HughE Dillon: Hamels Foundation Diamonds and Denim 2012

Last night at the Crystal Tea Room, Heidi and Cole Hamels hosted their third annual Diamonds and Denim gala to raise money for the Hamels Foundation, which supports inner-city schools in the U.S., as well as Malawi’s one million orphans and victims of the AIDS/HIV virus. Here with the Hamels is model, actress, and choreographer Tammy Jean (second from right), wearing “body art” by Kerry Ann Smith (left) from About Face II.
 

 
Many of the Hamels’ friends and Cole’s teammates came out to support them including Jimmy Rollins, Cliff Lee, John Mayberry and the Phanatic, here with the Benari Jewelers girls—Ashley Sky, Shannon James, Kayla Collins and Crystal McCahill. The gals were selling “keys” for a $100, giving guests a chance at jewelry valued at more than several thousand dollars.
 

 
I was impressed that even though Bradley Cooper’s The Words premiere was going on a block away, the red carpet at Diamonds and Denim was packed with press, so I headed over to the elevator banks to catch the guests there. Below: I ran into Laynce and Brooke Nix with Chase and Jen Utley on their way to the cocktail party on the ninth floor. Did you know that Brooke used to cheer for the Dallas football team? She’s still close with her former cheer squad, but is loving Philadelphia. She started up a business and sells Stella & Dot jewelry.
 

 
Below: Looking fresh from their own charity event, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and fiancée Krystle Campbell had hosted several players and friends the previous night at their “Cruise for a Cause” to benefit the Police Athletic League, aboard the yacht Freedom Elite. Ryan and Krystle raised more than $50,000 at the event. I asked Campbell about her recent appearance on Say Yes to the Dress; she said she loved appearing on it and that there really wasn’t that much drama. Even though they didn’t have her specific dress in stock, she gave them the photo that you see at the end and ordered it. Ryan Howard will not be seeing the episode until after they’re married.
 

 
Below: Todd Herremans, Jon “Mario Brothers” Dorenbos, AJ Feeley and Andrew Smith. Sunday night was the third annual Eagles Flight Night at Lincoln Financial Field. The boys put on a full practice for the fans, while all around the stadium there were fund-raising events for the Eagles Youth Partnership programs. Julie Dorenbos, Renee Reese and Tammy Reid ran the yard sale with signed memorabilia and items from the Eagles team.
 

 
Below: Reality stars from ABC’s The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor Pad were there, including Ryan Bowers, Ashley Spivey, Jenna Burke, Philadelphia’s Craig Robinson, Jaclyn Swartz, Ty Brown, Ed Swiderski and Sean Lowe (in no particular order as the bachelors were as eager to depart and party as they are on TV). If you watched this season of Bachelor Pad, you saw Philly’s own Reid Rosenthal spar with Ed Swiderski (second from right). I asked Ed about Reid’s absence this year. Was he a no-show because he didn’t want to face the music after their blowup? Ed said no, Reid stayed back in L.A. after the reunion show last night to visit with some friends. He added that they’re buddies, and the show was just edited to make it look like a bigger deal than it was.
 

 
Below: From WMMR’s Preston and Steve Show, Kathy Romano, Nick McIlwain and Marisa Magnatta.
 

 
Below: It was good to see Renee Reese, as she was the person who introduced me to all the football wives four years ago at a “Sex and the City” dinner event at Del Frisco’s. Renee tells me she is working on a fabulous campaign with the NFL and HSN. “I’m working with them to style and create fun, ready-to-wear looks for a new, NFL-licensed apparel line. The designer is former NY Giants great, turned fashion guru, Carl Banks.” The campaign will cover 11 NFL teams, and launch on HSN over Labor Day weekend, and then they’ll go to each city to do promotions. I’m always impressed with the Eagles wives and their careers. Renee is here with husband Ike Reese, co-host of sports talk’s Mike and Ike Show on WIP.
 

 
Below: Michael Barkann, co-host of the Mike and Ike Show, and wife Ellen, with John and Lisa DeBella. John hosts the morning show on WMGK, and Lisa tells me proudly that this November will mark John’s 30th year in radio. Quite a feat, I’d say. John tells me to look for some surprises and events marking the date on November 15th, a week before his annual DeBella Turkey Drop at Love Park.
 

 
Below: State Senator Larry Farnese and the lovely Kelsey Graynor.
 

 
Below: Craig and BJ Spencer, with Nigel Richards and John Bolaris. Check this month’s Philadelphia magazine to read about what John Bolaris is up to now.
 

 
Below: Vince Papale and Perry Milou in front of Milou’s painting of Cole Hamels. Later it was signed by all the Phillies in attendance, and offered in a live auction where Josh Katz, the auctioneer who was going about a mile a minute, successfully sold the painting for a whopping $24,000. Other items that sold well were a one-of-a-kind, Cole Hamels-autographed baseball collection, which marked milestones in Cole Hamels’s career. Each ball was signed too. That went for $6,500. A golf outing and spring training in Clearwater with Cole Hamels went for $18,500.
 

 
Below: Joe Messa tries out his key and it’s a winner at the Benari Jewelers jewelry box contest. He won a diamond necklace, earrings and bracelet valued at more than $4,000.
 

 
Below: During dessert there was a live performance by nine-time Grammy winner John Legend. He sang some of his biggest hits, which had the audience swaying to the music and some of the ladies clamoring to get closer to the stage. After the concert, there was a meet-and-greet for some of the guests, while the others gathered up the very generous gift bags and headed to Zee Bar for the after-party. Event John Legend joined the crowd. It was a great event, and I can’t wait to see what GN Kang, director of operations at the Hamels Foundation, and her team come up with next year.