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Gracious hosts: Dr. Kevin and Brenda Spear and children
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Meredith Lowry and Janis Weintraub
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Manuel and Karen Nackes
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Committee members Janis Weintraub, Nancy Shapiro, Jodi Morris and Susan Osherow
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Steve Marks, Blair Markis and Jeannine Marks
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Hannah and Emma Hershfield hold a Shi Tzu Poo to be auctioned off.
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Left to right: Mia Klinger, The Mime (a.k.a.Sarah Sutherland) and Terry Meinen
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Guest of honor Phil Meinen (center) with his twin granddaughters, Mallory (left) and Ronnie
The gorgeous home of Dr. Kevin and Brenda Spear was the backdrop for Stewart’s Caring Place: Cancer Wellness Center’s 9th Annual Butterfly Gala on July 21. The Spears welcomed more than 450 people onto their property, and the organization raised more than $182,000. The gala enables Stewart’s to offer free services and programs to those touched by cancer.
This year’s theme, An Evening in Paris, inspired everything from the decorations to the éclairs served for dessert. Guests were greeted with champagne and Parisian music and had the opportunity to get pictures taken under the weeping willow and in front of a 15-foot Eiffel Tower. Students from The University of Akron’s Dance Institute dressed as mimes and entertained the crowd, while Galloway Photography helped capture the memories. Among the live and silent auction items were sporting adventures, health and beauty spa packages, entertainment-filled weekends and even a jukebox. Guests feasted on Beau’s Grille’s famous lamb chops, shrimp and other fabulous appetizers.
