
THE HEBREW THEOLOGICAL College in Skokie will host a special tribute dinner in memory of Weizmann Institute of Science exec Rabbi William Z. Novick, this evening at the Westin O'Hare. A program has been named in his honor which sends clothes to Jews in need in Israel.
RICK ROBERTS of Horizons Communications Group is excited to announce that his play "The Benchmark" will open Nov. 29 and run through Dec. 14 in Pierce Hall at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington. The play is about a homeless man named Mark who lives on a bench in Grant Park. Roberts is a past director of the Chicago Christian Industrial League and profits from the play will go to charity.
THE VERY funny George Willborn will be headlining at Jokes & Notes, Nov. 28 and 29. For ticket info: (773) 373-3390. ... Mayor Daley and Gov. Blagojevich have proclaimed Nov. 30 "Zanies' Comedy Day" in Chicago in honor of the club's 30th anniversary. . . . Damon Williams' comedy show Thanksgiving Day at the House of Blues . . . Dee Alexander at the Jazz Showcase this evening.
TODAY marks the 21st anniversary of Mayor Harold Washington's death. . . . And condolences to the family of radio/TV's Morgan Carter. He will be missed.
BIRTHDAY FOLKS: WLS-Channel 7's Roz Varon, WFLD-Channel 32's Wanda Wells, actress Christina Applegate, Hubbard Street's Gail Kalver and anniversary wishes to Herb and Evie Glieberman. On Wednesday: Tina Turner, Bob Petty and Michael Butler.
Well, that's Stella in the City!