By Jenny Farley and Alana Mauger
The 24th annual American Red Cross Red Ball returned to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia for the first time in more than a decade.
Against the backdrop of kid exhibits where adults were welcome to play for the night, supporters in their creative cocktail attire gathered to celebrate the Heroes of the evening.
Standing in front of a replica of the Statue of Liberty’s Arm holding her signature torch, Jennifer Graham, the CEO of the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) region, welcomed the crowd from the podium.
She explained, “What began as a night of elegance and philanthropy has become something more powerful: a celebration of courage, compassion and the extraordinary human spirit that defines our Red Cross community.”
Red Ball host Lee Farrell, an in-arena host for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Philadelphia Union, emceed the event. He told guests about featured delights of the night like the Carousel room, where anyone could ride, the coloring wall where guests could meet Miss Philadelphia Stephanie Skinner, and renowned artist Amir Campbell, who painted a modern masterpiece live in the museum’s Roadside Attractions room as the event unfolded.
Campbell’s original art was then made available for purchase in the silent auction, with all proceeds supporting the mission of the Red Cross.
“How about Amir Campbell?” Farrell said to applause as he turned to address Campbell directly.
“I can barely color inside of the lines and you’re doing that. That’s incredible!”
During the short program before dinner, a different NBC Sports Philadelphia presenter introduced each Hero.
Former Philly and afternoon drive host on 97.5 The Fanatic Ricky Bottalico gave the first award of the night to legendary radio hosts Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison of The Preston & Steve show on 93.3 WMMR, with a special acknowledgement of unforgettable radio on-air personality Pierre Robert, who died last year.
The Preston & Steve Morning Show has hosted the “I Bleed for Preston and Steve,” blood drive for 20 years, resulting in nearly 22,000 units of blood collected.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this event without the volunteers and the employees of the Red Cross. The event that we put on is an all-night, all-day thing that takes so many people and so many working parts,” Elliot said, while accepting the award.
Morrison added, “Everybody comes to us and tells us stories of people that they’re donating for – that are in the hospital, or babies, or countless stories and it is humbling. It just shows you how wonderful the people in this area are, how wonderful the volunteers of the Red Cross are, that they’re constantly – every year, every time – motivated to come out and actually give of their own bodies to help other people live. It is an amazing thing to see.”
Danny Pommells, the co-host of the Sixers Talk podcast, presented the second award of the night to retired Pennsylvania State Police Trooper John Finkbiner, who saved the life of one-year-old Carter.
Carter was choking on a cracker when Trooper Finkbiner responded and used his Red Cross training to clear his airway and help him breathe again.
Trooper Finkbiner, who attended the Red Ball with his wife Kimberly, still keeps in touch with Carter’s family and said he’s going to send him presents for his upcoming third birthday.
“I would like to say thank you to everybody. To Jennifer for inviting me here.” (Referring to SEPA CEO Jennifer Graham).
“I was just doing my job that day honestly, and to be recognized is very humbling. I do appreciate everything,” he said.
When asked if he still thinks about the day he saved Carter, he responded it was “like it happened yesterday.”
Amy Fadool, host of Sixers Pre- and Post- Game Live, awarded the third and final award of the night to volunteer firefighter Emily Gindele.
“Being here at the Red Gala is something I never imagined I’d get to experience. It’s a real full circle moment and it means more than I can say. Thank you to my family, my firehouse, my friends and the Red Cross for holding me up and supporting me through everything,” she said.
Gindele nearly died in the car accident that killed her soon-to-be fiancée Colin Reedy.
Doctors told her family she was ten minutes from death. Blood transfusions helped save her.
Emily organized a Red Cross blood drive in Chester County in Colin’s memory. The two were on their way to a fire call when the accident happened.
Colin’s parents attended the Red Ball to support Emily, along with her parents, sister, brother-in-law, brother and boyfriend Christian.
As Amir Campbell’s painting took shape throughout the night, one bystander remarked, “I don’t understand how you’re doing this!” as the image seemed to magically appear with each brush stroke.
Campbell said he didn’t feel any added pressure painting live for an audience.
“I’m very excited. Everyone gets to experience what it looks like live, to have an artist actually here and painting a moment in real time. You know, absorbing everyone’s energy and fitting it inside of the actual piece.”
The painting ended up being a young girl hugging a teddy bear with a Red Cross on its belly.
Campbell, who is a newlywed and attended the Red Ball with his wife Mallorie, described wanting to paint someone that cherishes the Red Cross.
“They’re cherishing all their efforts. Everything they did and everything that they’re doing for the community and for the world. I want to take a character and show that love by representing them embracing the Red Cross.”
In Campbell’s painting, you can clearly see a message in the child’s hair. It reads, “Heal the World.”
At the end of the evening, the Red Cross Mass Care Feeding team served soft pretzels, hot chocolate and bottles of water from one of the region’s emergency response vehicles (ERV). This is the same vehicle that has been deployed across the country to help feed people after disasters.
The Red Ball is made possible through the generosity of our sponsors:
- Mission Sponsors: Independence Blue Cross and AmeriHealth Caritas, Rosenberg and Parker Surety
- Hero Sponsor: Ametek Foundation, Inc.
- Diamond Sponsors: Chubb, Essential Utilities, Quattro, Wawa, Woods System of Care
- Platinum Sponsors: Boston Consulting Group, Cencora, Elliot Lewis, Jefferson Health Plans, The Madden Foundation, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Penn Medicine, Parx Casino, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, TruMark Financial Credit Union and the Masons from University Lodge No. 51.
- Ruby Sponsors: Allan Myers, Barbara Hauptfuhrer, Blank Rome, Brian’s House, Constellation Energy, DSG Global, Duane Morris, Lincoln Financial, P. Agnes, PECO, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Think Traffic
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