If love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage, then Fifty and Finest certainly mingle like sexy and single. Never let it be said that eligible and intelligible beings don't inhabit our hills, because Thursday evening they packed the Omni William Penn's Grand Ballroom for "Pittsburgh's Fifty Finest 2003."
Event director Cyndi Nace, a woman who understands the value of blending the best and brightest with a benefit, organized the eighth annual fund-raiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The foundation helps fund research, education, care and medical programs related to curing cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease which clogs the lungs. Nace and party VP Doug Austin worked with a dedicated committee including Marty Smith (with Judy Gwin), "Doc" Mendelson, Laurie Burkhart and Rhonda Hlafcsak, among others.
The stellar salute to the city's top singles was emceed once again by WTAE's handsome Andrew Stockey (a former Finest), who read each bio as he introduced the participants to more than 800 guests. As family and fans cheered, he announced that current Finest Dr. Lisa Cibik had raised the most money in the history of the event, bringing in $14,600. Of the men, Gary Dellovade and Jeff Warren were top dollar. In this year's "Winner's Circle" (former Fifties who continue to bring in the bucks) were Anthony Fazio, Tara McComb and Charles Kostecki.
Of course, the back story to all this do-gooding is a chance for love to blossom and mates to meet. So before the official program began, Victoria Berdnik (in a fabulous strapless pink Ralph Lauren gown) and Doug Spirelis announced their engagement with the wedding date set for May 1, 2004. As the first couple to have met and vowed everlasting love as a result of the benefit, it was a significant moment. She was a 2001 alumna, and he was in the class of '99.
Always supportive of amour for a good cause were sponsors Coca-Cola, Mancini's Bakery, Bruster's Ice Cream & Yogurt, Penn Brewery, WDVE-FM, WQED Multimedia, The X (WXDX-FM) and many more. Among the Fifty feeling fine were Dr. John Schindler, E.J. Borghetti, Jon Burton, Valerie Skvarla, Kristi Ferrero, Kimberly Jaycox, Michael Wein, Jeff Warren, Jenna Heyl, Reed Baker, KDKA-TV's Mary Berecky, Dan Iacurci, Antonette Pietropaolo, Mark Rogow , Justin Bass, Joe Murphy, Colleen Darragh, Selina Moyo, Jay Gergely, Sal Richetti, Bud Martin, Anita Smith, Michael Lee, Sandy Lanza, Ron Severo, Ed Ercegovic, Michael Casey, Robin Guseman, Crystal Castleforte, Susie Barbour, Beth Hafer and Nicole Lawlor.
John Waldman was a Fifty who found passion outside of Pittsburgh with Pamela Wertman. Surviving 33 days in the Australian Outback only to return to Pittsburgh's singles' circuit was Amber Brkich, who is more focused on pursuing a career in broadcasting than on bagging a beau.
OK with love or money or both were CFF executive director Pat Joseph, Cosette Grant, Richard Mushinsky, Gregory Triko and his sister Christina O'Toole, Melissa Galiotto, Lynn Huffman, Michelle Bost, Cindy Sproull, Bruce Williams, Sandy Lanza, Tracy Zilka, Dr. Tim Heffner, Joan Snyder, Sara Flasher, Hillary Snyder, Jim Battle (father of Finest Kevin), Diane and Hal Waldman, Robert Masters, Randy Nelson and Sheri Talarico.
