Hundreds of Kentucky Derby enthusiasts joined the People’s Emergency Center for an evening of Southern traditions with a Philadelphia flare at PEC’s inaugural “Race to Make a Difference� benefiting PEC’s commitment to serving Philadelphia’s homeless women and their children. Oversized hats adorned with flowers and bows were judged in a hat contest by a panel of celebrity judges, including Project Runway contestant Kristin Haskins Sims; couture boutique owner Joan Shepp; and Missy Dietz, General Manager of Neiman Marcus in King of Prussia. Guests experienced the thrilling two-minute race on a Jumbotron screen while enjoying signature mint juleps, live entertainment and southern-style hors d’oeuvres. Photography by Martin Regusters, Leaping Lion Photography

On Saturday, May 12, 2012 400 of the city’s top business associates, education advocates and community leaders joined non-profit Philadelphia Academies, Inc. at their annual fundraising event held at Loews Philadelphia Hotel. The evening was filled with tributes to 40+ years of youth success stories, plus a VIP reception, live and silent auction, award presentation, and dancing with the Michael Nash band. Photography by Anthony Sinagoga

Walnut Street Theatre celebrated multiple honorees this year with the 2012 Edwin Forrest Award at its landmark 203rd Anniversary Gala – Let the Good Times Roll!, on May 11, 2012. This year’s award recipients were Broadway star and Walnut performer Hugh Panaro and Martin W. Spector, Walnut Trustee and retired Executive Vice President, General Counsel, ARAMARK. Following a pre-concert champagne reception, the rockin’ evening included a spectacular 90-minute concert featuring some of Philadelphia’s favorite Walnut performers including Rachel Camp, Sarah Gliko, Scott Greer, Danielle Herbert, Ben Lipitz, Hugh Panaro, Michael Philip O’Brien, Lyn Philistine, Christopher Sutton, Denise Whelan and the Walnut casts of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s A Grand Night for Singing. Guests then mingled with the performers and the honorees at a VIP After-Party will be held on the Thomas Jefferson University Campus that included a silent auction. All proceeds from the Gala benefited the Walnut Street Theatre’s Education and Outreach programming, which reaches over 110,000 children annually in the Delaware Valley. Photography by Mark Garvin

Philadelphia Phillies’ second baseman, Chase Utley, and his wife, Jennifer Utley, hosted the 5th Anniversary Utley All-Star Animals Casino Night at the Electric Factory on Thursday, May 10, 2012. Animal lovers, sponsors, and supporters joined the Utley’s for a night full of cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auctions, and casino fun, as guests played table games alongside local celebrities and players from the 2012 Philadelphia Phillies. The event raised approximately $400,000 for the Pennsylvania’s PSCA’s Etana Fund to Stop Cruelty Against Animals, which helps prevent and protect against abuse and neglect through their Humane Law Enforcement department. Photography by Paul Loftland

The Women Against MS Luncheon took place from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8th at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Proceeds from the luncheon, hosted by Kathy Orr of CBS3, benefitted the Greater delaware Valley Chapter of the National MS Society. The luncheon raised an estimated $150,000—the most in its 10-year history. University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann was honored with the 2012 Woman of Spirit Award and a keynote was delivered by Zoe Koploqitz, a marathon runner and motivational speaker who excels despite her diagnoses of MS and diabetes. Photography by LuzSelenia Loeb