HughE Dillon: Jimmy Rollins Foundation Fundraiser

Phillies-signed jerseys, plus Dancing With the Stars bring in money for Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania

The Jimmy Rollins Family Foundation partnered with Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar to host Havana Nights at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia last night. Below: Phillies outfielder Jimmy Rollins and wife Johari Rollins greet guests as Scott Palmer, director of public affairs for the Phillies, looks on. Proceeds from Havana Nights will benefit Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania.

Below: There was a surprise performance from ABC’s Dancing With the Stars duo Valentin Chmerkovskiy and Dariya Chesnokova. The Jimmy Rollins Foundation usually just holds one charity event a year at Lucky Strike called Basebowl, but this year Johari thought it would be fun to have a larger event where people could relax and dance.

Below: There was a lively silent auction with baseballs signed by Cliff Lee, Shane Victorino and Chase Utley, and jerseys signed by Roy Halladay, Rollins and a few others.

Below: Ryan Howard and fiance Krystle Campbell. Ryan wasn’t ready to cut a rug, but he did pose for a lot of photos with guests and sign a few autographs. I kinda felt sorry for him as he wasn’t going anywhere fast with those crutches.

Below: Fox 29’s Mike Jerrick, with Julie Dorenbos and Eagle Jon Dorenbos. This week on Kendra, Julie made an appearance as she and Kendra were friends when Hank Baskett played for the Eagles. The scene was depicted as a dinner at Devon during a stop on Kendra’s book tour, but in reality the scene was filmed in broad daylight during lunch.

Below: Melanie King and Billy King, general manager of the New Jersey Nets. Billy tells me that despite the NBA lockout, he’s busy with the team’s move to their new home at Barclays Arena in Brooklyn in 2013. The team will be known as the Brooklyn Nets.

Below: Ray Martin and Gervase Peterson. Gervase tells me he’s opening up a cigar vault and lounge in Lawnside, New Jersey called Burnz.

Below: Ray Pennacchia, senior VP at NovaCare Rehabilitation, Leslie Jadel, Comcast Sportsnet, and AJ Williams, GM of Omni Hotel. During the cocktail party, Maureen Austin, board chair for Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania told the guests that in Pennsylvania, there are more than 25,000 reports of abuse made yearly.

Below: WDAS’s Patty Jackson and Crystal Duncan. Patty’s gossip segment on NBC10’s The Ten Show is moving to Monday starting next week. It’s also her birthday week! Happy Birthday, Patty!!

Below: Craig M. Spitzer and Erin Elmore enjoyed the atmosphere and said that event designer Offshoots really captured the whole Caribbean flare.

Below: Mike Vick wasn’t able to make it because of his broken ribs so he stayed home with the kids while fiance Kijafa Frink came out to support the organization. Here she’s with Jimmy Rollins’s attorney, Chris Cabott, and friend Carmena Ayo-Davies.

Below: The last auction of the evening was just as spirited and fun. Barbara Katz-Chobert won a three-day trip to see Dancing With the Stars with her winning bid of nearly $8,000. She told me she was glad she could help the kids, and that she’s going to get to see her favorite TV show live.

For more photos from Havana nights, click here.