The Mad Hatter’s Ball

#TheParty: Mt. Lebanon Jr. Women’s Club held a very merry 50th un-birthday party at Cefalo’s in Carnegie on Saturday night.

#DownTheRabbitHole: What better way to celebrate half a century of service in the community than with an “Alice in Wonderland”-themed Mad Hatter Ball? “We both love “Alice in Wonderland.” It’s fun and whimsical and that was the spirit we wanted to bring to tonight’s event,” said event co-chair Jessica Netzloff. “We’ve had this event Downtown for several years, but wanted to bring it back to the community that we serve. Cefalo’s is eclectic and accommodating and just seemed like the right space for this party,” added co-chair Dr. Alison Sehgal. Having never been in Cefalo’s, I was awed by the beautiful stained glass windows inside this former church, now repurposed as an event space. Guests were greeted with little bottles filled with mysterious blue liquid that simply said “drink me.” Don’t worry, it wasn’t a magic potion, well, unless you consider vodka magical. There were delicious (and beautifully decorated!) treats by Made To Cake Bakery to nibble on as DJ Jeremy Ganss Productions spun tunes while partygoers bid on auction items and admired each other’s attire. The event supported the Foster Love Project, founded by Kelly Hughes, who has fostered eight children over the years with her husband. “We wanted to serve our community and walk along families in crisis. There is nothing out there that can help you in 45 minutes to prepare for a newborn in your arms or a new child in your family. We started this project to provide resources for kids and families in foster care, like baby gear, toys, clothing and luggage.” Becki Campanaro, president of the MLJWC was moved by this volunteerrun organization. “If their hearts are so big to give their extra time and resources to this cause, we wanted to be there to support this initiative.” To learn more about the Foster Love Project, visit: www. fosterloveproject.org/.