Social Circuit

The Center City District celebrated its 20th anniversary at a cocktail reception for 400 guests, held March 29 at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. At a time when Center City was down and dirty, Paul R. Levy and Ron Rubin, among others, set out in 1991 to make Center City "clean and safe." Since its founding, the district has become a model for reviving ailing downtowns.

Levy, president and CEO of the district, said removing litter "reduced crime . . . and helped to restore confidence in the downtown area." He said the district's installation of new pedestrian streetlamps and illumination of facades on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and South Broad Street helped spur a thriving nightlife downtown. The organization's latest project is a $50 million renovation of Dilworth Plaza.

Philadelphia VIP held its 30th Anniversary Gala March 19 at the Westin Philadelphia, raising more than $340,000 for the nonprofit, which provides free legal services to low-income clients. Former Gov. Ed Rendell received VIP's Pinnacle Award. The evening also honored Eve Biskind Klothen, VIP's founding executive director; Francis P. Devine III, VIP's first board president and former chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association; Pam Moody, VIP's first staff member; Kenneth Shear, executive director of the Philadelphia Bar Association; and Jay Meyers, who was recognized for his "outstanding service" as a volunteer attorney.

Maternity Care Coalition launched its annual Celebrating Mothers fund-raising campaign with its "An Afternoon in Paris" benefit, held March 12 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Chef Jean-Marie Lacroix of Max & Me Catering prepared an hors d'oeuvre for the French-inspired luncheon menu. The event for 350 guests was hosted by Diane Croce and Carolyn Smith, mother of actor Will Smith. The luncheon and children's brunch, held earlier in the day at the hotel, raised $96,000 for MCC's mission to improve maternal and child health.

Members of Immaculata University's 1972 championship basketball team were reunited at a private screening of the new film The Mighty Macs, shown at a black-tie gala March 29 at the Franklin Institute. The movie is the story of the Mighty Macs' underdog win of three consecutive national college women's basketball championships, beating West Chester University (formerly West Chester State) in 1972; Queens College in 1973; and Mississippi State College for Women in 1974. Among the 375 guests who attended the screening were the team's former head coach Cathy Rush, who's portrayed in the movie by Carla Gugino. The film, directed by Tim Chambers, has played international film festivals and is scheduled to open in theaters in October.